Purpose of Academic Program Review

    Academic program review is a process intended to provide faculty and academic administrators with information to assess program strengths and weaknesses.  This information should play a major role in helping faculty to define initiatives, improve
quality, and justify needed resources.Program review is perhaps the most essential component in academic planning.  At the heart of program review are the self-study process and the resulting self-study document.  Program faculty are the key players in the self-study process but often need considerable support from academic administration.  The Self-Study Guidelines pose questions which are intended to be a general guide for the departmental self-study.  By responding to the questions, faculty will provide external reviewers with information to assess each program according to THEC performance funding criteria.

    Since the main function of program review is to facilitate planning at the department level, faculty should not be limited by considering only questions and information suggested in the guidelines.  The structure of both the self-study process and the self-study report should be determined primarily by the needs and values of the academic unit.  In conducting the self-study, the department will generate important information needed for academic planning within the department.  Curriculum revision, proposals for new programs, staffing needs, and budget priorities should be supported by information identified through the self-study process.

    The Office of Grants and Program Review (OGPR) works closely with academic deans to coordinate the program review process on the UTC campus.  OGPR will support each department undergoing program review by providing guidance and information during the self-study.  All institutional data required in the self-study will be provided by OGPR.  OGPR will assist deans in coordinating the external review and providing additional support after the completion of the self-study to help departments use program review results in the planning process.
 
 
 
 
 

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