Academic Program Assessments
Seton Hall University reviews, revises, and develops its academic programs as part of a continuous, comprehensive curation process. We evaluate academic programs based on their contribution and alignment with the University Mission, their achievement of student learning outcomes, the quality of their scholarly research and publication, strong career placements, and financial viability, among many other criteria. Beyond the everyday and annual evaluations and improvements performed by program faculty and their deans, the University employs four regular mechanisms to assess and advance its academic programs.
Program Proposal Process
Before a new program is even launched its academic value, mission alignment, financial viability, and contribution to the overall SHU portfolio of programs is carefully analyzed by faculty at the College (Educational Policy Committee) and University (Academic Policy Committee) level, by the, the Provost's Office, and in some cases by the Board of Regents.
Click here to see the new program proposal process.
IPAD
On an annual basis, we employ an Interactive Program Analysis and Dashboard, which was collaboratively crafted by faculty and administrators, to measure the health of all academic programs in several key criteria, including alignment with our Mission and Strategic Plan, financial viability, strength of research and scholarship, sustainable enrollments, retention rate, graduation rate, and teaching quality. This Interactive process ensures that faculty have the information they need to adapt proactively to changing student needs, enrollment trends, disciplinary innovations, and other circumstances. Programs flagged by the Interactive Program Analysis Dashboard for attention in one or more respond to those challenges through dialogue with their dean or, in some cases, with an expedited version of the faculty Program Review process described below.
View a detailed explanation of the Interactive Program Analysis and Dashboard in the video below.
Click here for a copy of the IPAD explanation slides (password required)
Program Review
Every seven years or as dictated by the appropriate accrediting bodies, all academic programs engage in a comprehensive, faculty-driven Program Review. This process involves detailed self-studies, by which faculty evaluate their programs relative to the University Strategic Plan and to peer and competitor programs; external reviews by experts in the disciplines from outside of Seton Hall; and the careful analysis of the faculty Program Review Committee and the Faculty Senate as a body. The Office of the Provost responds to each review with a clear sense of the strategic role and goals for the program.
Click here to view more details on Program Review and for the Program Review Schedule.
Accreditation
Finally, the entire University is subject to periodic review by its regional accreditor, Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The next University-wide review will culminate in a visit from the Middle States team in 2024. Likewise, many of our academic disciplines, particularly those with a professional focus, engage in national or regional accreditation through peer accreditors such as AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), CAEP (Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation), and the ABA (American Bar Association), among others.
Click here to see Seton Hall’s Middle States Commission on Higher Education Self-Study Site.