Program Review

I. Purpose

A.    Program review is an opportunity for self-study, self-renewal and recognition of the excellence of educational and support programs, and an opportunity to identify the need for improvement.  Program review involves self-scrutiny by all college entities to determine how well each program is achieving objectives and advancing the mission, vision, goals and institutional learning outcomes of the college.[1]      

B.    A program may be defined as a certificate or degree program, a coherent educational experience such as tutoring or orientation program, a co-curricular learning program or an academic discipline.[2]      

C.    Plans for improvement that result from program review shall be integrated with the college strategic plan in order to pursue the congruence between the mission, vision, and goals of the college, including the institutional core learning outcomes as well as degree, certificate, program, and course learning outcomes.


[1] Meehan, Kenneth, Research and Planning Group for CA Community Colleges citing E. Craven, (1980) Academic Program Evaluation. New Directions for Institutional Research, No. 27
[2] Beno, Barbara, Accreditation Notes, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

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II. Program Review Cycle 

A.   All academic and student services programs are reviewed on six year cycle. 

B.   The Office of the President, the Office of Instruction, and the Academic Senate          collaborate on the development of the six year program review cycle.  In the Spring of each year, the cycle is reviewed and revised, if necessary.  

III. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS     

A.   In the Spring prior to the year of the review:  
1.         The dean or director and the departmental faculty/staff develop program review teams.  
2.         The Office of Institutional Research and the dean or director assist the departmental faculty/staff in the development of key performance indicators, student surveys, and select the classes and/or offices to be surveyed.       

B.   In the Fall of the review, the Office of Institutional Research will:  
1.         Assist the dean or director and faculty/staff in administering the student surveys.              
2.         Compile and distribute data from the student surveys as well as data generated by key performance indicators.  

IV. ACADEMIC AND STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAM REVIEW TEMPLATES 

A.  In the Fall of the review, using the template provided, the Program Review Team shall submit a preliminary draft to the dean or director for review.  
B.  In April of the review, the Program Review Team submits a final draft of the academic or student services template to the dean or director for review and approval. 
C.  The dean or director shall forward the completed program review document to the Office of Instruction for review and approval.       
D.  Upon approval from the Office of Instruction, the program review document shall be forwarded to the Office of the President for review and approval.  

V. PROGRAM REVIEW, BUGDET,  AND COLLEGE STRATEGIC PLANNING  

 A.   Program review recommendations are a major component of the college strategic planning process which is designed to lead to enhanced utilization of existing resources commensurate with the college mission/vision statement and should increase the quality of instruction and services based upon institutional, program, degree, and course learning outcomes.       
B.   Commensurate with the budgetary considerations of the college, the Office of the President, the Office of Instruction, and the Academic Senate will mutually agree upon the program review recommendations forwarded to the appropriate Strategic Planning Focus Groups for planning considerations and implementation.                




Proposed: 10-11-06
Senate Approved: 10-12-06
Student Services Approved: 10-30-06
Dean’s Council Approved: 11-8-06
President Approved: 11-16-06