Compliance Certification Report

2.7.2

The institution offers degree programs that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with its stated mission and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education. (Program Content)

Narrative:

As a health science campus, programs in each of our four schools (medicine, nursing, allied health, and biomedical sciences) are compatible with the mission and values of the institution (1), are in appropriate fields of study for health-related professions, and share common goals in advancing the health of those we serve.

General descriptions of the degrees offered are found the UTMB General Information Catalog (2). The listing of required courses and course descriptions are located in the bulletins provided by the School of Medicine (3), School of Nursing (4), Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (5), and School of Allied health Sciences (6).

Under the provisions of Texas Education Code, an institution shall report its course offerings and changes to its course offerings to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The THECB may delete or consolidate courses but must give due notice, a reason for the action, and hold hearings if requested (7).

UTMB has an established approval process for new education programs (8). Courses of study also adhere to the accreditation standards of licensing and certification programs for medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, clinical laboratory science, physician assistants, and respiratory care (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15).

Departments, colleges, and faculty committees monitor the curriculum for each degree program to ensure that the programs are of the high quality. For example, the School of Medicine Curriculum Committee reviews all required courses (16) (17). In the School of Nursing, faculty initiates the curriculum process; it is then approved by the Baccalaureate or Master’s Team, as appropriate, then by the Curriculum Committee. After Faculty Assembly approval, it goes to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, then to the Academic Affairs Council. If required, the proposal is also sent to the Board of Nurse Examiners for their approval as well (18). In the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the school's curriculum committee approves each new course proposal and approves only courses adopted by vote as qualifying under set criteria identified by the faculty of each graduate program (19) (20). In the School of Allied Health Sciences, faculty within the five professional education programs plan, monitor, and evaluate their individual degrees to ensure compatibility of purpose and appropriateness to the fields of study and the curricula of these educational degree programs undergo rigorous review by the school's Curriculum Committee (21) (22).