The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Contact Info

Yan Song, Department Chair
919.962.4761; Dept phone: 919.962.3983
ys@email.unc.edu
https://planning.unc.edu/academics/masters/
Public Information

Accreditation Actions

Accreditation through December 31, 2026
Last Accreditation Cycle: 2020 – 2021
Next Accreditation Cycle: 2025 – 2026
Progress Report: July 1, 2024

Summary of Recent Actions

October 2021: Program granted 5-year accreditation

PAB accreditation indicates that the Program has undergone an external review and substantially meets the PAB standards and criteria. Programs granted accreditation demonstrated conformity with PAB Standards after a thorough review from the Board. PAB bases its decisions on the overall quality of the program, its performance relative to its mission and strategic plan, and its performance relative to PAB’s five standards, which encompass a total of 29 criteria and 18 curriculum sub-criteria. When PAB determines that a Program does not fully meet a criterion or curriculum sub-criterion, the Program is encouraged to take steps to improve in that area and provide information to PAB on its efforts, either during the next accreditation review or in an interim progress report.

The Planning Accreditation Board has required the Program to address issues in the following areas:

  • Criterion 1D / Student Learning Outcomes Assessment determined to be partially-met. It is desirable for the program to develop an assessment system integrative with curriculum development and informs future changes.
  • Criterion 5E / Promotion and Tenure determined to be partially-met. Program should clarify tenure standards and review its teaching loads to ensure equity in teaching by faculty of various ranks.

This information is a summary only. Please consult the school directly for in-depth information regarding programs, course offerings, and compliance with PAB standards. Programs should also be consulted directly for additional information on issues and areas of improvement identified during an accreditation review, and the actions that the school is taking to address these areas. If the Program has provided a response to any of the issues cited above, please see below for a link to the response.

June 2017: Program granted a 2-year extension of accreditation based on a satisfactory Progress Report that addressed issues identified in the previous accreditation review.

April 2015: Program granted 5-year accreditation. The 5-year decision is based on PAB’s findings that multiple minor deficiencies exist and/or deficiencies have been recently corrected. Progress Report by May 1, 2017 to be submitted by the Program for possible extension of accreditation of 2 years.

PAB accreditation indicates that the Program has undergone an external review and substantially meets the PAB standards and criteria. Programs granted accreditation demonstrated conformity with PAB Standards after a thorough review from the Board. PAB bases its decisions on the overall quality of the program, its performance relative to its mission and strategic plan, and its performance relative to PAB’s 7 standards, which encompass a total of 35 criteria and 17 curriculum sub-criteria. When PAB determines that a Program does not fully meet a criterion or curriculum sub-criterion, the Program is encouraged to take steps to improve in that area and provide information to PAB on its efforts, either during the next accreditation review or in an interim progress report.

This information is a summary only. Please consult the school directly for in-depth information regarding programs, course offerings, and compliance with PAB standards. Programs should also be consulted directly for additional information on issues and areas of improvement identified during an accreditation review, and the actions that the school is taking to address these areas.