The University Committee of Academic Review (UCAR) oversees the academic review process. UCAR is a permanent, standing university committee appointed by the President. Recommendations for membership are solicited from a variety of sources, including Academic Deans and the Executive Board of the Academic Senate. Each year, the Provost appoints one member of the committee to serve as chair.
UCAR consists roughly of 18 members, including faculty and ex-officio members, and will:
- Provide oversight for each academic unit by reading and discussing the review documents and assessing the report of the Review Committee. Any critiques arising from the review are incorporated in the UCAR chair’s memorandum that accompanies the transmittal of the report to the Provost.
- Advise the Provost on any modifications to the Academic Review process that may prove necessary.
- Receive reports of other forms of program evaluation at USC, including professional accreditation visits, internal school reviews, and advising the Provost of the outcomes.
Committee Members
GJ Halfond (Chair)
Viterbi School of Engineering
 | Burcin Becerik-Gerber Viterbi School of Engineering |  | Ricky Bluthenthal Keck School of Medicine |
 | Anita Dashiell-Sparks School of Dramatic Arts |  | Christian Grose Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
 | Stephan Haas Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |  | Karla Heidelberg Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
 | Kimberly Hirabayashi Rossier School of Education |  | Heather James Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
 | Shubha Kumar Keck School of Medicine |  | Darius Lakdawalla Mann School of Pharmacy |
 | Natania Meeker Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |  | Gourab Mukherjee Marshall School of Business |
 | Amy Murphy School of Architecture |  | Mariela Padilla Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry |
 | Keith Robinson Marshall School of Business |  | Beth Smith Keck School of Medicine |
 | Yong (Tiger) Zhang Mann School of Pharmacy |  | Chi Mak (Ex-Officio) Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
 | Andrew Stott (Ex-Officio) Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of the Graduate School |  | Sandeep Gupta (Ex-Officio) Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs |
Last updated January 2026