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Faculty reviews of academic programs

Evidence‐based reviews of academic programs are a crucial component of Dalhousie’s quality assurance activities.

Quality assurance activities at Dalhousie

Evidence‐based reviews of academic programs are a crucial component of Dalhousie’s quality assurance activities. Cyclical program reviews support strategic, academic program planning and continuous improvement, and enhance the effectiveness and student focus of our program offerings. By undertaking such reviews, faculties demonstrate responsibility and transparency and critically assess progress toward their own goals. 

Reviews of undergraduate academic programs within a faculty are the responsibility of the dean. Reviews of graduate-level programs are a joint responsibility of the dean and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

View the Senate Policy for Faculty Reviews of Academic Programs for more information

Resources for faculties

The information on this page is provided as a resource for faculties. The primary point of contact for individual review committees and programs developing their self-study is the Dean’s Office in their faculty, typically the associate dean academic. 

Policy, procedures, and requirements

Scheduling and reporting reviews

Dalhousie is required to provide annual reports to external stakeholders on program review activity. To support this work, schedules of planned reviews and confirmation of reviews undertaken should be provided to the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic. Once a review is complete (report and action plan submitted), the Dean's Office should contact the academic quality assurance manager to provide confirmation/dates. 

  • Reviews are to occur every 5-7 years; newly established or significantly modified programs are to be reviewed within 2 years after the first cohort has graduated.
  • Two or more academic programs may be reviewed together or as part of a unit review. For example, all interrelated programs within a unit, including majors, honours, minors, and certificates, may be reviewed simultaneously.
  • All schedules are at the discretion of the dean, and in the case of graduate programs, communicated to and mutually agreed upon with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
  • Maintaining a comprehensive, faculty-level schedule of reviews will ensure the appropriate distribution of reviews and aid strategic planning around resources (human and financial). It will also help Dalhousie Analytics to plan for their own resources and ensure appropriate data support.

 

 

In advance of your next accreditation site visit (or within 6-weeks thereafter), please follow the procedures in Appendix C of the Senate Policy for Faculty Reviews of Academic Programs. This is in addition to the reporting requirements referenced on the Accredited Programs page.

Curriculum and analytics

  • Departments or programs in the early stages of a program review or accreditation process can schedule a consultation with the senior educational developer, curriculum in the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) to take advantage of CLT’s resources to design learning outcomes and map the curriculum.
  • Download the Learning Outcomes Mapping Matrix template  [XLSX] (login required)
  • Dalhousie Analytics works with academic units to generate program-level data dashboards and may also, upon request and consultation, provide customized data for programs under review.

From the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) 

Templates

Templates are housed on our myDal site, accessible to current faculty and staff.
Login may be required; templates may be edited as required.

Review committee planning

Communications and outreach

More to explore

Accreditation Faculty reviews