Program Review Process and Self-Study

 

1. A program self-study and completion of the self-study narrative

2. An External Review and on-site visit by the external review team which culminates in an External Review Team Report

3. Review responses and follow-up from the program and the Provost

4. Strategic planning, implementation and continuing program review and enhancement

The last phase of the process supports department, program planning, and encourages continuous improvement.

The self-study document consists of two parts

Part 1: the self-study narrative is the heart of the project and focuses on the assessment of strengths and weaknesses in major aspects of unit operation.

Part 2: an appendix, provides supplementary information to explain further and support section 1.

Cover Page/Program Information Page – list all degrees and majors offered, list any centers or initiatives. Identify faculty participating in completion of the self-study report. This will serve as the cover page.

Program Description – Provide the hyperlink to the current Spelman College Bulletin or appropriate website.

Response to Previous Program Review (if applicable) – Summarize the findings and recommendations from the last review. Discuss actions or strategies implemented and the status of any program modifications.

Accreditation (if applicable) — List all accrediting bodies & current program status.

Program Mission Alignment — Provide a summary of program history and discuss the program vision, mission, goals, and their congruence with the mission of the college.

Program Resources — Discuss the organization of the unit and leadership roles, outline faculty and staff qualifications, appointments workloads for the past five years including online workloads. Discuss faculty scholarship and recruitment and retention. Discuss the adequacy of budget/financial resources and how the resource allocation aligns with the strategic priorities of the college. Discuss the adequacy of physical resources and facilities that support the strategic priorities of the college and the program.

Curriculum (previously the Academic Program) — Discuss the mission and purpose of the program and its curriculum. Discuss the course offerings and requirements and how they ensure students have deep and rigorous content knowledge and the ability to apply this understanding in authentic ways. Outline program requirements and course sequences and how each support effective student learning.

Student Learning Outcomes — Discuss the learning objectives for students in the program, how they are assessed and revised. Summarize annual program assessments results both strengths and weaknesses.

Student Profiles — Discuss enrollment, retention and graduation within each program major and minor. Outline any trends in these areas. Discuss recruitment and retention strategies.

Program Assessment — Discuss the short-term and long-range strategic goals of the program and how these support the College’s institutional goals. Outline program assessment strategies and how these strategies are used to improve student success, teaching effectiveness and faculty excellence.

Key Findings and Considerations — Enumerate key findings from the self-study.

Implications — Provide an interpretation of the evidence in support of the program’s overall quality and effectiveness.

Future Goals and Priorities 

Faculty | For the past five years 

Students | For the past five years. 

Academic Program 

Step 2 of the Program Review process consists of an on-campus review completed by an external review team of selected scholars and peers from other institutions. This phase of the process is an opportunity for programs to dialogue with colleagues in their respective fields and review any strengths, challenges, or areas for growth. The External Review and on-campus visit culminate with a written report from the review team.