School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions

Proposing a course

Course Proposals

To propose a course in the Summer or Winter Session, please discuss the possibility with your chairperson or school director.

Courses to consider:

those that will help Cornell students meet degree requirements,
those that are usually overenrolled,
those that will not be offered in the following year because of faculty leaves,
those that are required by other departments for their students, and
those that are offered through distance learning.

Every course proposed must have a reasonable prospect of attracting an adequate number of students. For most courses, this is approximately ten students. If a course has recently had fewer students, please include your justification for proposing the course in the cover letter that accompanies the course's submission.

Although proposals must be submitted through your chairperson or director, we are available to discuss any course ideas you may have at any time. For questions about proposing a course, please contact Ruby Brown (607.255.6627, e-mail).

To propose a special program or a course taught through distance learning, please contact Mary Adie, (607.255.7259, e-mail) our program coordinator.

It is not too soon to begin planning since field study program arrangements require considerable lead time.

Making changes to a course

Students often plan their spring and fall courses of study and their work schedules around the information available on the Summer and Winter Session Web sites. Course cancellations or changes in session or time may have a serious effect on their planning and progress through their degree program. Once courses have been announced on the web site, they should not be changed unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Course changes must be approved by the department chairperson and by the director of Summer/Winter Session.

Room changes or changes in instructors are not usually as disruptive. Please notify Ruby Brown (607.255.6627, e-mail), course coordinator, or Mary Aide (607.255.9697, e-mail) for Special Programs, by e-mail of any changes which are made to your original proposal.

Changes in Meeting Times or Classrooms

To request a change in classroom, please have the appropriate person in your department's office contact your college's classroom coordinator.

For summer classes, this person should send an e-mail to the University Registrar's office (univ_scheduling@cornell.edu), being sure to inform that office of any special requirements. A room will be assigned and the new classroom information will be provided to both your department and the School office.
For winter classes, it is only necessary for you to let us know of your classroom assignment.

To request a change in class time, you should first discuss the matter with your department. Class times require the approval of Charles Jermy, associate dean and director of Summer/Winter Session. Please have your department's representative contact Ruby Brown (607.255.6627, e-mail) with your request.

Information about course changes is updated regularly and is available at all registrations held in 260 Day Hall and/or in B20 Day Hall.

New and Significantly Changed Courses

Any courses that have not been previously approved must be submitted to your college's educational policy committee for its consideration prior to, or simultaneously with, submission to the School office. A statement of the committee's approval will subsequently be required before the course can be offered.

College of Arts and Sciences departments are required to submit the following courses to the College's Educational Policy Committee:

any course to be taught by a graduate student or other non-faculty person. (Prospective instructors will be expected to have passed their "A exams" and to have had substantial successful teaching experience.)
any course that has previously been approved by the EPC that has new features that now make it "experimental" or "innovative"
any course in which the teaching assistant's responsibility will be different from that during the fall or spring semesters

Specific questions about this policy should be addressed to Debra Morey (607.255.7061).

Departments of other colleges may have similar requirements. Please check with your department chairperson.

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