Academic Program Review Policy – January 19, 2024
Page 1 of
4
ACADEMIC PROGRAM REVIEW POLICY
Policy Type:
Academic
Initially
Approved:
January 19, 2024
Policy Sponsor:
Provost and Vice-
President, Academic
Last Revised:
Primary
Contact:
Provost and Vice-
President, Academic
Review
Scheduled:
January 19, 2029
Approver:
General Faculties Council
A.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Policy is to ensure consistency, efficiency, compliance and accountability for
program reviews at Mount Royal University (University). The Policy delineates the roles and
responsibilities for the delivery of regular and systematic program reviews.
B.
SCOPE
The Policy applies to all Ministry-approved baccalaureate degree, diploma and certificate
programs, including interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary programs, collaboratively delivered
programs and those delivered on campus, online or at other physical locations. For purposes of
this Policy, individual majors are considered distinct programs.
C.
POLICY STATEMENT
1. USE OF PROGRAM REVIEWS
1.1. Program reviews are used to improve program quality through the implementation
of the program advancement plan.
1.2. Program review provides an opportunity for program areas to conduct a thorough
self study and critical assessment of their programs, to receive valuable input from
current and former students, external experts, advisory committees and other
stakeholders, and to explore current trends and developments in the design and
delivery of similar programs.
1.3. Program reviews ensure that University programs stay current, academically
rigorous, responsive to student and societal needs, and in alignment with
institutional goals and priorities.
1.4. Program reviews help meet student, government, and public expectations for
quality assurance and continuous improvement of post-secondary programs.
1.5. The program review Executive Summary and program advancement plan will be
made public on the University’s Quality Assurance website after formal approval
and communication processes are satisfied.
Academic Program Review Policy – January 19, 2024
Page 2 of
4
2. GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The program review process:
2.1. Is primarily formative in nature with a focus on identifying and implementing means
of improving program quality;
2.2. Is grounded in data-driven critical analysis, meticulous self-assessment, external
review and creative problem-solving;
2.3. Involves broad stakeholder input, including input from students, alumni, faculty,
administration, advisory committees, comparator institutions, graduate schools, and
professional associations (as appropriate);
2.4. Is clearly delineated and communicated to all those involved in the process, as well
as to other internal and external stakeholders;
2.5. Allows for flexibility to accommodate program circumstances;
2.6. Considers a program within a broad context including the history of the program,
leading practices, trends and developments within the relevant discipline
/profession, current institutional goals and priorities, the Alberta post-secondary
education system and other contextual factors relevant to understanding and
advancing the program;
2.7. Bases the overall assessment of program quality on a wide range of criteria, rather
than any single criterion;
2.8. Bases the assessment of program quality on appropriate national, provincial,
institutional and discipline/professional standards;
2.9. Is supported by appropriate institutional resources and support;
2.10. Is efficient in the use of valuable resources such as the time required of faculty,
students, external reviews and others involved in the review process; and
2.11. Meets provincial quality assurance requirements and follows the national quality
assurance principles of Universities Canada (as appropriate).
3. PROGRAM ELEMENTS ASSESSED
The program elements assessed during the program review are summarized in the Program
Review Procedures document as appropriate. Self Study Report templates provided by the
Office of Institutional Research and Planning outline the program elements assessed in detail.
4.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNIVERSITY PROGRAM REVIEW AND ACCREDITATION/
CERTIFICATION
4.1. Accreditation and certification are external quality assurance processes in which
programs are assessed by specialized professional groups according to accepted
standards of practice.
4.2. Professional accreditation of certification may run concurrently with a University
program review.
Academic Program Review Policy – January 19, 2024
Page 3 of
4
4.3. Data and information compiled and collected shall be shared between the two
processes as much as is reasonable.
4.4. Upon approval of the Provost and VP, Academic, or designate, an external review
by an accreditation or certification body may be used to fulfill, in whole or part, the
external review site visit component of the University’s program review process.
5. SCHEDULE OF PROGRAM REVIEWS
5.1. The schedule of program review is established by the Provost and VP, Academic,
or designate, in consultation with the Deans.
5.2. Ministry-approved baccalaureate degree, diploma and certificate programs
normally undergo the program review process on a seven-year cycle. Initiation of
program review normally begins in year six.
5.3. Upon approval of the Provost and VP, Academic, or designate, a program may be
reviewed on a shorter cycle to accommodate special circumstances such as the
opportunity to coordinate timing with a professional accreditation/certification
review, change of the program leadership or the need to address pressing issues
regarding the program.
5.4. The schedule of program reviews is updated annually and published on the
University’s quality assurance website.
D.
DEFINITIONS
(1)
Policy:
Means the Academic Program Review Policy.
(2)
Procedures: Means the Academic Program Review Procedures.
(3)
Student:
Means an individual who maintains an affiliation as a learner in the
University’s educational community.
(4)
University:
Means Mount Royal University.
E.
RELATED POLICIES
●
Academic Program Quality Assurance Policy
F.
RELATED LEGISLATION
●
Alberta Post-Secondary Learning Act
G.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
●
Campus Alberta Quality Council Guidelines for Degree Program Quality Monitoring
●
Academic Program Review Procedures
●
Self Study Report Template
●
Universities Canada Principles of Quality Assurance in Canadian Higher Education
Academic Program Review Policy – January 19, 2024
Page 4 of
4
H. REVISION HISTORY
Date
(mm,dd,yyyy)
Description of
Change
Sections
Author
(Position Title)
Approver
(Position Title)
1/19/2024
NEW
(replacing Cyclical
Review of Academic
Programs Policy)
General Faculties
Council