Discontinuing Existing Courses

When a course is no longer useful, the department should take the initiative to have it discontinued. To discontinue a course, write a letter requesting that the course be dropped and obtain the necessary departmental, college, (and Graduate College) approvals.

"6-10" Regulation. Biennially, the Office of the Provost sends to each academic unit a list of courses in that unit that will be discontinued because they are in violation of the "6-10" regulation.

The "6-10" regulation requires the dropping of a course for one of the following reasons: (1) when the average of two successive registrations during the regular academic year is less than 6 in 400-level courses or less than 10 in 100, 200 or 300-level courses, or (2) when a course at any level approved for the regular academic year is not offered during six consecutive academic-year semesters. All graduate-credit courses are exempt from the average registration rule, but they are subject to the six-semester rule. Thesis, honors, individual instruction, and undergraduate open seminar courses are exempt from the "6-10" regulation.

NOTE: Registration statistics are based on enrollments as of the tenth day of class.

If a department head believes that any of the courses listed in violation of the "6-10" regulation should not be discontinued, he or she may write a letter of justification to the Office of the Provost explaining why the course(s) should be retained. This request must be endorsed by the appropriate dean or director. In the case of graduate-level courses, the Dean of the Graduate College must also endorse the request. Cross-listed courses require the endorsement of the appropriate cross-listed departments. In addition, if the cross-listing involves a different college, approval from that college must be obtained as well.