Program Reviews

Introduction
Schedule
Timeline and Procedures
Self Study
Review Committee
Optional Response Document
Action Plan

Introduction

All undergraduate and graduate programs at KSU must undergo a comprehensive review process every seven years. Taking advantage of the completion of a full 7-year review period (i.e., one review cycle), we recently sought feedback from former internal and external reviewers, the Graduate Studies Administrative Advisory Committee and academic college deans in order to improve the review process. National best practices and the procedures used by our sister schools were also considered.

The result is a more clearly defined academic program review process that can be completed within a considerably shorter timeline. The process begins with the unitâ€™s completion of a self study, and is followed by review from a committee comprised of three experts in the discipline (external reviewers) and two KSU faculty members.

The revised review process will be pilot tested over the next two years.

Questions may be directed to Monica Teamer (mteamer@kent.edu, 330-672-4712).

Schedule

The schedule for academic program reviews may be found here .

Timeline and Procedures

Selection of Review Committee: The review committee will consist of three external reviewers and two KSU faculty members. Names of potential external reviewers are due to the Dean of Graduate Studies by March 15. The external reviewers should be experts in the discipline being reviewed, senior in rank, have experience in administration of an academic program and should have no professional or personal conflict of interest with the unit under review or members of its faculty. The review committee will be selected by the Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the academic college dean.

Self Study Report: The self study report will be prepared by the department/school faculty and chair/director. If an academic program is accredited by an outside body, the most recent accreditation report should be submitted along with the self-study report. The self study is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies by June 1. The report will be provided to the review committee and the academic college dean. PLEASE SUBMIT THE SELF STUDY ELECTRONICALLY.

Review Committee Report: Reviewers will be provided with the self study report. The review committee report is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies within four weeks after the review is conducted. The report is provided to the Provost, Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum, academic college dean and the department chair/school director.

Department/School Response: The department/school has the option to prepare a document in response to the Review Committee Report. The purpose of the response document is to correct factual errors or errors of interpretation. The response document is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies within two weeks after the review committee report is received. The document will be provided to the Provost, Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum and the academic college dean.

Action Plan Meeting: The department chair/school director, after consultation with appropriate faculty bodies, completes the Preliminary Action Plan based on suggestions and recommendations from the Review Committee Report. The Preliminary Action Plan should include specific action items to be completed over the next two years; action items should be prioritized and each item should specify measures and performance standards, as well as an estimated completion date. The Preliminary Action Plan should be submitted to the academic college dean, Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum and Dean of Graduate Studies at least one week prior to the Action Plan Meeting. The Action Plan Meeting will include the Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum, Dean of Graduate Studies, academic college dean and department chair/school director. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Review Committee Report and agree upon a final action plan.

Action Plan Report: The final Action Plan Report is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies within one month after the Action Plan Meeting. The Dean of Graduate Studies will format the report for submission to OBR, and forward to the academic college dean, Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum and the Provost for approval and signature. A copy of the signed action plan document will be sent to the department chair/school director and will be electronically filed in the Division of Graduate Studies. The Dean of Graduate Studies is responsible for notifying OBR when the review has been completed.

Update Report: Two years after the conclusion of the review, the department/school will submit to the Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum, Dean of Graduate Studies and academic college dean a report on progress made on each item identified in the Action Plan. A second Update Report may be requested at a later date if insufficient progress has been made.

Self Study

The Self Study Report will be prepared by the department/school faculty and chair/director. It is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies by June 1.

Questions within the Self Study refer to the period of time since the last program review, unless otherwise noted. Data necessary for completing the report can be obtained from the RPIE website, unless otherwise noted. Supplemental materials shall be included as appendixes within the Self Study Report. Please submit the report ELECTRONICALLY as one document.

Programs that are externally accredited should submit their most recent accreditation report along with the Self Study Report. Because accreditation requirements vary widely by discipline, the accreditation report may not be substituted for the Self Study.

Following the Self Study, the unit will be reviewed by a committee comprised of three experts in the discipline (external reviewers) and two KSU faculty members. External reviewers play an essential role in the program review process because of their expertise in the discipline, objectivity and ability to place the program in a larger disciplinary context both nationally and internationally; the KSU faculty member is able to contribute knowledge of the university's mission, policies and practices. Following recommendation by the department/school, members of the Review Committee will be selected by the Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the academic college dean.

The Review Committee will be provided with the unit's Self Study Report, and will participate in a series of meetings during a 1.5 day period on campus. The KSU representatives will participate in all meetings of the Review Committee during the review, and chairs/directors are encouraged to make arrangements to allow for faculty participation in this important service contribution to the university.

The Self Study Report document can be obtained here.

Review Committee

Following recommendation by the department/school, members of the Review Committee will be selected by the Associate Provost of Quality Initiatives and Curriculum, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the academic college dean. The committee is comprised of three experts in the discipline undergoing review plus one KSU faculty member. External reviewers play an essential role in the program review process because of their expertise in the discipline, objectivity and ability to place the program in a larger disciplinary context both nationally and internationally; the KSU faculty member contributes knowledge of the university's mission, policies and practices.

The program review covers the unit's undergraduate and graduate programs, including interdisciplinary programs and non-degree granting instructional programs. Review of interdisciplinary programs not located within an individual academic department will coincide, if appropriate and practical, with the review of one or more related departments.

The Review Committee will be provided with the unit's Self Study Report, and will participate in a series of meetings during a 1.5 day period on campus. The KSU representative will participate in all meetings of the Review Committee during the review, and chairs/directors are encouraged to make arrangements to allow for faculty participation in this important service contribution to the university.

The Review Committee Report should be evaluative and forward-looking, rather than a description of the unit's current status. It is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies within four weeks of the review, and will be distributed to the Provost, the Associate Provost for Quality Initiatives and Curriculum, the academic college dean and the department chair/school director.

The Review Committee Report document can be obtained here.

Optional Response Document

Once the Review Committee Report has been received, the department/school has the opportunity to provide clarification and/or respond to any errors contained in the report. The Response Document is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies within two weeks of receiving the report; it will be appended to the Review Committee Report.

Action Plan

Based upon suggestions and recommendations from the Review Committee Report, the department chair/school director, after consultation with appropriate faculty bodies, completes the Preliminary Action Plan. The Preliminary Action Plan includes a summary of the overall status and trajectory of the department, as well as specific action items to be completed over the next 1-2 years. The Preliminary Action Plan should be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies at least one week prior to the Action Plan Meeting.

The Preliminary Action Plan document can be obtained here.

The Action Plan Meeting will include the Associate Provost for Quality Initiatives & Curriculum, the Dean of Graduate Studies, the academic college dean and the department chair/school director. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Review Committee Report, the Preliminary Action Plan and to agree upon a final action plan. The final Action Plan Report is due to the Dean of Graduate Studies within one month after the Action Plan Meeting. It will be circulated to the academic college dean, Associate Provost for Quality Initiatives & Curriculum and the Provost for approval and signature.

Two years after conclusion of the review, the department/school will submit to the Associate Provost for Quality Initiatives & Curriculum, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the academic college dean a report of the progress made on each item identified in the Action Plan.