Due to the changes to the academic calendar beginning in 2022-23, the Center for the Skills and Experience Flags had to make changes to our Flag proposal deadlines. The following message was sent by email to deans and department chairs in June 2022:
As you know, the new academic calendar that begins this fall is resulting in many changes to processes across the university, including substantial changes to the course schedule production calendar. Because the Flag proposal and review timeline is based on the Registrar’s course schedule production deadlines, the Center for the Skills and Experience Flags (CSEF) will have to make significant changes to the Flag proposal deadlines to ensure that Flag proposals can be reviewed and approved in time for the relevant course schedule.
This message describes those changes and the reasons for them, and I would appreciate your help in making sure faculty and others in your units are aware of these changes. I will also be sending a more detailed message to departmental course schedulers, who work closely with the CSEF office to ensure the accuracy of the Flags in the course schedule.
Moving From Four Deadlines Each Year to Two
Currently, there are four Flag proposal deadlines each year, aligned with the production calendar for one or more of the course schedules:
- Mid-December: First deadline for fall proposals (aligned with the original phase of the course schedule production) and only deadline for summer proposals.
- Early February: Final deadline for fall proposals (aligned with the chair’s proof phase of the course schedule production).
- Mid-April: First deadline for spring proposals (aligned with original phase).
- Mid-June: Final deadline for spring proposals (aligned with chair’s proof).
With the new course schedule production calendar, there is no longer enough time between chair’s proof and the course schedule publication to allow for a second Flag proposal deadline for fall. Moreover, the summer timing of chair’s proof for the spring schedule presents challenges for having faculty Flag committee members (many of whom are on 9-month contracts) review proposals in time for a second spring deadline.
As a result, moving forward, there will be two Flag proposal deadlines each year, each one timed to fall between the end of original phase and the beginning of chair’s proof for that semester. For the 2022-23 academic year, these deadlines will be
- December 8, 2022: Proposal deadline for summer and fall 2023 course schedules.
- May 1, 2023: Proposal deadline for spring 2024 course schedule.
If you have questions about the changes, or if the new deadlines create specific challenges for your department, please contact me (hermanjm@austin.utexas.edu). We will send reminders about the deadlines each semester, as usual, but wanted to let you know about these changes as early as possible. Thank you for your help with communicating these changes to faculty and relevant staff in your unit.
Sincerely,
Jeanette Herman, Ph.D. (she/her) | Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives and Director, Bridging Disciplines Programs | hermanjm@austin.utexas.edu | The University of Texas at Austin | School of Undergraduate Studies