Executive Summary Report for the review of the Core program – 2023/2024

As part of Redeemer’s institutional quality assurance process, the Associate Dean of the Humanities, with the assistance of faculty teaching in the Core, completed a Self‐Study Report of the Core program in October 2023. A review team composed of two external and one internal reviewer conducted a site visit on November 9, 2023, meeting with students, faculty, and relevant support staff and senior administration. The review team submitted a final External Reviewers’ Report on December 9, 2023.

The external reviewers commended the Core program for its strong and coherent structure, its deep alignment with the university’s mission and vision, and the quality of faculty teaching across the courses in the Core, noting especially the unique feature of having two full time faculty dedicated solely to the Core. The external reviewers noted several areas in which the Core program could be strengthened, including improving clarity and communication about the Core program to both students and faculty; re-designing specific courses and sequencing; and exploring ways to improve grading and assessment of Core courses.

The associate dean of humanities and Core faculty, together with Redeemer administration, have carefully considered the External Reviewers’ Report and prepared a concrete plan, with a timeline, to strengthen the program in response to the recommendations. This plan was approved by Redeemer’s Senate on March 25, 2024.