From September 2026 to January 2027, instructional faculty will develop final learning outcomes for the 14 program requirements in the new program. Over 100 faculty members will work in teams from September to October 2026 to refine draft outcomes first developed in Spring 2026 by the Core Curriculum Committee; these draft outcomes were affirmed by the campus community in voting during May 2026. In October-November 2026, all instructional faculty will give further input by survey to inform the next draft of these learning outcomes. By end of January 2027, the General Education Oversight Committee/GEOC, the new faculty governance and C&I body for the program, will incorporate this round of broad faculty feedback and finalize the learning outcomes for the 14 program requirements. 
 
In Spring 2027, faculty will begin to develop permanent classes to be included in the first semester offerings of the new program in Fall 2028. The regular timeline for permanent course proposals is defined by the VPFC with a submission deadline in Fall 2027 to be considered for the Fall 2028 catalogue-please see VPFC due dates and guidelines.
 
In Summer 2027 and Fall 2027, units may opt to propose and offer approved pilot classes: “experimental classes”. The approval process for an experimental class is relatively short-please see below. 
 
JMU’s established process for proposing permanent and experimental courses in the university platform, now CourseLeaf (Fall 2026), will govern the approval of both new classes and revisions to existing Gen Ed classes. 
 
Summary of JMU Permanent Course Proposal Process, Gen Ed: 
After an initial course proposal is approved by the unit’s faculty, the unit’s C&I and AUH; and the College C&I and College Dean; then the General Education Oversight Committee/GEOC, the new faculty governance and C&I body for General Education, will review the proposal. The AVP for Curriculum, on behalf of the Provost, gives final approval.  
 
Summary of JMU Experimental Course Proposal Process, Gen Ed: 
This requires approval by the AUH and Dean, followed by the General Education Oversight Committee/GEOC. The AVP for Curriculum, on behalf of the Provost, confirms final approval of the class. Link: https://www.jmu.edu/faculty/faculty-affairs/curriculum/process/experimental_courses.shtml