Academic Program Academic Program Review Committee ReportReview Committee Report

Faculty Senate meetingFaculty Senate meeting

November 11, 2008November 11, 2008

Committee membersCommittee membersMember College or School RepresentativeYasser Gowayed Engineering ChairJohn Hielman Provost Bill SauserRoyrickers Cook Assistant VP for Outreach --John Mason Associate Provost and VP for Research Ralph ZeeGeorge Flowers Dean of Graduate School Jeff SibleyRobert Tufts Forestry and Wildlife SciencesBarbara A Bishop LibraryTarik Orgen ArchitectureHubert (Junior) Field BusinessDaniel Parsons PharmacyJennifer Hamner NursingRonald Montgomery Clinical SciencesDavid King Geology and GeographyDudley McGlynn PsychologyCynthia Reed Truman Pierce Institute (Education) Juming Zhong Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology

Recent historical developmentsRecent historical developments

2003-2004: President Richardson initiated the Academic 2003-2004: President Richardson initiated the Academic Program Review process.Program Review process.

2005: Faculty Senate approved review document 2005: Faculty Senate approved review document prepared by APR committee (prepared by APR committee (Doc1Doc1).).

2006: Review conducted using another document 2006: Review conducted using another document ((Doc2Doc2).).

2007: Review conducted using 2007: Review conducted using Doc2Doc2 with with Doc1Doc1 as an as an appendix.appendix.

2008: 2008: Doc2Doc2 changed to accommodate requests made by changed to accommodate requests made by APR committee.APR committee.

Academic Program ReviewAcademic Program ReviewPurposePurpose

Academic Program Review is an organized activity Academic Program Review is an organized activity based on data relative to an institution’s mission, goals, based on data relative to an institution’s mission, goals, and strategic plan. and strategic plan.

The goal of this review process is to strengthen the The goal of this review process is to strengthen the academic activities of the University.academic activities of the University.

““Occasionally, a program review may provide sufficient Occasionally, a program review may provide sufficient evidence to warrant a decision to refocus, reorganize, evidence to warrant a decision to refocus, reorganize, curtail or eliminate some academic activities or even curtail or eliminate some academic activities or even departments. Most often, however, the process will lead departments. Most often, however, the process will lead to action plans for improving a department’s various to action plans for improving a department’s various academic activities, either singly or in combinationacademic activities, either singly or in combination.” .”

Academic Program ReviewAcademic Program ReviewScope and criteriaScope and criteria

Program reviews are coordinated through the Program reviews are coordinated through the Office of the Provost.Office of the Provost.As the fundamental units of organization, As the fundamental units of organization, academic departments or schoolsacademic departments or schools are the are the basic units. basic units. Typically, every program within a unit is Typically, every program within a unit is reviewed at the same time.reviewed at the same time.The review has two main components: self-The review has two main components: self-assessment and external assessment.assessment and external assessment.

Academic Program ReviewAcademic Program ReviewSelf assessmentSelf assessment

TThe unit is responsible for defining its own he unit is responsible for defining its own mission, developing assessment methods and mission, developing assessment methods and tools, and reporting the results. tools, and reporting the results. The unit defines its performance indicators in a The unit defines its performance indicators in a way that fits its mission.way that fits its mission.Five broad criteria: 1) mission and governance, Five broad criteria: 1) mission and governance, 2) institutional commitment and resources, 3) 2) institutional commitment and resources, 3) curriculum and teaching-learning practices, 4) curriculum and teaching-learning practices, 4) student performance and faculty student performance and faculty accomplishments, and 5) assessment of the accomplishments, and 5) assessment of the unit’s strength and weaknesses.unit’s strength and weaknesses.

Academic Program ReviewAcademic Program ReviewExternal reviewExternal review

External assessment is conducted by outside reviewers.External assessment is conducted by outside reviewers.Review team has two members not affiliated with Auburn Review team has two members not affiliated with Auburn University and two members from other departments in University and two members from other departments in the University.the University.Reviewers are nominated by the unit and selected by the Reviewers are nominated by the unit and selected by the Dean.Dean.Outside reviewers will review the self-assessment, Outside reviewers will review the self-assessment, conduct interviews, and issue a final report to the Dean.conduct interviews, and issue a final report to the Dean.Final reports will be forwarded to the Office of the Final reports will be forwarded to the Office of the Provost accompanied by the Dean’s recommendations.Provost accompanied by the Dean’s recommendations.If an academic unit already undergoes an accreditation If an academic unit already undergoes an accreditation process by an external agency, expedited review is process by an external agency, expedited review is conducted.conducted.

Role of Academic Program Review Role of Academic Program Review committeecommittee

The committee shall: 1) review the final written The committee shall: 1) review the final written products (the self-study, the review team's report, products (the self-study, the review team's report, and the dean's plan) resulting from each year's and the dean's plan) resulting from each year's round of Academic Program reviews and confer round of Academic Program reviews and confer with the Provost on ways to strengthen the with the Provost on ways to strengthen the academic program review process, and 2) review academic program review process, and 2) review any proposals to discontinue, merge, or otherwise any proposals to discontinue, merge, or otherwise restructure any academic program and confer with restructure any academic program and confer with the Provost and reach a decision on the feasibility the Provost and reach a decision on the feasibility of the proposal. of the proposal.

Timeline for reviewTimeline for review

Master Calendar for review of all departments is listed in Master Calendar for review of all departments is listed in Appendix 1.Appendix 1.Changes and updates to the Master Calendar will be Changes and updates to the Master Calendar will be conducted in consultation with Academic Program conducted in consultation with Academic Program Review committee.Review committee.Review process is currently in its third year of Review process is currently in its third year of implementation.implementation.

Contact PersonContact Person

Yasser GowayedYasser Gowayed

Chair of APR CommitteeChair of APR Committee

gowayed@auburn.edugowayed@auburn.edu