Course Performance Reports and Division Academic Program Reports – Policy

Intent

This policy sets out the requirements for the completion of annual Course Performance Reports and Division Academic Program Reports.

Scope

This policy applies to all relevant Deputy Vice Chancellors and to Course Coordinators and other staff with designated responsibilities for the preparation of the reports required by this policy.

Definitions

Academic Program: the suite of courses owned by a Division.

Course: an approved Higher Education Award of the University as defined in the Policy Glossary

Course Performance Reports (CPRs): Annual reports completed for each undergraduate and postgraduate course by the Course Coordinator.

Division Academic Program Reports (DAPRs): Annual reports completed by the relevant Deputy Vice-Chancellor identifying key strengths, weaknesses and priorities for the following year as identified from the Division’s suite of Course Performance Reports.

Policy

The University undertakes Course Performance Reports and Division Academic Program Reports as part of its commitment to the principles of quality improvement that moves beyond compliance and attaining standards (assurance) to participative and critical self-evaluation and continuous improvement. The conduct of these reports incorporates the eight principles that underpin JCU’s Quality Enhancement Framework:

1. Aligning our activities with the University Intent, purpose and values;
2. Encompassing the four dimensional cycle of ‘approach, deployment, results and improvement’ (ADRI);
3. Encouraging a culture of self-reflection and peer review so that strengths and weaknesses may be identified and addressed;
4. Collaborating with our colleagues across boundaries;
5. Embracing a student focussed approach where student participation and feedback informs all phases of the quality cycle;
6. Actively engaging with the community to meet its needs;
7. Using evidence based practice, informed by scholarly review, and utilising quantitative and qualitative data for effective decision making and strategy evaluation; and
8. Identifying and using relevant internal and external benchmarks and good practice to set goals and strive for improvement.

Course Performance Reports and Division Academic Program Reports are methods of evaluating performance and identifying individual or collective course improvements on an annual basis.  At course and Division level, reflection on the previous year’s performance and analyses of current data is undertaken to identify successful strategies and areas for improvement for course quality that will then be included in the annual planning process (Division and College Plans).

The Course Performance Report and Division Academic Program Reporting structure provide critical inputs to the academic course review of academic programs.

Procedure

The procedure for the completion of Course Performance Reports and Division Academic Program Reports, including timelines, is set out in the Course Performance Reports Procedure and Division Academic Program Reports Guidelines.

Related documents and legislation

Course Performance Reports 2017 - Procedures

Division Academic Program Reports 2017 - Guidelines

Quality Enhancement Framework

Academic Course Review Procedure

Administration

NOTE: Printed copies of this policy are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History

NOTE: A minor amendment will not result in a change of the next major review date.

Approval date - the date the approval authority approved the establishment, minor or major amendment or disestablishment

Implementation Date - the date the policy was published in the Policy Library and is the date the policy takes effect