IX. Course Planning and Academic Records
Overview
Faculty are responsible for making sure courses are planned clearly and entered accurately into the college registry. The registry is the Oakridge College section of Munibase.
Each course should have a course code, course name, department, short description, longer overview when more detail is needed, prerequisite when one applies, enrollment maximum, and assigned location when applicable.
The Details
Course planning helps Oakridge College keep its academic programs organized and understandable.
A course should be connected to the correct department, use the correct course code format, and have a description students can understand. Course records should be clear enough for students, Department Chairs, Deans, and the Registrar to know what the course is, where it belongs, who is responsible for it, and how it fits within the college.
Course planning is normally reviewed by the Department Chair. Courses that affect more than one department or School may require review by the Dean.
Course Registry Information
When a course is entered into the college registry, it should include:
- Course code
- Course name
- Department
- Short description
- Longer overview, when more detail is needed
- Prerequisite, if the course has one
- Enrollment maximum
- Home classroom zone, when one is assigned
- Any special requirements
The registry entry itself does not carry an instructor name or a meeting time. Teaching assignments are made within the department under the Department Chair. The Registrar records official course schedules, and the responsible faculty member is named where the class is placed on the college calendar. Section X covers scheduling and the use of facilities.
The short description should be one or two sentences. It should explain the course in plain language.
Course Code Format
Course codes are composed of two to four capital letters followed by a 3-digit number.
Examples:
- HIS-101
- ARCH-101
- PSY-302
- CFR-210
The letters show the subject area.
The number shows the general level of the course.
Faculty should use the approved course code prefixes listed in the appendix. If a course does not clearly fit an existing prefix, the faculty member should ask the Department Chair before creating a new one.
Course Numbers
The number shows the general difficulty and academic level of the course.
100–199: Introductory
Introductory courses are entry-level courses.
They are usually appropriate for first-year students or students who are new to the subject.
200–299: Intermediate
Intermediate courses assume some basic knowledge or prior coursework.
They are appropriate for students with some experience in the subject.
300–399: Advanced
Advanced courses are upper-level courses.
They may have more specialized content, stronger expectations, or deeper academic work.
400–499: Senior or Capstone
Senior or capstone courses are high-level courses.
They may include seminars, practicums, independent projects, senior work, or capstone requirements.
Course Names
Course names should be clear and direct.
A good course name should tell students what the course is about without needing a long explanation.
Examples:
- Introduction to Psychology
- Briarmont Local History
- Forestry and Land Stewardship
- Criminal Justice Systems
- Stagecraft and Production
Course names should avoid jokes, vague language, or titles that only make sense to the instructor.
Course Descriptions
Every course should have a short description for the registry.
The short description should explain:
- The main subject of the course
- The general method or focus
- The type of student the course may serve, if useful
Example:
Course: Homer's Odyssey (LIT-204)
Short Description:
A study of Homer's Odyssey through Emily Wilson's translation, with attention to its Mycenaean and Eastern Mediterranean background, oral tradition, and development as a written epic.
The registry also holds a longer overview. The overview may be used when more detail is needed for students, departments, or public listings.
Prerequisites
A course may have a prerequisite. The prerequisite should name the earlier course or the preparation a student needs before enrolling.
Enrollment Maximum
Each course should have an enrollment maximum.
The enrollment maximum should reflect the type of course and the space available.
A lecture may allow more students. A seminar, laboratory, studio, workshop, or performance course may need a smaller limit.
Faculty should choose enrollment limits carefully. A class should not be larger than the instructor can reasonably manage.
Course Location
Each course should have an assigned location when possible. The registry records this as a single home classroom zone.
The location should fit the type of course.
Examples:
- Main Lecture Hall for lectures
- Laboratory space for science courses
- Studio space for art courses
- Stage or rehearsal room for theatre and performance courses
- Field location for environmental or land sciences courses
If a course needs a special location, the faculty member should confirm that the space is available before the course is entered into the registry.
Academic Records
Course records should be accurate and kept up to date.
Academic records may include:
- Course registry entries
- Course descriptions
- Enrollment records
- Attendance records, if used
- Grade or credit records, if used
- Student completion records
- Approval records for special courses
- Notes about course changes or cancellations
Faculty should not change official course information without approval from the Department Chair, Dean, Registrar, or other proper authority.
Changes to Courses
Course changes should be reported before they affect students.
Changes may include:
- Course title
- Course code
- Description
- Overview
- Prerequisite
- Instructor
- Location
- Enrollment maximum
- Schedule
- Department assignment
- Course level
- Major requirements
Minor corrections may be handled by the Department Chair or Registrar.
Larger changes may require Dean review.
A change of instructor or of a class meeting time is not a registry change. It still affects students, so it should be announced to the class and reported to the Department Chair and the Registrar before it takes effect.
Special Topics and Experimental Courses
Oakridge may allow special topics or experimental courses when there is a clear academic purpose.
These courses should still have:
- A proper course code
- A clear title
- A short description
- An overview, when more detail is needed
- A prerequisite, if the course has one
- An instructor
- A department
- An enrollment maximum
- A location or format
- Approval from the Department Chair or Dean
Special topics courses should not be used to bypass department standards.
General Rule
Courses should be clear, organized, and properly recorded.
A student should be able to read a course entry and understand what the course is, where it belongs, how advanced it is, and why it is offered.
Faculty should ask their Department Chair or Dean when they are unsure how to code, describe, or register a course.
See Appendix A for the full course code prefix list and numbering examples.