Academic Program Review
Academic Assessment Committee
I. Purposes of Academic Program Review
Program review is integral to assessment and the
academic planning process at the departmental, college, and
university levels as well as essential to student learning,
curricular currency, and academic excellence. The program
review process is intended to improve the quality of the academic
programs offered by Butler. It is also intended to provide an
organized opportunity for faculty to reflect on educational
practices and review the role of their program in the context of
the programs offered by their college and the University.
Every academic program offered by the University
will be reviewed once within a seven-year cycle. Programs
that undergo external accreditation are exempt from the university
program review cycle since they complete accreditation reviews.
However, if these external accreditation cycles are longer than
seven years, an interim report is required. Attachment II
provides the schedule for this review of academic programs at
Butler.
Effective review processes must be organized to
fulfill the primary purpose and goals of the program. The
purpose and goals of program should, in turn, be shaped by the
primary challenges confronting the institution. The program review
process at Butler should support the strategic themes articulated
by the President's vision as stated in the current strategic plan
(see Appendix B). Ultimately, program review offers an
opportunity to reflect on institutional priorities and to support
the strategic direction of the University.
The preparation of the program review document
serves a number of very important purposes for the
program/department, the college, and the University. As such,
the primary goals for program review at Butler are to:
-
Enhance the quality of academic programs at
Butler by clarifying program goals, assessing goal achievement,
reviewing program resources, identifying concerns, and introducing
needed changes;
-
Stimulate the review of policies, practices,
procedures and records, and, thereby, help improve program
operations;
-
Provide an effective orientation to the
program and its activities for new faculty, administrators, and
external entities;
-
Identify areas for resource needs and growth
as well as justify requests for program enhancements;
-
Help the University develop a better sense of
college programs and make more informed decisions on curricular
proposals, budget requests, and long-term planning; and
-
Align academic program needs and campus
priorities in ways that consistent with the University's mission
(See Appendix A) and strategic directions, particularly the
priorities identified in the current strategic plan.
For further information please open the following pdfs:
Academic Program Review
Guidelines