Step 2: External Review
Step 2 of the program review process involves the department nominating experienced scholars or peers from other institutions to serve on an External Review Team. The external peer group will review the Self-Study report and participate in a two-day on-site campus visit. 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.
Following the on-site visit, the reviewers submit a summary of their findings and recommendations. The department then has an opportunity to composes a written response to these findings. The Program Response is submitted to the Provost’s Office who then prepares 1) a response to the external review report and 2) a response to the program’s response report.
Nomination and Selection of External Review Team
The department under review identifies five to six candidates, in order of preference. These nominations are forwarded to the Business Intelligence Analyst in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. The Provost then selects one or two of the nominated individuals and another member to comprise the final three-member review team.
The Office of the Provost will contact the external reviewers and arrange for the team’s two-day on-site visit. Prior to this campus visit, the Office of the Provost sends the Self Study document along with other relevant college documents, such as the catalog, to the reviewers.
The list of nominations should include contact information, a CV or link to the CV (if possible), and a brief biographical sketch or information supporting each candidates’ qualifications as an external reviewer for the program. Any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed and discussed.
When nominating reviewers, consider scholars that have:
- A history of involvement and success in scholarship or research as well as experience in undergraduate teaching in the program field
- Broad knowledge of the discipline as a whole and representative of the major subfields within the discipline as appropriate
- Widely acknowledged national and/or international eminence and are also noted for good judgment and objectivity
- A mix of public and private higher educational experience at least comparable to that of Spelman College
External Review Team Nomination FAQ
Do the external reviewers need to be academic faculty? Can they be administrators or hold leadership positions within or outside of higher education?
The external reviewers can be administrators or hold leadership positions within or outside of higher education, but they must have faculty/instructional experience within the field and at a level comparable to that offered at Spelman College.
If external reviewers must be academic faculty, does rank and tenure matter?
Yes, the nominee must be tenured or have held tenured rank.
Can the nominee be a retired academic or must they be actively working?
If the nominee is retired, please address this in the information submitted. Include a justification/ rationale regarding the appropriateness of the nomination.
A biographical sketch is required for each nominated reviewer. What type of information should be included, and should this come from the nominee?
The biographical sketch should include information sufficient to provide an overview of the individual and why you believe they would be a good external reviewer. Information can be drawn from public sources such as websites, LinkedIn, etc. Recommendations should be accompanied by brief statements supporting the choices and stating any current or previous relationship. The statements should include brief bios of the proposed reviewers including their professional/artistic credentials, most recent professional accomplishments, and a summary of their creative activities and scholarly works.
Who would not be considered as an appropriate External Review Team nominee?
Individuals who have previously served on a program’s External Review Team, former faculty, faculty who were previously recruited, or program alumni are not appropriate external review team nominations.
Does the department contact the external reviewers?
The Office of the Provost will contact external reviewers and arrange for a team of three to come to campus for an on-site visit.
What criteria might restrict a nominee from participating on the review team?
In general, any conflict of interest would exclude a nominee from participating on the review team.
The following are examples of potential conflicts of interest. Nominee’s with:
-
close collaborative relationships with a faculty member in the program under review (currently or within the past seven years),
-
prior faculty appointment in the program under review (within the past ten years),
-
associations (organizations, boards, corporations, etc.) that may benefit from a research project that includes faculty from the program under review,
-
associations with a corporation that currently sponsors research projects involving a faculty from the program under review; and/ or,
-
corporate or board associations in which a faculty member from the program under review is also currently a member of the board, a consultant, or has similar conflicts of commitment.
The On-Site Visit and Exit Interview
Coordination of the site visit is completed in conjunction with the Provost’s office. The Business Intelligence Analyst in OIE works with the department to create a detailed schedule for the on-site review. The Office of the Provost will provide logistic and financial support including an honorarium, travel and lodging accommodations for the External Review Team members. The final schedule for the external team’s visit to the department is set by the department.
The on-site visit includes meetings between the review team and the Department Chair, department faculty (full and part-time, respective majors or subfields), staff, students and directors of any specialized programs or initiatives within the department. The department may also invite program alumni or community partners. Note: Program leadership is not required to be present at all meetings.
On the second day of the on-site visit, the External Review Team participates in an exit interview – making an oral report to the Department Chair, the Program Review Team and representatives from the Office of the Provost and/or the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
The External Review Team Report
Two-weeks following the exit interview, the External Review Team submits a 10-to-15-page summary report of their findings and recommendations to the Provost who forwards the report to the Department Chair for distribution to program faculty.
The report typically includes:
-
An overview of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats faced by the program.
-
Recommendations for the future geared toward improving the overall quality and relevance of the academic program.
-
Prioritized recommendations distinguished between short- and long-term goals.
Review Team Travel to Spelman College
External Review Team, members will receive information concerning travel to campus and related guidelines.
When scheduling of an on-site visit is impacted by external factors such as public health or weather, a virtual site visit is an option. If the program believes a virtual visit is appropriate, communicate with the Provost and the Office of the Institutional Effectiveness early in the planning phase. Previously outlined guidance on selection of the External Review Team is still applicable; however, the virtual visit schedule and timeline may be expanded to accommodate technology requirements and to facilitate online engagement.
Below are some general considerations when scheduling a virtual site-visit.