Academic Resources

Page Updated: July 17, 2023

The University of North Texas supports an active faculty-led curriculum review process in which department chairs are active participants. Curriculog is the electronic tool used at UNT to submit, review, track, and approve curricular proposals at the course and program levels. To access the Curriculog system, faculty should request permission from an authority in the college, department, and/or division. Additional information and permissions can be obtained by contacting catalog@unt.edu.

The following faculty senate committees are responsible for curriculum:

These committees are supported by the Office of the Registrar and ensure that the university meets THECB and SACSCOC requirements regarding curriculum.

Departmental stewardship of the core curriculum focuses on offering courses appropriate to the core, assessing core outcomes through aligned key assignment(s) included in each core course, and reporting of student assessment data. Approval of core course additions, modifications, and deletions must be obtained through the usual UNT channels with the support of the Director of the Core with ultimate approval from the THECB. Significant changes to key assignments must be approved by the OCCC in conjunction with the Director of the Core.

Learning outcome assessment data are reported each semester with the analysis of results, action planning to increase student learning related to core outcomes, and progress tracking occur annually. While most departments elect to collect data automatically using or aligned to the UNT Core Rubrics through CANVAS (with some additional reporting in Qualtrics), others collect the data on their own and report it via the Improve system.  General information about the core curriculum can be found under Accreditation in the Division of Planning and more detailed support for departments and individual faculty members can be found on the Core Resources for Faculty site.

 

Class scheduling is an on-going process throughout the academic year. UNT works approximately one year out to develop and publish the class schedule semester-by-semester basis. Each new semester is built using the previous-like semester as a base (e.g., Spring 2023 is the base for Spring 2024, etc). All changes are completed electronically via Courseleaf.

The preliminary schedule is uploaded to CourseLeaf for initial edits. After initial edits, all subsequent changes to the schedule require workflow approvals from the Dean, Registrar, and other parties as appropriate. Next departments may refine their schedule prior to the mass assigning of general-use (110 type) classrooms. The schedule may continue to be adjusted and will be published to students prior to registration. Between each phase is a temporary administrative pause, allowing for processing and clean-up.

For additional assistance with any aspect of this process, please contact the Registrar Scheduling team directly or visit the Registrar’s SharePoint website for resources.

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 Chair’s website. All questions regarding fund categories, justification requests, and reimbursement should be directed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success at (940) 565-4259.

Small Class Size

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

  • 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 compare, Small Class Report & Off campus. For specific questions on these enrollment reports and others such as scheduling, records and degree audit forms, please contact the registrar's office at (940) 565-4617.

The class listing report has recently been moved to BI Publisher in EIS.  Please visit the BI Publisher document which includes further detailed instructions.  Instructions can also be found on the Registrar’s SharePoint site listed in the section above. 

The report generated in EIS provides class listings in real time for any specific term and/or subject.  The report includes all sections offered for the specified term, current enrollment capacity numbers, and current total enrollment per section.  Other helpful information includes instruction modality, meeting times and days, and instructor information.   This report is useful for chairs to monitor enrollment fluctuations as section capacities increase and can assist in estimating demand for course sections within departments.

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. Instructors can also find the list of required syllabi elements in the UNT Course Syllabi Requirements Policy, 06.049. 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

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, 06.003, Study Abroad. The SAO conducts professional development workshops as well as mandatory pre-departure training for faculty in preparation 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 in Marquis Hall, Room 145. To schedule an appointment, contact 940-565-2207 or studyabroad@unt.edu.

The Grade Appeal Policy, (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.

 

The Student Standards of Academic Integrity, (UNT Policy 06.003), addresses the investigation and resolution of all allegations of student academic dishonesty. The Academic Integrity Officers and Administrator work with faculty, chairs, and students in ensuring processes are followed, providing educational opportunities, and meeting with all students who have multiple and/or major violations.

Faculty may seek guidance from the Academic Integrity Liaisons in their college or the Academic Integrity Office in evaluating academic misconduct situations. Students have the right of due process and may appeal each alleged 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 the Academic Integrity Office. Links to the ‘Academic Integrity Violation Report’, Appeal Finding Forms, and more can be found on the student success website. For more information or assistance, contact the following:
 

Academic Integrity Office: academic.integrity@unt.edu

  • Academic Integrity Officer: Dr. Karen Weiller-Abels
    Email: Karen.Weiller@unt.edu
    Location: P.E.B 209A
    Phone: (940) 565-2856
  • Academic Integrity Officer: Dr. Tracy Everbach
    Email: tracy.everbach@unt.edu
    Location: Sycamore Hall, Room 254
    Phone: (940) 369-7766

 

The Code of Student Conduct Policy, (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.

 

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 https://tgs.unt.edu/ for information and programs. The following contact list is a partial list of TGS staff with whom departments regularly work: