Academic Program Review
A regular academic program review process allows the institution to demonstrate responsibility for the quality of its educational programs. Program faculty evaluate and reflect on an academic program’s quality holistically, including health metrics (e.g., multi‐year enrollment trends, graduation rates, employment outcomes, student satisfaction, persistence), assessment of student learning (university common outcomes and program‐specific outcomes), curricular connections and sequencing, and faculty. NLU employs a multi-year program review cycle managed through formal faculty governance processes operating in collaboration with university academic leadership, where annual data snapshots and program update reports are designed to ensure continuity and create a transparent and manageable process for continuous improvement, while also providing guideposts for review in the multi-year report. Results from this process contribute and can inform curriculum development, program admission standards, course prerequisites, faculty qualifications, strategic planning, budget requests, and resource allocation.
In addition to internal program responsibility, specific programs maintain specialized accreditation, adhering to standards and earning recognition from said organizations. An institutional effort is undertaken to collect data, author reports, and adhere to any other elements necessary to maintain good standing for college, program, or national accreditation and recognition.