A(6)

November, 1983

ROBINSON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
OFFERING OF CROSS-LISTED OR JOINT ENROLLMENT COURSES

Cross-listed Courses

Policy. Cross-listing of a graduate course with an undergraduate course is not permitted.

Definition. A cross-listed course is defined as one which the University Catalog or Graduate Bulletin of the Robinson College of Business explicitly states is the "same as" another course. For example, in the 1983-84 General Catalog, EC 489, History of American Labor, is listed "same as MGT 448 and HIST 489." This is an example of the cross-listing of one undergraduate course with another undergraduate course, which is permissible, given the approval of the Undergraduate Program Council and Faculty, following normal course proposal procedures. Similarly, the cross-listing of one graduate course with another graduate course is permissible with the approval of the Graduate Program Council and Faculty.

The cross-listing of an undergraduate course with a graduate course, referred to in the policy above, is defined as a course with a number of 499 or below being indicated "the same as" a course numbered 600 or above in the University Catalog and, conversely, the course numbered 600 or above being indicated "the same as" the course number 499 or below in the Graduate Bulletin.

Joint Enrollment Courses

Definition. A joint enrollment course is defined as an undergraduate course which is scheduled concurrently (in the same classroom on identical days and at identical times with the same instructor) with a graduate course.

Policy. The Graduate and Undergraduate Program Councils discourage the offering of joint enrollment courses. However, in exceptional cases, the Councils will permit a graduate and undergraduate course to be offered as a joint enrollment course, subject to the following minimum criteria:

1. Significant and demonstrable academic benefits for offering a joint enrollment course must exist. One example would be a unique academic program with exceptionally high quality students, but for which the enrollments are relatively small, a situation routinely preventing the offering of separate undergraduate and graduate courses on a basis that would result in efficient faculty utilization. Another example would be the implementation of a new course of high academic quality where sufficient future demand for the courses can be demonstrated so that joint enrollment would eventually not be needed, but where joint enrollment is required, in the short run, to implement the course. In all cases, demonstration of significant enrollment at both the graduate and undergraduate course levels must exist--i.e., a joint enrollment course cannot be offered where the enrollments are disproportionately (e.g., greater than 80%) in either the graduate or the undergraduate course.
   
   
2. The course must be taught at the graduate level and all students enrolled in a joint enrollment course must meet the graduate course requirements. However, undergraduate students will receive undergraduate course credit.
   
   
3. The AACSB Accreditation Standard for Masters Degree Programs with respect to "classes reserved exclusively for Graduate Students" is not jeopardized.

Procedures. Permission to offer a joint enrollment course must be requested by the academic unit at least two quarters prior to the quarter in which the courses will be jointly offered. The request must be in writing, explicitly addressing how the criteria stated above will be met. The written request should be addressed to the Dean. The Dean, or his designee, will review and approve or deny the request, in some cases consulting with one or both of the Curricular Program Councils before making the decision. On a periodic basis, the Graduate and Undergraduate Program Councils will be provided by the Dean's Office with a summary of all requests made by academic units and their disposition.

Selective Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

The policies stated above concerning cross-listing and joint enrollment do not speak to the issue of selective undergraduate enrollment in graduate courses. Current (as of November, l983) College policy does not allow this, but the Undergraduate and Graduate Program Councils may develop a less restrictive policy in the future.

Rationale for Policies on Cross-listing and Joint Enrollment

Historically, the College of Business Administration has not permitted the cross-listing of a graduate and an undergraduate course. There have been cases, however, where joint enrollment has been allowed. The Councils thus reaffirm and formalize existing but unstated policies.

There are two principal reasons for adopting these policies. First, AACSB accreditation standards restrict the number of graduate courses in which undergraduates are allowed. To allow unrestricted enrollment in graduate courses would jeopardize the College's accreditation. The second reason has to do with maintaining a high quality, rigorous graduate program. Allowing undergraduates who are unqualified for graduate work to enroll in graduate courses would put the quality of the graduate course at risk.

For these reasons, cross-listing should not be permitted. However, with respect to joint enrollment courses, the Councils recognize the possibility of exceptions and thus would allow joint enrollment under certain conditions. The criteria for allowing joint enrollment seek to protect the quality and rigor of the graduate course.