Please note a few pressing deadlines this year that are somewhat unique.

In order to make sure all changes for next year's catalogs are received

in time, they need to be received by December 29th. However, the

university is closed at that time. Therefore, I am going to request

that they be received by my office on Wednesday, December 6th. This

will allow the College Curriculum Committee to review the planned

changes at our meeting on the 7th and the documents to be received my

Academic Support Services well before the break. This also allows time

for revisions. Three things need to be seriously considered and planned

for, including:

1. Total number of hours for degree plans. The THECB is urging all

degrees to have no more than 120 hours, unless there are compelling

reasons. Those reasons presently include: licensure, norms for peer

institutions offering the same degrees, and accreditation. Please

discuss your degrees with your curriculum committees and find ways to

reduce the hours to 120 or provide the necessary compelling reason.

2. Create necessary University Study degrees for your departments

as appropriate. At present, I know of Biology's work to have such a

degree. We have to have one per college, so Biology's plan may satisfy

that requirement. However, if your department is planning to offer such

a degree with an area of emphasis, we must receive it by the deadline

above to be in next year's catalog.

3. The number of W courses within a major will be two for next

year's entering freshmen and transfer students. Please work with your

curriculum committees to find appropriate courses so that your majors

can graduate in a timely fashion.