Academic Resources

Curriculum Management

The University of North Texas (UNT) has established several committees responsible for the multiple facets of the vast curriculum a university of its size requires.  UNT supports an active faculty-led curriculum review process.  Department chairs are active participants in all facets of curricular decision-making.  The University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UUCC) is a committee of the Faculty Senate and works with the Oversight Committee on the Core Curriculum (OCCC), Graduate Council, Core Curriculum, and the Office of the Registrar in order to meet educational objectives, and ensure the University places the primary responsibility for content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with its faculty as required by SACS-COC and THECB.

The Curriculum website houses UUCC (UUCC Best Practices), OCCC, Graduate Council, and information about the Curriculog (online submission platform), including details needed to request new courses, delete courses, and make changes to the core curriculum.

Core Curriculum:

  • Email: core@unt.edu
  • Location: Hurley Administration Building, 205
  • Phone: (940) 565-4413

Faculty Senate University Undergraduate Curriculum Committe:

Curriculog is an electronic tool which faculty members who are designing, changing, or removing courses can use to process approvals in a virtual environment.  In order to submit information into the Curriculog system, a user must receive permission from the Office of the Registrar personnel assigned to oversee the Curriculog System.  Each college, department, and division has the freedom to permit or restrict access to Curriculog.  A faculty member interested in submitting into the system should find out who has permission and if permission is desired, request permission from an authority in the college, department, and/or division.  Information and permissions can be obtained by contacting catalog@unt.edu.

New Programs or Changes to Existing Programs

New degree programs must have administrative approval.  Approval request forms can be found on the curriculum website.  The appropriate form based on the program’s classification (undergraduate and master’s, or doctoral) and the accompanying budget form should be sent to Elizabeth Vogt in University Accreditation.

The forms should be used when (a) creating a new degree/standalone certificate (online, face-to-face, or hybrid); (b) adding a concentration to a degree (only required if the concentration significantly changes the degree in its current form); (c) consolidating degrees; (d) closing a degree or certificate; (e) increasing/decreasing SCH for a degree/certificate; (f) changing a CIP code; (g) changing program modality to more than 50% electronically delivered, e.g. online, video conferencing, etc.; (h) entering into a collaborative academic arrangement that includes the initiation of a dual/joint program; (i) offering a degree or certificate program at an offsite location; (j) initiating a direct assessment competency-based educational program; (k) renaming a degree/certificate; (l) creating a Grad Track pathway (a copy of the Grad Track application should be attached to this form); (m) changing the name of a college/academic department; (n) moving degree/certificate programs between colleges/departments; (o) moving departments to other colleges; or (p) creating/closing a department/college.

Scheduling Classes

The schedule of classes is an on-going process.  Chairs work about one-year out to develop course offerings for the spring, summer, and fall terms.  First, a preliminary schedule based on the prior year is sent to departments for edits.  Next, a second round of edits is completed based on the initial revision.  All changes at this stage require completing a R6 form available from the Registrar.  For additional assistance with any aspect of this process, please contact the Registrar Scheduling team directly, or visit the registrar's  share point website for related documentation, frequently used forms, and process guides.

Waitlisted Courses

Requests for funding of waitlisted courses are generally made by the Dean or Academic Associate Dean, or Chair.  Requests for this funding can be made via the Wait List Request web form on the Chairs website.  All questions regarding fund categories, justification requests, and reimbursement should be directed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at (940) 565-4259.

Small Class Size

Definition: The University of North Texas (UNT) defines a small class as:

  • undergraduate-level credit class with fewer than 12 registrations,
  • graduate-level credit class with fewer than seven registrations, and
  • combined undergraduate and graduate level classes with fewer than 12 registrations.

These definitions apply to organized classes whereby the primary mode of instruction is lecture, laboratory, or seminar.  Special problems, theses and dissertation enrollment, private lessons, etc. are excluded from these requirements.

Approval Process:

Decisions to offer courses below the minimum are determined at the college/school level and should be made with careful consideration (i.e.., program requirements, student demand, and financial accountability). Please note the decision to offer a small class is the exception not the rule.  Deans must approve low enrollment classes no later than the close of the 4th class day during the fall/spring term or 2nd class day during the summer term to allow enough time for students to be placed in another class.  The chair must submit a written justification to the dean for final approval.  The dean should maintain a record of any exceptions.  Listed below are some reasons a department may justify a low enrollment course:

  • Required course for graduation (This course is not offered each semester or term, and if canceled, may affect date of graduation of those enrolled.)
  • Required course for majors in this field and should be completed this semester (or term) to keep proper sequences in courses
  • Course in newly established degree program, concentration, or support area
  • Cross-listed courses taught as a single class by the same faculty at the same location, provided that the combined courses do not constitute a small class
  • First time offering of the course
  • Class size limited by accreditation or state licensing standards
  • Class size limited by availability of laboratory or clinical facilities
  • Voluntarily offered by a faculty member in excess of the institutional teaching load requirements and for which the faculty member receives no additional compensation (faculty is teaching course as an overload).

Small Class Reports:

The Office of the Registrar maintains a daily reporting of small classes https://registrar.unt.edu/faculty/reports.  The password protected site allows quick access for academic administrators to review enrollment reports (class listing, class compare, off campus, etc.).  For specific questions on these enrollment reports, please contact the registrar's office at (940) 565-4617.

