Author: Sundara, Anida

Academic Program and Accreditation Review, Policy on

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)

Outdoor Activities Policy

Title: Outdoor Activities Policy
Policy Owner: Office of the Provost and Office of the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment
Applies to: Workforce Members, Students, Others
Campus Applicability: Storrs and Regional Campuses
Approval Date: August 20, 2024
Effective Date: August 21, 2024
For More Information, Contact Office of the Provost or Office of the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment
Contact Information: provost@uconn.edu or VPSLE@uconn.edu
Official Website: https://provost.uconn.edu or https://studentlife.uconn.edu

PURPOSE

To support a safe environment for the University community and our visitors and clarify the expectations, restrictions, and requirements related to the use of outdoor spaces, whether scheduled, unscheduled, active, or passive.

APPLIES TO

This policy applies to Students, Workforce Members and Visitors on the Storrs and Regional Campuses.

Jurisdiction: This policy applies to all outdoor facilities and spaces under the control of the University of Connecticut.

POLICY STATEMENT

Outdoor activities are permitted on University property provided they are held in accordance with all University policies and procedures, and relevant laws and regulations. The University has the authority to ensure outdoor activities comply with the following requirements:

  1. Prohibited Items and Practices
    • Weapons or weapon facsimiles.
    • Amplified or projected sound not in accordance with the Amplified and Projected Sound policy.
    • Obstructing public access. Blocking access to public spaces or hindering anyone’s ability to enter or exit an area. A clear path of ingress and egress must always be maintained at all building entrances and exits, ADA ramps, stairs, and walkways, as well as for emergency vehicles.
    • Camping or encampments.
    • Ignitable paper, sky lanterns or other like luminaries that may present fire hazards.
  2. Outdoor Activity Disruption: No outdoor activity is permitted to disrupt another outdoor activity. To minimize/avoid disruption, University officials may direct one or more outdoor activities to relocate. Failure to comply with this or other directives will be considered a violation of University policies and subject to sanctions. Failure to comply may also be subject to law enforcement action, including criminal penalties.

PROCEDURES

 For more information for scheduling outdoor events and procedures related to this policy, visit the InForm website.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the University of Connecticut Student Code.

The Provost or designee and the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment or designee shall review this policy annually and will recommend revisions and/or updates as may be appropriate.

Questions about this Policy may be directed to the Office of the Provost at provost@uconn.edu or the Office of the Vice President for Life and Enrollment at VPSLE@uconn.edu.

POLICY HISTORY

Policy created: 08/20/2024 (Approved by the Senior Policy Council and President)

Fitness for Duty Policy

Title: Fitness for Duty Policy
Policy Owner: Human Resources
Applies to: Employees
Campus Applicability: Storrs and Regional Campuses
Approval Date: August 20, 2024
Effective Date: August 21, 2024
For More Information, Contact: Human Resources
Contact Information: (860) 486-3034 or hr@uconn.edu
Official Website: https://hr.uconn.edu/ 

BACKGROUND

The University is committed to providing a workplace that is conducive to a safe and healthy environment, supportive of our educational mission. Employees must be able to perform their job duties in a safe, productive, and effective manner. Employees who are not Fit for Duty may present a safety risk for themselves or others.

PURPOSE

To ensure the health and safety of individuals in the University community and others with whom they have contact.

DEFINITIONS

Fit for Duty: An employee is physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of performing their job responsibilities effectively and safely.

Fit for Duty Evaluation: A professional assessment of an employee’s physical, mental, and/or emotional capacities carried out by a licensed Health Care Evaluator to determine whether the employee is physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of performing their duties. This may include a “functional capacity evaluation” (FCE), which is a set of tests, practices, and/or observations that are combined to determine the employee’s ability to safely perform the physical and other demands of their specific job.

Health Care Evaluator: An independent, licensed, health care provider with appropriate expertise to conduct a Fitness for Duty Evaluation.

POLICY STATEMENT

The University may conduct a Fit for Duty Evaluation with an independent, licensed Health Care Evaluator, where such an exam is job-related and consistent with business needs. This includes, but is not limited to, situations where an employee:

  • has observable difficulty performing their duties safely, which may include situations in which the employee appears to be impaired by drugs, alcohol, or other substances;
  • is returning from an intermittent or block medical leave, where there is a reasonable basis to verify the necessity of the leave or of the ability of the employee to return;
  • has observable difficulty performing the essential functions of their position; and/or
  • poses an imminent or serious safety threat to self or others.

