Program Review Introduction

University of Houston-Clear Lake

GUIDE TO PROGRAM REVIEW

Introduction

The University of Houston-Clear Lake has committed itself to an ongoing, cyclical, comprehensive, shared governance planning system. It is an integrated system in that each of its various components plays a special, unique role. Each is vital to the optimal operation of the whole. Program review is one of those components.

As an integral part of the shared governance planning system, program review derives particularly from five years of annual planning, data reports, and assessment. Thus, program review actually consists of much more than the program’s study of itself at any one time.

Those directly involved in each individual review include the program faculty, the program chair, the program report committee, the school faculty and administration, the School Curriculum Committee, and the Senior Vice President and Provost. Each has a clearly specified role in the process.

Within the shared governance planning system, the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost has been assigned responsibility for general oversight of program review.

Definition of a Program

A program is any academic UNIT offering a collection of related degrees, support areas, concentrations, teaching fields, or certification offerings which a school wishes to group for the sixth year review.

A program is an academic entity. Thus, for purposes of program review, “program” and “curriculum” are NOT synonymous terms. A program offers at least one curriculum. It also has initial responsibility for the quality of that curriculum, the faculty who offer the curriculum, the students in the curriculum, the resources and facilities supporting the curriculum, and the focus of the program (unit) in all dimensions of its operation.

Purpose of Program Review

Program review is an integral part of the university’s overall planning process. Its purposes are:

• To improve program quality in the context of university and school missions, to implement criteria for program approval by the state, national accreditation standards, guidelines put forth by academic organizations, and to address institutional resource needs and demands.

• To help a program examine itself in its entirety (its focus, faculty, curriculum, students, resources and facilities, and learning outcomes) within a framework that includes its past development and its plans for the future.

• To provide the program with an impartial study of and response to the work presented in the Program Report by informed colleagues outside the program.