Academic Program Review Addenda
An addition to our review processes
The University of North Carolina System Office (UNC-SO) adopted a new policy of “Academic Program Planning” in spring 2024; Policy 400.1 puts renewed emphasis on the continued alignment of our academic degree programs, both new and existing, with “state needs”. This policy also requires that all UNC system institutions review all their degree programs (at least) every seven years and evaluate student and societal demands, student outcomes and program productivity. Policy 400.1 (V.A) states that each UNC system institution “shall be prepared to expand, contract, or discontinue programs based upon that review”.
After extensive consultations across campus and engagement with a dedicated working group, we have taken the following steps to address these new requests from UNC-SO
- APRAs are implemented as a distinct process from our current review process (SPR) given their different foci, goals and cycles.
- A new policy on program assessment was developed and adopted in fall 2024.
- We updated our existing regulation on the assessment of academic programs in fall 2024.
- A collaborative effort with ISA is under way to develop a new data dashboard for APRAs.
- APRAs are implemented college by college to look at all academic undergraduate and graduate programs.
More information is available through the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for APRAs.