What are the basic bureaucratic requirements for getting a student-initiated class up and running?
Every student-initiated special studies 98/198 class needs to have a signed Course Proposal Form (opens PDF file) on file at the Academic Senate. Along with this form, you’re to submit both a syllabus for the class, and a series of answers to five questions regarding the course’s content delivery methods, learning objectives, and oversight (all of which are asked on the Course Proposal Form). Some departments ask you to submit this form (and its accompanying documents) to them directly, some ask you to take them over to the Academic Senate (320 Stephens Hall) on the department’s behalf. Once you’ve finished filing the campus administration’s Course Proposal Form, you can choose to post your class on the DeCal website, the place where most students look for listings of student-initiated classes. If you do this, DeCal will ask for your signed Course Proposal Form, a copy of your course syllabus, and a statement articulating the connections between your class and “democratic education.” T