This policy is not a substitute for the University’s policies and protocols regarding sick or medical leave requests, workers’ compensation claims, or reasonable accommodations and may be in addition to benefits processing, as legally and/or contractually permitted.  It also is not a substitute for other University policies or procedures related to discipline, performance management, or prevention of violence in the workplace; nor is it a substitute for any requirements or regulations under the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council or Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-291e, as may be amended from time to time, or other licensing boards.

Employee and Supervisor Responsibilities:

Employees:

  • Must come to work Fit for Duty and must perform their job responsibilities throughout their workday.
  • Must notify their supervisor as soon as possible if they feel they cannot safely perform their job. Employees are not required to disclose health-related information to their supervisor.
  • Should notify their supervisor as soon as possible when they observe a co-worker acting in a manner that suggests the co-worker may be impaired or otherwise not Fit for Duty. If the supervisor is the individual of concern, the employee may inform the next level supervisor or contact Employee Relations at (860) 486-5684 or laborrelations@uconn.edu.
  • Must provide relevant information or releases for medical records reasonably requested by the Health Care Evaluator conducting the Fit for Duty Evaluation.
  • Must comply with authorized requests to submit to a Fit for Duty Evaluation. Non-compliance may constitute insubordination and result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Supervisors:

  • Are responsible for observing the attendance, performance, and behavior of employees under their supervision.
  • Must follow this policy when presented with circumstances or knowledge indicating an employee may be not Fit for Duty.
  • Must contact Employee Relations if they have a reasonable belief that an employee is unable to perform their job and may need a Fit for Duty Evaluation.
  • Should contact the UConn Police Department first if there is an immediate safety concern or threat and thereafter make a referral to the Employees of Concern (“EOC”) Team. When there is not an immediate safety concern, the employee may nonetheless present a threat to themselves or others, make a referral to EOC.

Fit for Duty Evaluation:

  • The Fit for Duty Evaluation will be conducted to determine whether the employee is physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of performing their job responsibilities effectively and safely. The Fit for Duty Evaluation is not for diagnosis or treatment.
  • The examination may include medical testing, psychological testing, physical examination, or an FCE that may involve performance of actual physical tasks and duties.
  • When the University requires a Fit for Duty Evaluation pursuant to this policy, the University shall select the Health Care Evaluator and bear the cost of the examination.
  • Results from the University’s selected Health Care Evaluator shall be presumed valid. In case of significant disagreement or contradiction by the employee’s physician, the University may request another opinion, for which it will bear the cost.

Return to Work:

  • The Health Care Evaluator will provide the appropriate University officials, including but not limited to Human Resources and Employee Relations, with a written report detailing the nature and extent of the employee’s functional limitations or restrictions concerning the employee’s ability to effectively safely perform the essential functions of their job, if any, and the expected duration of any such limitations.
  • The Health Care Evaluator will make the final determination of an employee’s fitness for duty status based on their assessment of the employee and review of the essential functions of the employee’s position, based on their University job description and duties.
  • The University must receive a written return to work/fitness for duty form from the Health Care Evaluator before the employee may return to work.
  • Where applicable, Human Resources shall be consulted to facilitate the reasonable accommodation process. Nothing contained in this policy is intended to create a right to light duty work.
  • If an employee is deemed unfit for duty, their employment status will be determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with federal and state law, University policy and procedures, and any applicable collective bargaining agreement or employment contracts.

Confidentiality:

  • Records of Fit for Duty Evaluations will be treated as confidential and will only be shared or used as permitted by law.
  • Information concerning an employee’s fitness for duty will be shared only with those who need to know for legitimate business purposes. Typically, information available to the employee’s work unit after the Fit for Duty Evaluation will be limited to whether the employee is fit to resume their job duties and whether the employee needs specific reasonable accommodations, as determined by Human Resources.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the University of Connecticut Student Code.

RESOURCES

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
EAP Phone: (860) 679-2877, CT toll-free: 800-852-4392
Web: https://hr.uconn.edu/employee-assistance-program/
Provides confidential assessment and referrals for employees seeking assistance in dealing with alcohol and substance misuse.

If there is no emergency or imminent threat, employee concerns should be reported to Human Resources via laborrelations@uconn.edu.