Syllabus Requirements

Department chairs are responsible for ensuring that all course syllabi are uploaded to the Faculty Information System by the 7th class day, as per House Bill No. 2504.  Instructors of record are responsible for developing course syllabi.  The University requires consistent elements in each syllabus, which mirror the legislatively-mandated information.   This includes a brief description of each major course requirement and examination, required/recommended reading, and a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion.  The Teaching Excellence Handbook includes standard syllabus language and more specific institutional requirements.  Instructors can also find the list of required syllabi elements in the UNT Course Syllabi Requirements Policy.  This policy includes information on optional syllabi statements, along with suggested language, and additional policies regarding the creation, distribution, and usage of course syllabi.  Departments and/or Colleges may also require additional syllabus content.

Off-Site Locations

An off-site instructional location is any place where a course is offered off of the main UNT campus in Denton.  This definition also applies to distance learning course.  All approved courses at each of the off-campus sites are monitored by University Accreditation for reporting purposes.  Any academic department planning to teach a course at a new off-campus instructional site should complete the UNT Form to Add an Off-Campus Site for Instruction.  Offering instruction at a new off-site location requires approval within UNT before the class is added by the Registrar’s Office.

Study Abroad

The UNT Study Abroad Office (SAO) coordinates affiliate exchange, and faculty led programs for UNT students in collaboration with the colleges, schools, faculty, and staff.  The SAO provides administrative and logistical support for all faculty-led programs.  The Faculty Led Program Handbook and Proposal Timeline can be found on the SAO website and provides information needed to design and implement a successful program in accordance with UNT policy.  The SAO conducts professional development workshops as well as mandatory pre-departure training for faculty in preparaion for leading a program.

Faculty must submit a proposal online through the SAO website.  Proposal submission deadlines for future semesters can be found on the website.  The SAO is located in Sage Hall 236.  To schedule an appointment contact 940-565-2207 or studyabroad@unt.edu.

Study in America (outside of Texas)

Courses taught outside of the State of Texas, but within the United States, have special THECB reporting requirements.  Faculty should complete the SiA-200 forms, and submit them to the University Accreditation office once the faculty, department chair, and dean signatures are obtained.  The form should be submitted with a complete itinerary of the travel including specific dates, and on-campus meetings/dates.  Please list the number of contact hours for the course met off-campus versus on-campus, if applicable.  Once approved by University Accreditation, the SiA-200 routes through the University Accreditation Office to the Registrar’s Office before being added in EIS. 

Teaching Excellence Handbook

The Teaching Excellence Handbook is provided as a resource for instructional activities at UNT.  Included in this resource are helpful tips and important University information that will assist instructors, whether first-time teaching assistants or experienced professors, in carrying out their teaching responsibilities.  The handbook can be found on the Center for Learning Enhancement, Assessment, and Redesign (CLEAR) website within the larger Teaching Commons site, a "virtual resource and gathering space for UNT educators, " with robust sections on the Teaching Essentials including assessment, course design, and engaged learning. 

Grade Appeals

UNT Policy 06.040 outlines the grounds for a student grade appeal and the process by which the appeal must be carried out.  Chairs are responsible for granting extensions for any time limits identified in the policy, reviewing all formal grade appeals initiated by the student, attempting to resolve appeals through consultation with the instructor and student, forwarding all unresolved appeals to the faculty committee, and notifying the student and instructor of the final resolution in writing, signed by the department chair. 

Student Standards of Academic Integrity

UNT Policy 06.003 addresses the investigation and resolution of all allegations of student academic dishonesty.  Academic Affairs and the Dean of Students office collaborate on issues concerning academic integrity.  The Dean of Students office serves as the front door for reporting and maintaining incident reports, , and works closely with the Academic Integrity Officer in meeting with students in multiple or major violation situations.  The Academic Integrity Officer works with faculty, chairs, and students in educational opportunities, as well as leading student investigations

Faculty may seek guidance from the Academic Integrity Officer in evaluating academic misconduct situations.   Students have the right of due process and may appeal each single violation, each appeal is addressed by the Department Chair of the department in which the course in question is housed.  The department chair has final authority over appeals of academic penalties imposed for single violations.  Department Chairs may seek guidance from Academic Integrity. Links to the ‘Single Violation of Academic Dishonesty Form’, ‘Appeal Form,’ and ‘Single Violation of Academic Dishonesty Appeal Finding’ can be found on the faculty success website.  For more information or assistance, contact the Academic Integrity Officer:   Dr. Karen Weiller-Abels

Code of Student Conduct

UNT Policy 07.012 explains what conduct is prohibited, the process the University uses to review alleged violations, and the sanctions that can be imposed.  When students may have violated the Code, they must meet with a University official to discuss the violation in an educational process.  Any faculty member, student or staff member can report alleged misconduct to the Dean of Students Office.  To report alleged misconduct to the Dean of Students Office visit report.unt.edu.

Core Curriculum Guide

With respect to the university's core curriculum, departments have two primary functions:  creating (or amending) courses for the curriculum, which must obtain approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and reporting student attainment on core objectives, information that will ultimately roll up to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Information about the core curriculum process is located here.  The Director of the Core, Wendy Watson, is available to help you with every step of both processes.

Toulouse Graduate School

The Toulouse Graduate School works closely with departments. It sponsors activities to cultivate a robust graduate community at the University of North Texas, characterized by a vibrant research environment; it facilitates the successes of students, programs and alumni via selective recruitment, career development and unsurpassed services. Consult tgs.unt.edu for information and programs. The following contact list is a partial list of TGS staff with whom departments regularly work: