Note: Proposal procedures will differ depending on your Faculty and its graduate curriculum committee. Please contact the Associate Director, Graduate Academic Affairs for more information. Archived graduate procedures for courses and minor modifications are accessible at Curriculum Development—Archived, for information.
These guidelines and procedures are intended to support the review and approval process with respect to curriculum development, from changes to existing graduate courses to the development of new graduate programs.
Submission and Review/Approval Process
The initial review and approval of proposals for new courses, changes to existing courses, and changes to program/graduate diploma academic requirements (including admission requirements) begins at the program level, in accordance with program procedures. Once approved at the program level, these proposals should be forwarded to the appropriate resource Faculty personnel for consideration by the relevant Faculty-level committee(s).
Resource Faculty Procedures/Contact
- School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design – James Pratt, Manager, Faculty Governance & Policy – jpratt@yorku.ca
- Faculty of Education – GradProgram@edu.yorku.ca
- Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change – Ouma Jaipaul-Gill, Graduate Program Coordinator and Advisor – oumajai@yorku.ca
- Glendon – Council@glendon.yorku.ca
- Faculty of Health – Jovita Sundaramoorthy, Director, Research & Partnerships – hlthrsch@yorku.ca
- Lassonde School of Engineering
- Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
- Osgoode Hall Law School
- Research – Graham Sue, Manager, Research and Graduate Studies - gsue@osgoode.yorku.ca
- Professional – Emoline Fox, Manager, Professional Graduate Programs – emoline.fox@osgoode.yorku.ca
- Schulich School of Business – Kathryn Doyle, Director, Academic Affairs - doyleka@schulich.yorku.ca
- Faculty of Science
Faculty Council and Senate Approval
In all instances, graduate curriculum must be approved by the local Faculty Council. This is the final stage of approval for individual course proposals.
Degree and diploma modifications, as well as new programs, fields and specializations, must be forwarded to the Academic Standards, Curriculum and Pedagogy Committee (ASCP) for approval following Faculty Council approval. Related course proposals linked to a minor/major modification or new program proposal should be included in the submission.
Please visit the ASCP website for relevant meeting dates and contact information.
Notice of Intention
A formal Notice of Intention must be submitted prior to the development of proposals for major modifications, new fields, diplomas or degree programs.
Submission of a Notice of Intention form does not constitute a formal proposal, and will not be judged from that standpoint. It is intended to facilitate early consultations so that any proposal that is ultimately developed benefits from the expertise of others delivering complementary programs, avoids direct competition with or duplication of existing programs, and enables a preliminary assessment of resource implications. For further details regarding the Notice of Intention process and requirements, please visit York University’s Quality Assurance Procedures (YUQAP).
Course Rubrics
For proponents seeking changes to a course rubric, a Course Rubric Request Form must be submitted in advance.
Proposal Timelines/Deadlines
Curriculum proposals must be submitted according to the timelines/deadlines of the relevant Faculty-level committee(s). Please note that, regardless of the submission date, the effective date of curriculum proposals will ultimately be determined by the date of final approval, including consideration of whether or not student registration/enrolment decisions have been informed by published requirements.
Note: Proposals submitted after your resource Faculty’s submission deadline(s) may not receive final approval to take effect in, or may fall outside of the normal room allocation process for, the desired academic year. Curriculum and academic standards proposals must be approved by Senate by no later than the February meeting for implementation at the Registrarial level. Please refer to your resource Faculty’s procedures/contact outlined above for more information.
Faculty of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar
Senate Approved Changes
Curriculum proposals must receive Senate approval by April 30 in order to be published in the Faculty of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar for that upcoming academic year. Relevant Graduate Program Directors and Graduate Diploma Coordinators will be contacted by FGS to confirm calendar copy following Senate approval. The inclusion of approved changes outside of the Calendar timeline – e.g., changes approved at May and June Senate meetings – will be assessed based on direction from Senate.
Editorial Changes
Graduate Program Directors and Graduate Diploma Coordinators can request editorial changes to Calendar copy at any time by emailing fgsgovrn@yorku.ca, with a deadline of April 30 for that upcoming academic year. Requested changes outside of this timeline will be assessed for feasibility where possible. Periodic reminders will be sent to program/diploma staff throughout the year.
Faculty of Graduate Studies Support
Academic Planning and Policy Committee
The Faculty of Graduate Studies Council provides a pan-university forum for graduate programming and student research, and a platform of exchange for oversight and advocacy on graduate matters.
Through its Academic Planning and Policy Committee (APPC), APPC serves in a consultative capacity for the development of graduate curriculum—including graduate courses, program modifications, and new graduate degrees, diplomas and fields – to establish and maintain uniformly high standards of graduate education.
Proponents may seek consultation and development support from this pan-university committee whose structure includes faculty members, graduate students, and FGS decanal and staff members. Benefits include:
- Program development insight and guidance
- Policy considerations
- Assistance liaising with relevant bodies
Curriculum proposals seeking APPC consultation may contact the Faculty Governance Coordinator to request inclusion on an upcoming agenda. APPC normally meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month throughout the year, and proposals must be received at least one week in advance for consideration.
FGS Acknowledgement and Staff Support
Through Kuali — York’s Curriculum Management System – FGS staff review course proposals for information.
FGS’ service commitment for response is 10 business day’s following receipt of a curriculum proposal. If it is deemed that further review is recommended, proposals will be shared with FGS’ Associate Dean Academic for feedback. The primary purpose of review is to flag items for consideration that may be raised through the collegial governance process, including its intersection with FGS and Senate regulations.
For support in the preparation of Course and Minor Modification proposals, please contact the Faculty Governance Coordinator.
For support in the preparation of Major Modifications, New Graduate Fields, New Graduate Diplomas, or New Graduate Degree Programs, please contact the Academic Affairs Officer.