Curriculum and Catalog Essentials
Tarleton State University utilizes CourseLeaf for the online catalog management system (CAT) and the Curriculum Inventory Management system (CIM). The CAT and CIM systems are accessed using NTNET credentials and access is granted through the request of a department head to the Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum (see below). The CAT and CIM systems are managed by the Office of Curriculum and Assessment.
Some processes require external approval from the TAMUS Board of Regents, THECB, and SACSCOC. Consult the Assistant Provost for Curriculum and Assessment, or the Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum, when determining if items require external approval. Items requiring approval include, but are not limited to: distance education requests, administrative change requests, development of certificate options, and new program proposals.
Curriculum Overview and Timelines
- 2025-2026 Curriculum Quick Facts – deadlines, timelines, committees, processes
- For items to be considered by the Academic Curriculum Review Committee (ACRC), they must be approved by their College Curriculum Committee by the last Wednesday of the month. Departments and colleges should set their meeting schedules accordingly.
- 2025-2026 Curriculum Committee Calendar
| Committee | Chair/Lead | General Meeting Day |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Curriculum Review Committee (ACRC) | Violet Newell | 1st Wednesday |
| General Education (Gen.Ed.) | Denise Martinez | 1st Friday after ACRC |
| Writing Intensive (WI) | Kathleen Mollick | 1st Monday after ACRC |
| Educator Prep (Ed Prep) | Elizabeth Garcia | 2nd Tuesday |
| Graduate Council (Grad) | Brandon Shipman | 3rd Tuesday |
| Univ. Curriculum Committee (UCC) | Denise Martinez | 3rd Wednesday |
| Academic Council (AC) | Aimee Shouse | 4th Tuesday |
- Two-year curriculum cycle
- The two-year curriculum cycle (established in spring 2023) alternates undergraduate and graduate curriculum updates every other year. The benefits of this approach include greater stability and clarity in the curriculum and adequate lead time to address curriculum-related issues such as course needs, scheduling, and catalog content.
- The 2025-2026 academic year is for graduate items for the Fall 2027 catalog. Curriculum updates may be entered in CourseLeaf from October 2025 through April 2026. Curriculum for new programs may follow a different timeline based on TAMUS Board of Regents meetings. The cycle is summarized below:
| Cycle | Curriculum Submissions | Effective for catalog |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | Oct. 2025 – Apr. 2026 | Fall 2027 |
| Undergraduate | Oct. 2026 – Apr. 2027 | Fall 2028 |
| Graduate | Oct. 2027 – Apr. 2028 | Fall 2029 |
| Undergraduate | Oct. 2028 – Apr. 2029 | Fall 2030 |
See the Curriculum Resources page for additional details.
Exceptions to the timeline or cycle must be requested here: Curriculum Timeline/Cycle Exceptions
Catalog Overview and Timeline
Tarleton State University maintains a university catalog as well as an archive of past catalogs.
Timeline overview:
- October – request for catalog edits is sent to all programs and divisions represented in the catalog.
- January 31 – deadline for submitting catalog edits.
- April 1 – catalog is published for the upcoming academic year.
All catalog updates are submitted by the individual departments and divisions at Tarleton State University. Catalog updates include: edits to the content, addition of new programs and new minors, removal of deactivated programs and minors, descriptions of programs and minors, faculty, contact information, and the faculty index. Each department/division is responsible for reviewing their catalog content for accuracy, making necessary updates to the material, and submitting the changes for review.
The Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum coordinates the materials necessary for publication of the university catalog. The catalog edit cycle begins in October (although updates may be entered by the programs throughout the current year) and submitted for publication no later than January 31st of each academic year. This ensures content is available for course scheduling, advising, orientations, etc. for the upcoming academic year.
The catalog is published by April 1st of each year. Content may be updated as subject to change as deemed necessary by the Office of Curriculum, Assessment, and Faculty Affairs (CAFA). CAFA manages the online catalog system and collaborates publication with CourseLeaf. Please contact the Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum (see below) for additional information or assistance.
New Program Proposal Overview
New program proposals are managed by the Associate Provost and Associate Vice-President for Academic Administration, Operations, and Accreditation as well as the Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum. New Program Proposals must receive authorization from the Provost prior to planning.
Complete and submit the form below to seek Provost approval and begin the new program proposal process:
Once the memo is approved, the Manager of the University Catalog and Curriculum will contact the program to begin entering curriculum information into CourseLeaf and complete the formal program proposal documents.
The new program proposal approval process operates on a two-year cycle due to external approval considerations. All proposals are submitted to the following for consideration and approval:
- TAMUS Board of Regents, then
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), then
- Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
New programs are not authorized to recruit, advertise, or admit any students until SACSCOC approval is secured.
Add or Remove Location and/or Modality
Editing a location and/or modality for an existing program proposals must receive authorization from the Provost. This process is managed by the Assistant Provost for Curriculum, as well as the Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum.
Complete and submit the form below to seek Provost approval and begin the location/modality change process:
Once the memo is approved, the department will update the program information into CourseLeaf and the Office of Off-Campus Education will contact the program for any additional documentation.
All location/modality updates are submitted to the following for consideration and approval:
- TAMUS Board of Regents, then
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), then
- Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Programs are not authorized to recruit, advertise, or admit any students into a new location or modality until SACSCOC approval is secured.
Program Closure Overview
Program closures must receive authorization from the Provost. This process is managed by the Assistant Provost for Curriculum, as well as the Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum.
Complete and submit the form below to seek Provost approval and begin the program closure process:
Once the memo is approved, the department will deactivate the program in CourseLeaf and the Office of Curriculum and Assessment will contact the department for additional documentation, including a teach-out plan.
All program closure requests are submitted to the following for consideration and approval:
- TAMUS Board of Regents, then
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), then
- Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Programs may not stop admitting students until the closure is approved.
Administrative Structure Changes
For academic units, the creation of new administrative structures, or changes to existing administrative structures are managed by the Associate Provost and Associate Vice-President for Academic Administration, Operations, and Accreditation as well as the Manager of University Catalog and Curriculum. Administrative structure initiatives for academic units must receive authorization from the Provost.
Complete and submit the form below to seek Provost approval and begin the program closure process:
Once the memo is approved, the department will enter the request into “Miscellaneous Items” in CourseLeaf. The Office of Curriculum and Assessment will contact the department for additional documentation.
All administrative structure changes are submitted to the following for consideration and approval:
- TAMUS Board of Regents, then
- Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), then
- Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Contact Us
Violet Newell
Manager of University Catalog & Curriculum
Office: Library 130
Email: vnewell@tarleton.edu
Phone: 254-968-9387
Denise Martinez
Assistant Provost for Curriculum and Assessment
Office: Library 129
Email: dmartinez@tarleton.edu
Phone: 254-968-9924