{"id":470,"date":"2018-10-09T14:09:21","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T21:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/teaching-learning-design-assessment\/?page_id=470"},"modified":"2026-02-26T20:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T20:50:41","slug":"academic-program-review","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/academic-program-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Academic Program Review & Accreditation Protocol"},"content":{"rendered":"

Academic Program Review\u00a0& Accreditation Protocol<\/strong><\/h1>\n
The university recognizes two distinct but complementary review processes: the ABOR-mandated Academic Program Review (APR) and reviews conducted by specialized accrediting bodies. While APR functions as a comprehensive institutional effectiveness measure for all programs, specialized accreditation requires targeted coordination between the Provost\u2019s office and individual programs who are seeking or maintaining accreditation by an external professional organization.<\/p>\n
Academic Program Review (APR)<\/strong>\u00a0is a collaborative process that helps ensure our programs remain strong, relevant, and aligned with the missions of the university, its colleges, and academic units. The process begins with a self-study, where faculty and staff reflect on the program\u2019s goals, structure, operations, and student learning. This self-study is then reviewed by two external consultants, who visit campus, meet with stakeholders, and provide feedback on the program\u2019s strengths and opportunities for growth. Drawing on the self-study, consultant feedback, and the university\u2019s strategic roadmap, each unit develops an action plan to guide continuous improvement.<\/p>\n
Specialized Accreditation Protocol:<\/strong>
\nTo ensure that program-specific accreditation activities are effectively coordinated with university leadership, the Provost\u2019s office maintains a separate communication protocol for specially accredited programs.<\/p>\n
The APR Guidelines, Template, Accreditation Protocol and Schedule are updated annually. Please see the resources section below.<\/p>\n
Academic program review is an ABOR and HLC requirement:<\/p>\n
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The Arizona Board of Regents (Policy 2-225<\/a>) requires all programs to undergo review every seven years.\u00a0Where applicable, programs may also integrate specialized accreditation reviews into this process, ensuring efficiency and alignment with professional standards.<\/li>\n
The Higher Learning Commission (Criterion 3.F<\/a>) requires universities to demonstrate ongoing curriculum improvement based on program review.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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Academic Program Review Process Resources Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Academic Program Review Guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n
Self-Study Report Template<\/a><\/p>\n
Accreditation Protocol<\/a><\/p>\n
Schedule for Academic Units Program Review and Specialized Accreditation efforts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Authorization Statement to Grant Degrees Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The following information provides documentation for academic programs seeking initial candidacy, accredited or continued accredited status:<\/p>\n
The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR)<\/a> has constitutional authority over Arizona’s public universities to operate and grant degrees. Policies 2.220 (Awarding of Degrees) and 2.221 (Academic Degree Programs) in the ABOR Policy Manual describe how state universities gain authorization to offer specific degrees.<\/p>\n
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accredits Northern Arizona University which is extended through 2027-2028. Northern Arizona University, a research high Carnegie classification, is in good standing with the HLC with authorization to offer degrees through the doctoral level at multiple locations throughout the state of Arizona.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Resources<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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The\u00a0 Arizona Board of Regents<\/span><\/a>\u00a0require reviews of all academic programs every seven years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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Academic Program Review\u00a0& Accreditation Protocol The university recognizes two distinct but complementary review processes: the ABOR-mandated Academic Program Review (APR) and reviews conducted by specialized accrediting bodies. While APR functions as a comprehensive institutional effectiveness measure for all programs, specialized accreditation requires targeted coordination between the Provost\u2019s office and individual programs who are seeking or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-470","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=470"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1333,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/470\/revisions\/1333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/curriculum-assessment-accreditation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}