Academic Program Audit: A Quality Assurance Mechanism for Higher Education Programs in the University of Baguio

ISO/FDIS 9001:2015 QMS Standard requires an organization to determine and control the statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to its products and services. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is the regulatory agency for higher education and issues Policies, Standards, and Guidelines (PSG) for specific programs. In addition to the PSGs, CHED also releases relevant memorandums specifying additional requirements, addenda, or changes to previous issuances. This study aims to assess the compliance of the University of Baguio with CHED's Policies, Standards, and Guidelines using the academic program audits submitted by the different schools. Specifically, it seeks to evaluate the compliance of various programs in the area of administration. The study will serve as a guide for the university in creating and implementing relevant strategies, policies, and procedures to meet the minimum standards outlined in CHED’s PSGs for each program. It will also help the Quality Assurance Office (QAO) assess the progress of the Institutional Development Plan (IDP). The researcher used the documentary analysis method for the study. The results indicate that the University of Baguio has fully complied with the educational qualifications required for a dean. However, improvements are needed to meet the minimum educational qualifications and teaching load requirements for program chairpersons. The University of Baguio should ensure these areas are consistently addressed, as they are essential for the accreditation of various programs.