The Office of University Accreditation (UA) provides oversight and resources for accreditation reporting to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and for compliance reporting with the Texas Higher Education Board (THECB). As part of this, UA publishes institutional goals and outcomes for student achievement on its website. Also, please share copies of status updates, self-study reports and responses from specialized program accreditors (i.e., ABET, AACSB) with the UA office. Some specialized program responses will require SACSCOC notification.
Institutional Effectiveness (IE)
UA manages the Improve database for institutional effectiveness (IE) plans and reports institutional effectiveness for SACSCOC.
Improve is the University-wide database for collection and storage of academic and administrative improvement plans. UNT focuses on two major categories of expected outcomes: Academic Expected Outcomes (i.e. student learning outcomes) and Non-Academic Expected Outcomes (i.e. administrative outcomes). These plans document how UNT's academic programs and administrative units demonstrate a commitment to principles of continuous improvement. Improvements should be based on a systematic and documented process of assessing institutional performance in respect to mission. The institutional effectiveness process involves all academic programs, services, and constituencies across campus at all levels.
Each year department chairs should ensure that data is reported for each plan under their department. Each degree program reports on student learning outcomes (SLOs) and the department reports on administrative outcomes (AOs). Maintenance of the department plan by the chair is vitally important. Department chairs should ensure data is collected and reported for all plans by due dates. Programs which are delivered by more than one method of delivery must disaggregate and analyze results data by delivery mode (face to face, online, off-site locations) Institutes and Centers are encouraged to use the Improve system to fulfill annual reporting requirements. For more information regarding department/division responsibilities and IE cycles, and deadlines, visit UA's website.
Core Curriculum
Academic Program Review (APR)
UA also oversees Academic Program Review (APR). The university process for APR requires units to complete an in depth review every ten years. This review gives each unit an excellent opportunity to assess its mission, strengths, and challenges. In addition, the unit evaluates its curriculum, operation, and resources relative to the university's mission and strategic priorities. Institutional Effectiveness reports in the Improve system are a component of the APR.
Off-Site Instructional Locations
UA monitors and reports off-site instructional locations. Any academic department planning to teach a course at a new off-campus instructional site should contact Claudia Cooper with questions and complete the UNT Form to Add an Off-Campus Site for Instruction. The form can be found on the UA site. UA can confirm whether the site is new to UNT.
New degrees and changes to existing degrees
The Office of University Accreditation stands ready to help faculty and administrators report their substantive changes to the appropriate bodies. Several types of changes do require prior approval before implementation. UA's website contains a section dedicated to substantive changes and reporting requirements for each. The following types of changes require initial provost approval as the changes require reporting to the THECB and/or SACSCOC:
(1) Distance education is a method of delivery in which 50% or more of instruction occurs when students and the instructor are not in the same location. It includes synchronous and asynchronous instruction. If instruction is delivered to a location by distance education (synchronously or asynchronously) and students are required to be at the location to receive instruction, then the location is considered an off-campus instructional site.
(2) A specific mode of delivery applies when 50% or more of a program (credential) is delivered by that method. A program may be delivered 50% or more by more than one method (students may have the option to choose from different methods of delivery for the same program, e.g. predominately face-to-face versus predominately distance education).
(3) Closure is defined as closed to admission or entry, not the cessation of instruction. Closure approval ensures the institution has a plan and process to provide students reasonable completion options that minimize disruption and additional costs.
(4) Percentage of program instruction at off-campus instructional locations: The percentage of the total instruction required to earn a credential measured in credit hours. The Office of University Accreditation should be notified once a program decides to offer 25% or more of a program at an off-campus instructional site.
The Office of Data, Analytics, and Institutional Research (DAIR) promotes sound analytic and institutional research practices, manages existing data models, provides decision makers and external agencies with official and transactional academic, enrollment, faculty, financial, and student data. The office has four main functional areas and responsibilities. These areas are 1) institutional research, 2) data governance, 3) data modeling, and 4) analytic deployment.
The University of North Texas System is committed to maintaining a comprehensive record and information management program in accordance with all applicable laws, institutional policies, and industry best practices. The Institutional Records Management Program is led by the Records Compliance Officer in the Office of University Integrity and Compliance and directs records and information management initiatives for the UNT System, UNT and UNT Dallas. For more information see UNT Policy 04.008 Records Management and Retention; or if you have any questions concerning records retention schedules, the disposition process, or historical records, please contact the office.
The UNT Budget Office serves as a resource to all levels of management and operating entities within UNT to develop financial plans that support and align with the strategic plan and goals of the institution. Every college at the University has their own budget officer that can assist with any budgetary questions that arise. The University's budget contact is listed below.
The Office of Space Management & Planning is the central governing office of all space on campus. The office is responsible for the management of space through planning, tracking, assignment, auditing, analyses, and reporting of current and future needs based on the strategic and research goals of the institution, while maintaining proper alignment with the Master Plan.
Every spring, department chairs are required to complete the Space Survey. All public higher education institutions in the State must submit an annual facility inventory report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). If you have any space concerns, please email the office at SMP@unt.edu.
The Office of the Provost Deadline Calendar is distributed to deans and deans' assistants and includes deadlines that all department chairs should be aware of in order to prepare in advance for nomination requests and recommendations. Chairs should contact the Office of the Provost at (940) 565-2550 for additional information.