Key Areas for Program Review: Sample questions to guide the self-study
Mission and General Overview
- What is a brief history of the unit/program, i.e., how has it evolved and how have the original expectations changed and why?
- How has the program adapted to changing student demographics and needs?
- What is the contextual/regulatory environment (if any) relevant to this program?
- Is the unit/program guided by a unified vision/conceptual framework?
- Who are key competitors and how does our program compare?
- How is the program regarded in the “market?”
- Is this program unique in serving students (i.e., it is not offered at any other institution) or does it offer a learning experience that is unique in some way?
- How does the program relate to the professional field and to careers in the field?
- How does the program vision/mission relate to the school in which it is located and to the institution?
- Does the program serve a societal need the institution values?
- How does this program contribute to the institutional mission and strategic vision?
- How is this program connected to other institutional or program initiatives?
Program Procedures, Content and Learning Outcomes
- Does the unit have published policies and procedures, or accepted practices for:
- Program and course development and approval
- Regular program, curriculum and course review
- Monitoring and reviewing student academic progress
- Mentoring of course and program content, and faculty teaching
- How has the curriculum been reviewed and how has it changed to incorporate changes in the field and to meet the changing needs of students?
- How are field-based learning opportunities integrated into the program?
- Does the program have clearly articulated learning goals/outcomes linked to courses or experiences in the program for which faculty and students must show accountability in teaching and learning?
- What evidence do we have to document student learning outcomes?
- How do we assess students?
- How are the results of assessment used to inform ongoing program implementation and program development?
- Have delivery formats been adapted to meet the changing needs of students? (e.g., intensive, evening and weekend)
Students Demographics, Enrollment, Retention and Completion
- What is the external demand for this program? Do there appear to be trends in admissions/enrollment data?
- What are the characteristics of our students?
- Is/how is the student population changing?
- Admissions data
- Demographic data (age, gender, race/ethnicity)
- Enrollment trends
- Student/faculty ratio
- Graduation/completion rates
- How are students advised and supported?
- What evidence do we have of alumni satisfaction and accomplishment?
- What evidence do we have of employer satisfaction?
- How many students are being served? Credit hours generated? Degrees or certificates awarded?
Faculty
- What are the characteristics of faculty:
- Degrees
- Years of relevant experience
- Scholarly and creative contributions to field
- Currency of participation in professional field or academic discipline
- Ratio of full/part-time instructors
- How many faculty and staff are assigned (teaching and non-teaching responsibilities)?
- What roles do faculty play in course development, faculty mentoring, student advising?
- What evidence do we have of faculty teaching effectiveness?
- What documentation do we have of the public service contributions of faculty?
Other Resources and Facilities
- How has the program taken advantages of new technologies to enrich the curriculum, enhance student learning, and prepare students to function in the high tech world?
- How current are equipment and course materials?
- Does the program have the necessary laboratories, studios or specialized facilities?
- Are library resources and services sufficient to support the program?
- How do the services of Student Learning and Academic Development contribute to student success in this program?
- To what extent are students engaged in co-curricular activities? How do co-curricular activities contribute to outcomes for this program?
- To what extent are the facilities conducive to quality learning experiences?
- What resources does the program generate? e.g., enrollment, grants, fundraising, special fees or events, relationships benefiting the institution
- What costs are associated with this program?
- What investments would need to be made to maintain or increase the quality?
Future Considerations
- Could this program benefit from new collaborations or relationships (internal or external)?
- Could productivity be increased by cost containment or technological innovations?
- What are new possibilities for curriculum/program delivery?
- What is the strategic plan for keeping pace with changes in the field, for attracting and serving new populations?
Sources: Inquiry questions from SOE Quality Project 10/04
Dickeson, R. C. Prioritizing academic programs and services: Reallocating resources to achieve strategic balance. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999.