This is terrifying:
The second policy approved Friday gives the board “ultimate authority” over curriculum…The board “recognizes the important role of faculty expertise in curriculum development, course design, academic review, assessment, and continuous improvement,” the policy states. It goes on to say faculty have the primary responsibility to “deliver” academic programs and that Auburn’s curriculum-development processes should allow faculty to give advice and recommendations, but that “curriculum and courses are institutional matters subject to … final approval through the authority of the Board or through such administrative delegation as the Board may authorize.”
Suffice it to say, I have grave concerns about any university where the board of trustees or its designee will be the one to determine the curriculum. Add this as one more thing to be aware of when researching colleges.
The policy also appears to pre-empt any potential challenge from Auburn’s accreditor: “No external standard, recommendation, norm, action, or process shall limit the Board’s authority over institutional curriculum and course policy matters or require the University to act contrary to law or Board policy,” the policy states. Auburn’s accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, requires that faculty have primary responsibility for the “content, quality and effectiveness” of the curriculum.
I guess they’re counting on the Commission for Public Higher Education (related thread) to come to fruition and in enough time that SACS won’t be able to ding them on the curriculum portion.