SPR Home

University News Office of Communications University of Saskatchewan E280 Administration Building 105 Administration Place Saskatoon, SK    S7N 5A2 Tel: (306) 966-6607    Fax: (306) 966-6815 http://www.usask.ca/communications/              U of S Announces Latest Outcome of Program Reviews

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 24, 2004 2004-09-13-OTHER

The University of Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the latest outcomes of Systematic Program Review (SPR), a major six-year review process designed to improve the quality of education delivered to students as well as provide expert feedback to academic units for change and future development.

Established by the University Council in 1999, SPR is designed to encourage program improvement and innovation, demonstrate accountability, and provide information to guide decisions about programs and resources. Each review includes a self-study by the program, a site visit and report by the review team (consisting of both external and internal reviewers), responses from Deans and program heads, and decisions on outcome categories. Review results will provide timely and useful information to guide academic units as they put together their five-year plans for the Integrated Planning process.

n 2003-2004, a number of programs in Arts and Science and Kinesiology were reviewed. Programs were evaluated according to quality (of curriculum, faculty, learning environment, infrastructure and outcomes), demand, efficiency in the use of resources and relevance to the province.

There are four possible outcome categories: A (outstanding programs; few, if any, changes required); B (some improvements needed); C (fundamental changes required; concrete action plan must be developed to address deficiencies); and D (requirement to consider termination).

Of the Arts and Science programs reviewed in 2003-2004 being reported here, 3 are rated A, 13 are rated B, 3 are rated C. The results for programs in Drama, Languages and Linguistics, Native Studies as well as programs in Kinesiology are still going through the process. Results will be reported as they become available.

University Provost and Vice-President Academic, Michael Atkinson, said: " These sorts of reviews are standard practice in most universities and aim to maintain academic quality. The review standards the U of S sets for itself are quite remarkable and very ambitious. We are delighted that the outcomes included many good solid B ratings and several A ratings and we are working to address the issues raised by the Cs."

For further information, contact:

General information:
Michael Atkinson
Provost and Vice-President Academic
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8484

Information from the Dean responsible for the programs reviewed:
Jo- Anne Dillon
Dean, College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4232

Information on Council decisions:
Beth Bilson
Chair, Planning Committee of Council
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5885

---

PROGRAMS	CATEGORY
ARTS & SCIENCE (Fine Arts and Humanities)
Art and Art History
BA (Art History)	A
BA (Studio)	B
BFA	B
Graduate (MFA)	B
English
B.A	B
GRAD: M.A, Ph.D.	B
History
B.A	B
GRAD: M.A, Ph.D.	B
Philosophy
B.A	B
BA – STM	B
GRAD: M.A, Ph.D.	B
Religious Studies/Anthropology
BA (RelSt)	B
BA (Anth)	C
ARTS & SCIENCE (NATURAL SCIENCES CONT.)
Math and Stats
BSc (Math)	C
BSc (Stats)	B
BSc (Mathematical Physics)	B
Graduate	C
ARTS & SCIENCE (SOCIAL SCIENCES CONT.)
Psychology:
BA	A
Graduate (MA, PhD)	A

SPR Home