Letter to Dept. Chairs requesting self study
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Chair, Dept. of
DATE:
RE:
Quality Assurance Review
Professor:
The purpose of this communication is to inform your office that the Department of _____________will
be undergoing a Quality Assurance Program Review process over the next several months.
A major aspect of the Program Review is the completion of a self-evaluation (please see attached
guidelines). Please let me know if you need any further information in regards to implementing the selfevaluation.
In addition to the self-evaluation, a series of documents will be required for distribution to the external
examiners. Some of the documentation will be prepared centrally and others are left up to the unit to
prepare. At this time and as a function of the review process, the following information is being
requested from your office:
1. Undergraduate Program
- Illustrative examples of current course outlines, final examinations, assignment structures
and requirements, and grade distributions (Faculty/Department).
- Exit and alumni surveys of student satisfaction (central).
- Most recent accreditation or professional association reviews, as appropriate
(Faculty/Department).
2. Graduate Program:
- Previous 3-5 years enrolment profile by program, area, year in program, recent history of
dates-to-completion and placement (central, Dean of Graduate Programs).
- Graduate program regulations, requirements, coursework and supervision structures,
qualifying and comprehensive examinations, thesis requirements, external examiners
(Faculty/Department and GS).
- Three to five year listing of graduate theses and supervisors (Faculty/Department).
- Three to five year record of student financial support (Faculty/Department and GS).
- Exit and alumni surveys of student satisfaction (central).
- Most recent accreditation or professional association review, as appropriate
(Faculty/Department).
3. Faculty:
- Teaching commitments and teaching evaluations (Faculty/Department).
- Faculty curricula vitae, with identification of teaching, research, graduate supervision,
and administrative commitments (Faculty/Department).
- Three to five year history of research rankings with specific examples of projects, grants,
and awards (Faculty/Department).
4. Some Faculties/Departments actively pursue activities such as the following:
- Outreach activities to high schools and teachers at the local, provincial, and national
levels.
- Recruitment activities to ensure that they attract the best students.
- Placement activities on behalf of graduates.
- Community service.
- Professional consulting.
When preparing the self-evaluation, special consideration should be given to the nature and scope
of these other activities. Do they contribute to the teaching and research missions of the
Faculty/Department? Do they allow for a balance the effective discharge of University duties by
faculty members?
5. Resources:
- Assessment of facilities and equipment, including special assets or needs
(Faculty/Department).
- Assessment of library and computing support (Faculty/Department and Libraries).
In addition, please submit the names and contact information for five (5) potential external reviewers of
which 2-3 will be selected to visit UNB over the next several months. Please include a brief bio of the
individuals that you are submitting as well as an explanation as to why you are recommending them .
These people should not have had any past or present affiliation with UNB.
Please note that the self-evaluation and documentation/information is required by the Office of the
Vice President Academic by (usually 3-4 months time).
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Enc.