Changes in program requirements can be frustrating for some, especially when a course stops being offered. However, there are many steps taken to codify these changes. The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) is a group of faculty and staff members who propose changes to the college’s curriculum and review proposed faculty changes.

“We’re the filter that makes sure people are trying to propose what expectations are before things are brought to the faculty,” AAC Co-Chair and Biology Professor Jodi Goldberg said.

While the AAC does not enact changes, they ensure proposed changes make sense and align with Hamline’s expectations in academics. The AAC also makes recommendations about courses, majors and minors, then brings those recommendations to the faculty, who vote to implement them or not.

“The curriculum is owned by the entire faculty, not just a committee within the faculty,” Goldberg said.

The Provost’s role in the process is very limited because academic changes are largely faculty motivated.

“To change a requirement for a major, a major would need to go to their curriculum committee,” Interim Provost Andy Rundquist said. “They would then bring [proposed changes] to a faculty vote to pass the changes, and I am welcome to those meetings and that’s about it.”

At Hamline, faculty guide the curriculum through their own committee and votes. The Faculty Council consists of 12 members who vote on proposed changes in curriculum. The AAC may review proposals so it is the best it can be before being proposed to the faculty committee. This still leaves questions surrounding how these changes impact students within the programs.

“Any changes the faculty vote to approve this year (2024-25) go into effect fall 2025. We call this the ‘Bulletin Year’ for the set of requirements. Students who have already declared the major can continue to follow the requirements that were in place when they declared the major,” Registrar Gwenn Sherburne said via email.

Even if major changes occur in a program, a student may continue to follow the requirements that were in place during the bulletin year they declared a major. Although, this may be more difficult if classes that were once required in that bulletin year are no longer offered.

If “courses were required for the Bulletin Year the student is following, their major advisor and department chair can help them find substitute courses,” Sherburne said.

When a student is “grandfathered in”, said student can follow the requirements from the bulletin of the year they began their major. This allows students flexibility in their path at Hamline.

“When we’re changing the major, we recognize that the people currently in the major will need to finish that major,” Goldberg reminded.

The Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) serves as an academic resource for students who may be concerned about completing certain courses and graduation requirements. With nine staff members, students can find the help they need in the basement of Bush Memorial Library.