The University of North Texas Academic Program Review (APR) policy 06.029 puts forth the requirements for review of all academic programs.

The systematic review of academic programs at UNT is an integral part of strategic planning and institutional effectiveness. APR is an opportunity to critically examine academic programs and reflect on departmental processes. Through a rigorous self-study, APR helps identify strengths and weaknesses, future direction, resource needs and priorities for the programs under review.  APR should be a departmental project, with faculty input at all levels. APR provides faculty and students the opportunity to participate in setting strategic goals for the department. APR is an essential element in UNT’s institutional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and, at the graduate level, is required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). UA manages the review process, working in close collaboration with academic departments and college leadership.

Chapter 5, Subchapter C, Section 5.52 of Coordinating Board rules provides criteria and procedures for the review of existing graduate programs. The rule creates a ten-year period during which institutions are required to review all of their master's and doctoral programs.

The link to Section 5.52 is: Texas Administrative Code - Rule 5.52

Assessments are necessary for an academic program to demonstrate continuous improvement in teaching, student success, and program growth.

APR Review Process

  1. University Accreditation (UA) will schedule an orientation for the program under review at the start of the fiscal year to cover the APR process in detail.
  2. During the previous academic year before the academic program is under review, University Accreditation will request a list of ten faculty members who:
  • Have subject matter expertise
  • Employed by institutions outside of Texas
  • Part of a program that is nationally recognized for excellence
  • Must confirm they have no personal ties or conflict of interest
  1. UA will then contact the recommended faculty to serve as external reviewers and coordinate dates for an on-campus visit. UA will recommend the chairs of those programs going under review for the following academic year to serve as an internal team member for a department from another college or school. Internal team members will serve as a resource to the external reviewers and provide a university perspective.
  2. The chair of the academic program under review is responsible for preparing the self-study. Faculty members should be involved in the preparation of the self-study. It should be an examination of qualitative and quantitative achievements in teaching, scholarly productivity, professional development, service, and other program related objectives.
  3. Submission of the self-study should be submitted as a word document no later than the assigned due date from UA during the academic year in which the unit is being reviewed. All other attachments should be provided in pdf format.
  4. After external reviewers have been identified, UA will work with the department and reviewers to determine the ideal dates for an on-site visit. Travel accommodations will be handled and scheduled by UA.
  5. The program under review will then schedule interviews will all constituencies based on the suggested example provided by UA.
  6. After the external review team has concluded their visit, they will four weeks to prepare and submit an external report to UA.
  7. UA will distribute the external report to the corresponding chair, associate dean, and dean. The external report should be shared with the program’s faculty.
  8. The chair will have one month to submit an action plan response report that include recommendations from their faculty. The report should address all external reviewers’ suggestions.
  9. The Provost, Assistant Vice President for University Accreditation, graduate dean, college dean, college associate dean and college chair will meet to review the external report and action plan response report.
  10. Eighteen months after the external report and action plan response report has been reviewed the chair will submit and follow-up progress report.

The office of University Accreditation oversees and coordinates APR. The 2020-2030 schedule lists all academic programs with the year of their last (prior to 2020) APR and the year of their next APR. Associate documents are available on this page. Please contact Claudia Cooper (Claudia.Cooper@unt.edu) with any questions or concerns.