Educational Policies Committee (EPC)

Subcommittees

  1. General Education
  2. Graduate Studies
  3. University Standards
  4. Overlay 
  5. Curriculum Guide

Charge

The Educational Policies Committee shall have primary responsibility over the curriculum and academic standards of the University. Functions shall include but not be limited to: (1) review and recommendation concerning all program initiation, modification and termination; long range goals of the University, establishment of priorities for resources allocations and evaluation of current programs; (2) review and act upon all student petitions pertaining to academic standards, and (3) review and recommendation of policies regarding University academic standards including grading policy, discipline, student academic dishonesty, student diversity and educational opportunity.

Curricular Information

General Course and Curriculum FAQs | Curriculum Deadlines | Curriculum Guide website | ge.sonoma.edu  | EPC Statement on Encroachment into Curricular Matter S 2021, Endorsed by the Senate

GE Information and Misc Materials

GE Workshops Flyer | EPC second reading of internship policy materials - SSU access only | Handouts from AAC&U conference

 

EPC has the following subcommittees:

General Education Subcommittee (GE)

Charge

  1. Develop and modify the General Education curriculum of the University in accordance with Title V and applicable Executive Orders after consultation with the School G. E. committees;
  2. Coordinate the curriculum of G.E. courses through consultation with faculty engaged in teaching G.E. courses;
  3. Develop and analyze procedures for evaluation of G.E. program in consultation with School G.E. committees;
  4. Design policies in consultation with Admissions office staff concerning the evaluation of G.E. equivalencies and substitutions in the transcripts of transfer students;
  5. Update and simplify G.E. catalog copy;
  6. Report in writing all decisions pertaining to the G.E. program to the Educational Policies Committee. The Chair of the G.E. Subcommittee shall make periodic oral reports to the EPC and send minutes of subcommittee meetings to the Chair of EPC and;
  7. Submit recommendations for proposals for significant changes in the G.E. curriculum, i.e., changes in the total number of units, the distribution of units among the Schools and Departments, or involving unresolved disputes between departments, to the EPC for consideration and action. Other changes agreed upon by the G.E. subcommittee and the G.E. committees of the School (s) involved may be decided by subcommittee, subject to challenge by the EPC or the Academic Senate.

 

Overlay Subcommittee

Charge

  1. Develop and modify the Overlay curriculum of the University in accordance with the Seawolf Studies graduation requirements based on consultation with EPC, School curriculum committees, the campus community, faculty engaged in teaching Overlay courses, and relevant subject matter experts. 
  2. Establish and revise the content criteria used to determine the placement of courses within specific Overlays based on consultation with EPC, School curriculum committees, the campus community, faculty engaged in teaching Overlay courses, and relevant subject matter experts. 
  3. Develop and oversee processes for applying the content criteria to determine the placement of specific courses within Overlays. 
  4. Update and oversee processes for streamlining the approval and use of WIC courses to meet the GWAR and related SSU policies as deemed appropriate by EPC. 
  5. Update and simplify Overlay Catalog Copy in consultation with Academic Programs. 
  6. Design policies and processes in consultation with Admissions and Records staff concerning the evaluation of Overlay equivalencies and substitutions in the transcripts of transfer students. 
  7. Develop and analyze procedures for evaluation and assessment of the Overlay portion of the Seawolf Studies graduation requirements program in consultation with EPC and Academic Programs. 
  8. Submit recommendations for the establishment of Overlay content criteria, for the placement of courses within specific Overlays, and for other Overlay changes and processes to EPC for consideration and action. EPC may determine that certain changes may be decided by the Overlay Subcommittee, subject to challenge by EPC. 
  9. Report in writing all recommendations and decisions pertaining to the Overlay program to EPC. The Overlay Subcommittee Chair shall make periodic oral reports to EPC and ensure that all subcommittee minutes are provided to the EPC Chair.  The report should include an analysis of their workload and possibility for condensing with the GE Subcommittee into a “Graduation Requirements Subcommittee.” 

Graduate Studies Subcommittee (GSS)

Charge

The Graduate Studies Subcommittee shall develop policy recommendations on all aspects of graduate studies at the University, make recommendations to the Educational Policies Committee on proposed new graduate degree programs, consider and prepare written comments on the periodic academic reviews of graduate programs that are required by Trustee policy, monitor the quality of graduate programs, and serve as a consultative body to the Dean of Academic Programs/Graduate Studies. The Chair of the Graduate Studies subcommittee will make periodic reports to the EPC and send minutes of the subcommittee meetings to the Chair of EPC.

Composition:

Each Department with a Graduate program will be represented on the Committee by its Graduate Coordinator and there will be one representative from the Library. The Special Major Advisor and the Dean of Academic Programs/Graduate Studies will also be members of the Committee.

University Standards Subcommittee 

Charge

The University Standards subcommittee shall consider all matters pertaining to academic standards in the University. It will review and act upon student petitions of academic regulations and recommend policy regarding academic standards to the Academic Senate.