UNC Charlotte Academic Procedure: One-Time Course Approvals

I. Executive Summary

The approval of courses for one-time only is intended to allow for expediency when it is necessary and/or when time does not allow for the course approval through the regular course and curriculum process. This procedure outlines the process for these approvals.

II. Procedure Statement

Courses that will be offered only one time or require an immediate approval for a specific semester or term can receive preliminary approval prior to the course and curriculum review at the request of the department chair and the approval of either the college’s Associate Dean for undergraduate courses or the Dean of the Graduate School for graduate courses. To facilitate the request, the Associate Dean or Dean should contact the Classroom/Scheduling area in the Office of the Registrar directly; the department must have submitted an official approval request through the course and curriculum process at the time of requesting one-time approval.

One-time course approval is applicable only once; after the course has been offered once through one-time course approval for a specific semester or term, the course must be approved through the course and curriculum approval process.

III. Definitions

  • College – An academic unit of the University. Each of the seven discipline-based colleges at UNC Charlotte represents an organization of related departments.
  • Course – A specific subject studied within a limited period of time. Courses may utilize lectures, discussion, laboratory, seminar, workshop, studio, independent study, internship, or other similar teaching formats to facilitate learning.
  • Dean – The highest authority within an academic division of study. An Academic Dean heads each College. In addition to the academic deans, there is also a Dean of Students within the Division of Student Affairs.
  • Department – A unit within a college representing a discipline. For example, the Department of English is in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences (CHESS).
  • Registrar – The official at the University who is responsible for maintaining student records. The Office of the Registrar plans and oversees registration, academic record maintenance, transcript preparation, graduation, a degree audit report system, and curricular records.
  • Semester or Term – A period of study, usually a third of the academic year (i.e., Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters). Fall and Spring semesters generally include a period of study of one 15-week and two 7-week half terms. The Summer semester generally includes one eleven-week and two five-week half terms. UNC Charlotte offers courses for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, as well as varying term lengths associated with each semester.  For the definition of each term refer to the Office of the Registrar.

IV. Procedure Contact(s)

V. History

  • Established: December 10, 2013
  • Revised: December 6, 2016 [department must have submitted an approval request through the course and curriculum process]

VI. Related Policies, Procedures, and Resources

VII. Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where is this procedure referenced?
    The procedure is published on the Academic Policies & Procedures webpage of the Provost website.
  • Will the course description appear in the Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog?
    No. Course descriptions for one-time course approvals will not appear in the Undergraduate or Graduate Catalogs — or in Banner — until the proposed course goes through the full course and curriculum approval process.