| Title: | Academic Program and Accreditation Review, Policy on |
|---|---|
| Policy Owner: | Office of the Provost |
| Applies to: | All Academic Programs at UConn |
| Campus Applicability: | All UConn Campuses |
| Approval Date: | April 17, 2025 |
| Effective Date: | April 18, 2025 |
| For More Information, Contact: | Vice Provost for Academic Affairs |
| Contact Information: | Provost@uconn.edu, 860-486-4037 |
| Official Website: | https://provost.uconn.edu/ |
BACKGROUND
Ensuring the highest standards of academic excellence is a core commitment of the University of Connecticut. Regular external evaluations provide an objective assessment of our academic programs, fostering continuous improvement and alignment with current educational standards and industry needs. Moreover, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) Standards for Accreditation require universities to engage in regular academic program reviews to ensure ongoing compliance with accreditation requirements and to uphold the quality and integrity of their educational offerings. The Academic Program Review also provides an opportunity to obtain feedback about the extent to which the academic unit has the resources needed to implement high-quality academic programs.
In addition to institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation is essential in many fields to validate the required standards of educational programs that allow students to qualify for licensure and certification in professional fields. Generally, programmatic accreditation demonstrates external oversight of quality assurance for programs, reassuring students, employers, and other stakeholders that programs meet specified standards within a discipline or professional field.
PURPOSE
To establish a structured and systematic requirement for academic program review, including the periodic external evaluation of all academic programs at the University of Connecticut, to enhance program quality, promote accountability, and support strategic planning and resource allocation.
To ensure that programmatic accreditation, which can substitute for aspects of the academic program review process in part or in whole, has administrative oversight including formal procedures for seeking, maintaining, and documenting programmatic accreditation as established by the Office of the Provost.
APPLIES TO
This policy applies to all academic programs offered at the University, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs, including those offered by the Schools of Dental Medicine, Law, and Medicine.
DEFINITIONS
Academic Program: A combination of courses and related activities organized for the achievement of specific learning outcomes as defined by the University. This includes programming at both the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels and consists of degrees, majors, minors, certificates, and concentrations. Requirements for awarding these programs are defined in the appropriate university catalog.
External Evaluation: A comprehensive review conducted by an external review team to assess the quality, effectiveness, and relevance of the academic program(s) undergoing review.
External Review Team: A group of experts outside of the University selected to conduct the evaluation of academic programs.
Programmatic Accreditation. Programmatic accreditation applies to specific academic disciplines and programs, ensuring they meet established quality standards, engage in continuous improvement, and fulfill reporting requirements. Academic units pursuing this specialized accreditation are responsible for maintaining compliance with disciplinary standards, implementing ongoing improvements, and submitting necessary reports to the recognized accreditor.
Recognized Accreditor: A private nongovernmental organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or the U.S. Department of Education as able to review the quality of higher education institutions, academic units, or programs.
POLICY STATEMENT
All Academic Programs are required to undergo an External Evaluation at least once every eight (8) years. Academic Programs may seek an extension for no more than two (2) years. The Office of the Provost will establish the process for engaging academic units in the scheduled Academic Program review process, which will include engaging in a self-study process, producing a self-study report with supplementary information, hosting and facilitating a site visit with the External Review Team to ensure a thorough evaluation, and responding to the evaluation report.
For accredited programs, the accreditation review conducted by a Recognized Accreditor may fulfill some or all the University’s Academic Program External Evaluation requirements. To allow for this substitution, the University must maintain records of the Programmatic Accreditation process, status, and any related evidence or reports. In cases where the accreditation review does not cover aspects of the University’s Academic Program review process, the program may be asked to address those gaps to fully comply with the University’s Academic Program review standards.
ENFORCEMENT
Violations of this policy or related procedures may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, Rules of Conduct, applicable collective bargaining agreements.
REFERENCES
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) Standards for Accreditation
The following documents are available from the Academic Affairs Governance Document Library.
- Academic Program Review Handbook
- Academic Program Review Self-Study Guidelines
- Guidelines for Disciplinary-specific Accredited Programs
POLICY HISTORY
Policy created: 04/17/2025 (Approved by Senior Policy Council and President)