Compliance Review

The institution demonstrates that each educational program for which academic credit is awarded (a) is approved by the faculty and the administration. and (b) establishes and evaluates program and learning outcomes.

NSU’s process for establishing and awarding academic credit in its educational programs clearly involves faculty and administrators. Faculty are involved at the department and university level via the Curriculum Review and the Graduate Councils. Deans review and approve proposals from their departments before the proposals are sent to the appropriate council. The vice president for academic affairs and the president provide final approval.

NSU’s academic units specify program and learning outcomes, identify different types of measures, and provide discussions of how that information is used in their continuous improvement plans for existing educational programs (in their strategic plans and the expected learning outcomes tables).

For each of Northwestern's credit-awarding programs, the curricula and courses are frequently reviewed by both faculty and administration to ensure integrity and to assess expected learning outcomes (ELOs).

Approval by Faculty and Administration

The faculty is responsible for both initiating and reviewing curriculum proposals and revisions. Curricular initiatives begin at the college/departmental level and progress through a faculty committee structure and receive final approval from University administrators and/or governing boards.

The Faculty Handbook (p.15) describes the composition of the Curriculum Review Council (CRC) and the process for developing and revising curriculum. The CRC must approve any new initiatives or revisions. Any changes in the University Catalog must be approved by the CRC, including requirements for admission to programs; changes to courses, including adding and deleting existing courses; changes in program requirements; and adding new programs. The vice president for academic affairs, as chair of the CRC (a nonvoting member), submits CRC recommendations to the University president for final approval. An example of the faculty's responsibility for the curriculum is documented by the Department of Social Work faculty's participation in the development of a new university approved course.

In addition, the Graduate Council establishes policies and procedures for the governance of graduate curricula. The dean of graduate studies and research chairs the Graduate Council (nonvoting member), which is composed of nine faculty members from the graduate faculty and one graduate student. All curricular proposals approved by the Graduate Council are sent to the CRC for review.

Actions of both CRC and Graduate Council must be approved by both the vice president for academic affairs and the president.

Program and Learning Outcomes

Each academic unit has identified program learning outcomes and assesses programs and learning outcomes. To ensure a quality assessment system, the University contracted with consultants Drs. Bob and Julia Armacost in May 2004 to review outcomes and assessment measures of each degree program. The Office of University Planning & Assessment then worked with departments and/or colleges in relation to the consultants’ report. Each department has established a continuous improvement plan (CIP), which includes a unit strategic plan and degree program ELOs. The unit strategic plan identifies the unit mission, objectives, and strategies. In addition, each unit documents strategic plan accomplishments, as well as the data from the strategic plan methodologies/assessments. The assessment of the degree-program learning outcomes is documented in the ELO component of the CIP. As a whole, the CIP reflects assessment data often directed by external entities such as State governing boards or national accrediting agencies. Additionally, both components use data to guide decision making.  These changes are reflected in the “Decisions Based on Data” section of each component.

In addition, the University ensures continued review and evaluation of all academic programs. This is conducted through systematic reviews by national accreditation bodies or through a comprehensive academic program review, which includes external reviewer(s). The Louisiana Board of Regents specifies mandatory, recommended, and optional accrediting agencies. At Northwestern, all board-approved academic programs having national accrediting agencies are accredited. Reports relating to current national accreditations can be found at http://www.nsula.edu/universityplanning/accreditationreport.asp. 

These national accreditation standards focus on identifying program and learning outcomes and on providing data verifying the attainment of national standards related to student competencies. The internal academic review process is directed by the Office of University Planning, Assessment, & EEO in conjunction with the Office of Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs. This self-study process is very detailed and focuses on outcomes assessment. External review is included in this self-study process.

The University also participates in a number of systematic data collection activities that inform programs. These include:ACT Student Opinion Survey, Exit Interviews, Graduate Student Exit Survey, Student Evaluation of Instruction (traditional and online), and the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Performance (CAAP).