The Program Review Process
Program review occurs on a six year cycle. The starting point (Year 1) is the year the program composes the self study and five year plan. The schedule for review can be found here; note that the year listed corresponds to the year 2 external and internal reviews of the Program Review Cycle and that the self study and five year plan are to be completed prior to that listed in the schedule.
Figure 1. Program Review Cycle
The Program Review Process:
The program review process can be viewed as a map that shows the
participants and the timeline and can be viewed in Figure 2.
Click this image to enlarge the process map.
Figure 2. Program Review Process
First, the program obtains data about itself from a variety of sources (outcomes assessment results, institutional research, surveys of students and alumni, etc) and prepares a self-study summarizing the successes and shortcomings of the program based on the information available. Included are recommendations to improve the program(s). From this data, the program faculty develop a five-year plan to address perceived problems that is submitted with the self-study. After these documents have been prepared, all the program faculty should be able to answer these questions (adapted from Massy, W., Graham, S., & Shor, P. (2007). Academic quality work: A handbook for improvement. Bolton MA: Anker)
- What are we trying to do? (program student learning outcomes)
- How are we doing it? (program curriculum)
- Who is responsible? (the faculty, staff, etc)
- How do we know we are succeeding? (outcomes assessment evidence)
- How can we do better? (the five year plan)
Second, external reviewers selected by PRS (from nominees submitted by the Program, College and University) visit the Program after careful review of the self-study, meeting with the Program faculty and students as well as College and University administrators. They prepare a review document that contains recommendations and commendations.
Third, PRS examines both the self-study and the external reviewers' report. They meet multiple times with the program representative (s) and the College Dean(s) to forge the final summary report that contains commendations and recommendations (addressed to the program, College and University as appropriate).
The final summary report is used to develop an action plan, which has input from the program, College and University. PRS may require intermediate progress reports on achieving the goals of the plan before the next review; however, reporting of assessment activities is an annual requirement. The format for that report can be found here.
