Academic reviews & quality assurance
Through a process of informed judgement, UVic's internal external review process assists academic units in evaluating the quality and suitability of academic endeavours with a view to further improvement. It also provides internal and external accountability of academic programs.
Academic departments/schools are typically reviewed every seven years, with scheduled follow-ups as required at the first-, third- and five-year marks. New units should undergo a review within the first five years.
Accreditation or reaccreditation
Accreditation or re-accreditation by the relevant professional organization may be substituted for an external review with VPAC approval in accordance with Senate policy AC1145.
To arrange for VPAC's participation in an accreditation or re-accreditation site visit, please submit one of the templates: accreditation or re-accreditation.
Administrative process and procedures
UVic has an internal program review process based on institutional policies and procedures.
In October 2020, Senate approved the updated AC1145 policy. For an overview of updates to the policy and associated documents, please see the Brightspace course on Academic Program Development, Changes & External Review Processes.
- External reviews of academic units (formerly academic program reviews) shall be scheduled according to policy AC1145 or may be requested by the academic unit or Dean.
- Selected units must identify a faculty coordinator and administrative coordinator to work closely with the Academic Programs Unit.
- Materials and templates are available through the Brightspace course.
Interdisciplinary programs
Interdisciplinary programs may have other requirements. Please contact apasst@uvic.ca.
Academic Program Development, Changes and External Review
This Brightspace "course" offers information in the following areas:
Orientation to Academic Planning: This module will introduce you to the portfolio of the AVP, Academic Planning and engage you in discussion of key responsibilities and processes related to academic program development/revisions and quality assurance.
Program Development, Revisions & Curriculum Submission Processes: This module aims to orient Chairs/Directors and Associate Deans to curriculum submission, consultation/approval processes and timelines.
External Review of Academic Units: This module outlines the external review process and key considerations for units engaging in an external review of program(s).
Need help?
The Brightspace course is where you'll find the most updated information. It includes relevant materials as well as a recording of the annual workshop to assist and prepare units for this process.
If you have any questions, please contact the AVP Academic Programs unit at apasst@uvic.ca.
Upcoming and completed reviews
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Global Development Studies program
- Gender Studies
- Indigenous Education
- Public Administration*
- Health Information Science
- History*
- Neuroscience program
- Biochemistry and Microbiology*
- Biology*
- Religion, Culture and Society*
*TBD
- Department of Physics and Astronomy
- Department of Economics
- Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies
- Department of Geography
- School of Nursing (Graduate Program)
- School of Public Health and Social Policy
- Department of Psychology
- School of Child and Youth Care
- Department of Sociology
- Department of Writing
- School of Music
- Department of English
- Department of Germanic & Slavic Studies
- Department of Art History & Visual Arts
- University Library (Service Area)
- English Language Centre (Service Area)
- Department of Gender Studies
- Department of French
- Department of History
- Department of Philosophy
- Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology
- Department of Biology
- Division of Medical Sciences
- School of Health Information Science
- School of Public Administration
- Neuroscience Graduate Program