The development and review of academic programs are multifaceted and ongoing processes that guide the University’s curricular offerings and ensure their quality and relevance.
Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment of student learning is crucial to the determination of whether educational goals are being met and what curricular or pedagogical changes may be needed to better ensure those goals are achieved. Assessment takes place in all of SLU’s academic units; how it occurs varies based on a unit’s structure and pertinent student learning outcomes. Assessment plans and reports for all of SLU’s educational programs are accessible via the Assessment of Student Learning pages of this website.
Curriculum Governance
The following three committees, composed primarily of faculty, play an integral role in the development, review, and revision of University curricula:
- Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee (UAAC)
- Graduate Academic Affairs Committee (GAAC)
- University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UUCC)
Academic Program Review
All educational programs, even those reviewed via external accreditation processes, undergo systematic and multi-level academic program review on a regular basis to ensure continuous quality improvement and continued alignment with institutional mission and strategic initiatives. Key components of these reviews include programmatic self-studies and evaluation by a team of external disciplinary peer reviewers.
New Academic Programs
Recently approved new academic programs are listed on the provost's web site. This page is updated quarterly.
Following a new program's first three years of operation, programs complete a progress report on the program performance related to its operational and educational goals.