Academic and student support programs must conduct a program review every
five years. The program review allows the university to assess current programs,
identify strengths and weaknesses, and develop strategies to build upon
strengths and improve deficiencies. The Office of the Chancellor of the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education maintains a
schedule of program reviews
for each of the 14 state universities. Detailed information is provided
in the Board of Governors
Policy 1986-04-A: Program Review and the related
Administrative Procedure.
In addition, the University requires programs to submit annual reports
using the same format and report form as the five-year review. This process assists programs in
gathering and documenting information annually, which makes the five-year review
process much simpler. It also helps programs and the university monitor
progress in achieving program goals between five-year reviews and provides important
information for the annual planning and budgeting process.
Annual reports and program reviews should
include the following
(updated for 2008-09):
- The report form
("Academic Program Report Summary Form") for annual reports and
program reviews
- Learning Outcomes Assessment Worksheet, using either the
"traditional"
horizontal or
the alternative
vertical format
(not required for units that do not have student learning as a primary goal)
- Program Outcomes Assessment Worksheet, using either the
"traditional"
horizontal or
the alternative
vertical format
- Additional information in an
Appendix (optional
for non-instructional departments)
All programs should consult the following:
- The Guidelines
for Completing the "Academic Program Report Summary Form" for
annual reports and program reviews (rev. 1/07/09)
- A sample report (on
a
hypothetical Classics major at Imaginary University); the sample is
of an annual report (a program review report would be very similar,
but reflect the five-year time horizon)
- The Report Evaluation form (used to provide advice to programs on improving
annual reports and program reviews)
- The University's
Strategic Plan (annual reports and program reviews should reflect awareness of and the program's
contribution to the Strategic Plan)
- The LHU Program Review Model
for the difference between student learning and other program outcomes
- The "Administrative Procedure for Board of Governors’ Policy 1986-04-A:
Program Review" (here
or on the
PASSHE web site under "Academic Policies")
for programs preparing PASSHE five-year program reviews
University Days presentations on annual
reports and program reviews:
For additional information on program review in general, see:
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has a helpful overview of
Foundations and Principles
of Program Review.
- The American Association of Physics Teachers has developed a
"Definition of a Thriving Undergraduate Physics Program" that may offer ideas for
potential program outcomes for any discipline.