If there is an imminent threat or an emergency situation, the University of Connecticut Police Department (UCPD) should be contacted immediately by dialing 911.

POLICY HISTORY

Policy created: 08/20/2024 (Approved by Senior Policy Council and the President)

Malign Foreign Talent Program Participation Policy

Title: Malign Foreign Talent Program Participation Policy
Policy Owner: Office of the Vice President for Research, Research Security Services
Applies to: Covered Individuals, as defined
Campus Applicability: All Campuses, including UConn Health
Approval Date: August 6, 2024
Effective Date: August 7, 2024
For More Information, Contact: Director, OVPR Research Security Services
Director, Sponsored Program Services
Contact Information: 860-486-3622 (Storrs and Regional Campuses)
860-679-4040 (UConn Health)
Official Website: https://ovpr.uconn.edu (Storrs and Regional Campuses)
https://ovpr.uchc.edu (UConn Health)

PURPOSE

To maintain the integrity of research conducted at or under the auspices of UConn and UConn Health. This policy establishes the University’s compliance framework for researchers to comply with the requirements set forth in section 10632 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C. 19232) related to participation in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs.

APPLIES TO

This policy applies to Covered Individuals working on Federally Funded Research administered through or otherwise conducted under the auspices of the Covered Individual’s University affiliation, appointment, or employment.

DEFINITIONS

Covered Individual: An individual who— (A) contributes in a substantive, meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of a research and development project proposed to be carried out with a research and development award from a Federal Research Agency; and (B) is designated as a Covered Individual by the Federal Research Agency concerned. Covered Individuals may be named on the Federally Funded Research Award.

Federally Funded Research: Any research for which a grant, contract, or other agreement with any federal government agency exists, including but not limited to, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Public Health Service, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.

Federal Research Agency: Any agency of the U.S. federal government that provides funding for research, including but not limited to, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Public Health Service, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.

Foreign Country of Concern: A country that the U.S. federal government has designated under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 as a country whose government has engaged in or tolerated “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” The list of Countries of Concern is maintained by the Department of State and is updated annually.

Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP):  A talent program requiring one or more problematic actions and having problematic sponsorship (CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, 42 U.S.C. § 19232). A detailed approach to the definition is available here.

POLICY STATEMENT

In accordance with section 10632 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which prohibits Federal Research Agencies from making awards to individuals who are party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program, Covered Individuals listed in a Federally Funded Research award, contract or in a proposal for federal funding, whether directly or through a subaward, are prohibited from participating in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program. The University of Connecticut continues to support and encourage openness in research and international collaborations that do not take the form of a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program.

UConn Certification

Sponsored Programs must  certify that all Covered Individuals on proposals submitted to a Federal Research Agency have been made aware of the requirements under section 10632 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 related to Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs and are in compliance with those requirements.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Principal Investigator of a Federally Funded Research award will ensure all Covered Individuals on the award understand their responsibilities under this policy and will report any concerns to Research Security Services for review.

Covered Individuals: Each Covered Individual listed in a proposal for a research award from a Federal   Sponsor must certify as part of the proposal submission that they are not currently participating in, nor will they participate in, a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program. Upon receipt of the award, such certification must be renewed annually for the duration of the award.

OVPR Conflict of Interest (COI) Service: Will collect COI reporting forms from Covered Individuals

Office of the General Counsel: Will advise Research Security Services with the review of activities that may be considered Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs.

Faculty Consulting Offices:  Will review consulting requests for involvement in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program and will facilitate the review of any requests of activities occurring in or with an entity of a maligned foreign country in coordination with Research Security Services

Research Security Services: Will review activities that may be considered Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs in coordination with all relevant offices.

Sponsored Program Services: Will collect certifications from Covered Individuals on a per-proposal basis and for funded awards confirm on an annual basis and will certify to Federal  Agencies that this policy exists and, if required, that Covered Individuals are compliant with this policy.

ENFORCEMENT

Violations of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with University By-Laws, General Rules of Conduct for All University Employees, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the University of Connecticut Student Code.

Participation in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program will prevent a Covered Individual from participating in a Federally Funded Research award. Covered Individuals who participate in a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program after commencing work on Federally Funded Research will be removed from Federally Funded Research.

REFERENCES

CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, 42 U.S.C. § 19232

POLICY HISTORY

Policy created: 08/06/2024 (Approved by Senior Policy Council and President)