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Graduate Curriculum Integrity (Policy GRAD-01)

Download a Printable Version of Policy GRAD-01

Effective Date

Spring 2017

Last Revision Date

4/1/2022

Responsible Party

School of Nursing Graduate Program students, faculty, and staff.

Scope and Audience

Students enrolled in the School of Nursing Graduate Programs.

1. Policy Purpose

To describe the Curriculum Integrity Process.

2. Policy Statement

Evaluation and feedback is an important process. Student evaluation must include formative (continuous feedback throughout course) and summative feedback (at the completion of the course). Courses and the curriculum must be continually improved through evaluation, use of data and evidence, and systematic improvement.

In didactic courses this feedback will occur through:

  • Discussions and assignments occurring throughout the course
  • Student/Peer and faculty feedback in discussion groups
  • Faculty feedback on written assignment(s)
  • Grading of assignment(s) and learning activities

In experiential courses this feedback will occur through:

  • Discussions occurring throughout the course between the Course Instructor, Faculty Advisor and students
  • Student/Peer feedback in discussion groups
  • Faculty feedback on written assignment(s)
  • Grading of assignment(s)

3. Curriculum Integrity Process

A systematic curriculum evaluation process is used to assess and maintain the integrity of the AGNP and DNP curricula. This process involves collection of multiple types of information that is reviewed by the AGNP and DNP Governance teams, program faculty, and Assessment and Evaluation team, and shared with the Graduate Governance team.

The process is as follows:

  1. Program and Course outcomes/objectives are developed using appropriate resources and references.
    1. AGNP: Outcomes and objectives are developed using the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education’s (CCNE)Standards for Accreditation of Graduate Nursing Programs (2013), the Essentials (AACN, 2021), the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (NTF) and Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (2016).
    2. DNP: Outcomes and objectives follow the AACN Essentials (2021) and current CCNE criteria.
  2. The program is aligned with the University and Graduate College policies and objectives.
  3. The program is aligned with Quality Matters.
  4. Input from the appropriate Advisory team is considered for additions and/or changes to the program.
  5. Curriculum integrity review occurs with input and communication between the SON Assessment & Evaluation team, Graduate Governance Team, program faculty, and student feedback.
  6. Students provide feedback through course evaluations, surveys, and discussions with faculty and/or staff.
  7. Program faculty submit evaluations of the courses taught in a given semester to the appropriate Governance team and SON Assessment and Evaluation team.
  8. Program faculty receive and review student input, feedback and course evaluation data.
  9. Aggregated and/or individualized data is presented to the program faculty after the completion of each semester.
  10. Program faculty review data as it is available and make appropriate changes to the course(s) based on evidence in the literature, student feedback, course outcomes, and program data.
  11. Program faculty create a plan for the upcoming semester and report the plan to the DNP team.
  12. The graduate governance team reviews the plan and provides input.
  13. The graduate program faculty and governance team monitors curriculum change(s) via student and faculty feedback during subsequent semesters

Approximately once yearly, courses are reviewed to check for consistency with the curricular framework, syllabus template, any changes from AACN/CCNE, and current SON Assessment & Evaluation team requirements. This usually occurs as part of scheduled team meetings and/or special meetings to conduct curriculum review and updates. These are reported via the program minutes. Any changes impacting students are shared through the student representatives at these meetings and/or via the Student Portal or relevant course learning platform sites.

4. Forms

N/A

Related Information

BSU: None

CHS: None

SON: Bylaws (Policy FSP-01), Faculty and Staff Expectations (Policy FSP-02)

Last Review Date

4/1/2022

Revision History

Spring 2017, July 2020, July 2021, 1/27/2022 (policy DNP-1 and AGNP-3 combined)