I. Purpose
The purpose of the policy is to document the process by which the University regularly reviews academic degree programs in compliance with UNC Policy 400.1, Policy on Academic Program Planning.
II. Scope
The policy impacts all academic departments or other units offering an educational program that leads to a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree. Minors, undergraduate certificates, and other micro-credentials are not academic programs and thus not subject to this policy.
III. Policy
The Chancellor shall regularly review UNC Asheville’s academic programming to ensure the maintenance of a sound and balanced educational program that is consistent with the functions and mission of the institution. To accomplish this goal, the Chancellor shall review all academic degree programs at least once every seven years from the date of the preceding review or from the implementation date of a new academic program, or on such schedule as the UNC System President may prescribe by regulation.
These Academic Program Reviews will evaluate:
- Current and projected student demand, as measured by enrollments in the majors and degrees produced;
- Current and projected workforce demand, as measured by projected job growth and existing data on student employment outcomes;
- Student outcomes, including persistence, graduation, time to degree, and, where possible, post-graduation success;
- Program costs and productivity, including research, scholarship, and creative activity and student credit hours produced compared to the number and cost of faculty and staff;
- The contribution of the program to professions that are critical to the health, educational attainment, and quality of life of North Carolinians; and
- Any other considerations identified by the Chancellor or by the President.
A review made for another entity, including but not limited to a programmatic accreditor or a professional licensing board, which satisfies the evaluation criteria in this subsection may be submitted to the President in lieu of a separate report.
Summary reports of all Academic Program Reviews shall be reviewed by Boards of Trustees and then submitted annually to the President.
Based on the results of Academic Program Review, the Chancellor may decide to expand, contract, curtail, or discontinue academic programs based upon that review. The determination of whether to expand, contract, curtail, or discontinue an academic program shall be made by the chancellor and is subject to the concurrence by the president and then approval by the Board of Governors.
Chancellor action shall be taken in alignment with Section 605 of the UNC Code. Prior to finalizing a decision to contract, curtail, or discontinue an academic program, the chancellor shall seek the advice and recommendations of the academic administrative officers and the faculty members of the departments or other units that might be affected. The chancellor shall not be required to obtain the agreement or consent of any academic administrative officer, academic department, faculty entity, or individual faculty member.
V. Procedure
The Provost, with assistance from the relevant Dean and data support from IREP, will oversee reviews of academic programs on a 7-year cycle following procedures and a review cycle, both posted by Academic Affairs, beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.