Audit & Review

Purpose

The Academic Program Review process at UWW facilitates meaningful self-evaluation of the effectiveness and quality of academic programs. The key objectives of program review include:

• Alignment with institutional mission and priorities.

• Assessment of program effectiveness to determine the overall impact on student learning, success, and satisfaction within their programs of study.
• Identifying needs and unique circumstances of specific programs.
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses that may require further planning to better serve students and meet institutional goals.
• Continuous Improvement to support program quality, relevance, and sustainability over time.

By engaging in regular program review, institutions can adapt to changing educational needs, maintain academic excellence, and meet the evolving demands of students and society.

The Universities of Wisconsin and Higher Learning Commission both require systematic and continuous review of academic programs. The links below can direct you to specific information regarding these requirements:

Regent Policy Document on Academic Program Review

Higher Learning Commission Criteria for Accreditation

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Process

Academic programs will be reviewed on a 7-year cycle. The review schedule can be found under “Review Schedule and Evaluations.” Programs under review will receive communication regarding upcoming due dates beginning a year and half before their review cycle. This communication will come directly to program chairs and coordinators from the office of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning. Specific resources to guide programs through the review process can be found under “Self-Study Resources.”

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Self-Study 

When a program is scheduled for Program Review, it prepares a self-study. Authors often begin by consulting the self-study and final report from the previous Program Review report.

In its self-study, the program covers the following areas:

• program purpose and overview, including program mission, goals, and accomplishments
• assessment of curriculum and student learning
• student recruitment, enrollment, retention and graduation
• resource availability and development

The program submits a self-study draft to the dean by May 1; it submits a final version to the Undergraduate or Graduate Program Review Committee by August 1.

Committee Draft Report

The Program Review Committee goes through a systematic process of evaluating a self-study.  Each member evaluates the self-study through a Qualtrics survey, and the committee meets to discuss survey output.  In a (draft) report on the self-study, which it submits to the dean and program coordinator or department chair, the committee recommends one of the following results:

____Continuation without qualification. Next self-study will be a shortened one focusing on the Recommended Actions from the current report.

____Continuation with minor concerns. Progress report may be required, at the discretion of the Program Review Committee.

____Continuation with major concerns in one or more of the four areas. Submit progress report(s) addressing the concerns as directed by the Program Review Committee. Progress reports must be submitted to the College Dean, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and the Program Review Committee.

____Insufficient information in the self-study to decide; revise and resubmit.

____Refer to Provost for Action.

This list of recommended results does not work as a grading scale. For example, “Continuation without qualification” is not equivalent to an A, and the requirement for a program to submit a progress report does not, in itself, suggest a below average program. However, the process does affirm a program receiving the result of "continuation without qualification" as exemplary.

Face-to-Face Meeting

The program coordinator/department chair, college dean, provost, and members of the Program Review Committee meet face-to-face to discuss the committee's draft report and determine recommended actions and results. The process is meant to be collaborative; during this meeting, parties may discuss discrepancies in how they understood or assessed the program.

Committee Final Report

In its final written report, the review committee summarizes the discussion at the face-to-face meeting, lists program strengths and weaknesses, and makes final determinations on recommended actions and a recommended result.