Program Reviews

Purpose

The purpose of CLU Academic Program Reviews is to encourage program improvement by documenting evidence about the extent to which students are meeting learning outcomes. The Program Review process and resulting Report acknowledge program strengths; seek ways of further enhancing the quality of a program; demonstrate educational effectiveness by assessing student learning; and provide data for informed decision making. The Report is authored by program faculty with contributing support received from College/School Deans, the Associate Provost, Provost, Registrar, Institutional Research Officer, and the Director of Assessment and Educational Effectiveness.
Program Reviews focus on academic quality and integrity. Program Reviews, as illustrated in Figure 1, measure success by gathering and reporting evidence, and become a cyclical process through reflection and the setting of future goals.


Figure 1. Program Reviews

The Program Review is a focused, in-depth study that provides evidence for program planning and improvement. The Review is the culmination of the continuous, ongoing annual assessment compiled in a report completed approximately once every seven years (see Appendix 1 for schedule). CLU’s Program Review Report documents the review process and is organized into four sections followed by appendices with supporting documents:
1. Setting Measurable Goals (Introduction, Mission Statements, Program Goals and Learning Outcomes);
2. Planning to Reach Goals (Assessment Plan);
3. Data Collection (Teaching and Learning, Institutional Capacity for Quality, Program Data); and
4. Data Analysis and Reporting (External Review, Summary and Action Plans).
A Program Review Template provides an electronic outline with prompts for completion of each of the four sections. The Template is found immediately following the Appendices of the Handbook. All programs are reviewed within a seven year time frame.

In summary, a Program Review:
• Encourages program improvement;
• Demonstrates educational effectiveness;
• Seeks ways of further enhancing the quality of a program;
• Assesses student learning outcomes; and
• Provides data for informed decision making.

 

Guiding Principles

The Program Review Guiding Principles guide the Review process and product. A Program Review is intended to be:
• Simple and meaningful;
• Completed as a commitment to student learning;
• A continuous improvement process, focusing on Student Learning Outcomes;
• Flexible in order to serve the needs of small to large programs within the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, and School of Education.

Process

A Program Review is an ongoing process of gathering, interpreting, and reflecting upon data, and using that data and yearly goal reviews to make informed program improvement decisions.
The process for Program Reviews includes the following elements:
• Uses Mission, Strategic Plan, University and Program Learning Outcomes to guide the Program Review, data gathering, and analysis. Learning Outcomes describe what the student will be able to perform, under what conditions, and the measurable results or product attained;
• Involves the CLU community of faculty, administrators, students, alumni, and employers;
• Assesses Educational Effectiveness through a self-study of Program and individual courses;
• Uses multiple assessment methods; quantitative and qualitative data; and student learning outcomes data to document whether students are learning what we say we’re teaching;
• Analyzes data to assess progress towards achievement of learning;
• Makes informed recommendations and decisions regarding program change based on analysis;
• Includes an External Review and response to it;
• Presents findings at the Annual Assessment Symposium; and
• Plans yearly actions for the next six years.

 

Program Review Documents

Feedback Form