Fort Valley State University Comprehensive Program Review Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness Comprehensive Program Review

USG Board of Regents 2.3.6 Comprehensive Program Review (CPR) (Excerpt) Each USG institution shall conduct academic program review on a periodic basis. Consistent with efforts in institutional effectiveness and strategic planning, each USG institution shall develop procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of its academic programs to address the quality, viability, and productivity of efforts in teaching and learning, scholarship, and service as appropriate to the institution’s mission. Institutional review of academic programs shall involve analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, and institutions must demonstrate that they make judgments about the future of academic programs within a culture of evidence. Planning and conduct of academic program reviews shall be used for the progressive improvement and adjustment of programs in the context of the institution’s strategic plan and in response to findings and recommendations of the reviews. Adjustment may include program enhancement, maintenance at the current level, reduction in scope, or, if fully justified, consolidation or termination. Comprehensive Program Review

USG Board of Regents Policy (Excerpt) Continued: Programs accredited by external entities may not substitute an external review for institutional program review, but material submitted as part of an external accreditation process may be used in the institutional review. Institutions must also review General Education every five (5) years; learning outcomes for each Area A-E of institutional core curricula must be approved by the Council on General Education. Institutions are also encouraged to review Learning Support programs. Each USG institution shall provide a web link outlining institutional comprehensive program review procedures and shall post program review results on a password protected institutional web site, which shall include the institutional review cycle and a summary of current institutional reviews. Comprehensive Program Review

USG Board of Regents Policy (Excerpt) Continued: Academic Affairs staff will perform spot audits on the posted institutional comprehensive program reviews to ensure that reviews are being used to inform institutional decision-making on the issues of program quality, productivity and viability. The System Office staff will continue to provide data on programs with low enrollment for institutional information. Comprehensive Program Review

Overview of the FVSU Program Review Process Degree Program Audit Self Study Report External Review Evaluation and Rating Corrective Action Plan Corrective Action Implemented Primary goal is to improve the quality of the academic degree program. Provide an opportunity to evaluate all facets of operation including personnel, resources, material resources and facilities. The results are used to implement programmatic improvement . Comprehensive Program Review

Degree Program Audit The primary purpose of the audit is to ensure that key documents are present and that the departmental procedures are functioning properly. The audit will be conducted prior to the self-study report. The findings should be submitted to the college dean for review and subsequent incorporation into the Comprehensive Program Review. Comprehensive Program Review

Self Study Report This report is the heart of the program review process. The model used by FVSU requires programmatic staff to prepare a three part document. Section one consists of an Executive summary and a brief introduction of the report. Section two consists of narrative responses that cover viability, productivity, quality, and pursuit of best practices. Section three includes program effectiveness and data use. Comprehensive Program Review

Self Study report The three sections should combine to convincingly demonstrate the program’s relative standing in regards to viability, productivity, quality, and pursuit of best practices. Comprehensive Program Review

External Evaluator To ensure the systems of evaluation used in the program review process are comprehensive, the University has incorporated a peer evaluation process into the Comprehensive Program Review. Programmatic Faculty in conjunction with the college dean, select a team of one to three external evaluators. Comprehensive Program Review

Duties of Evaluator: Review the unit self studies and consult with faculty, staff, students and administrators. Meet with other affiliated constituents such as the dean, members of associated departments, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Issue a concluding report with the culture of FVSU in mind. Provide suggestions for programmatic improvement. Comprehensive Program Review

Focus of External Reviewer Viability of degree program Evidence of Student Learning Evidence of faculty productivity Best Practices-evidenced in the program Weaknesses/challenges identified in the program Strategies the department might take to address weaknesses/challenges Comprehensive Program Review

Evaluation and Rating At the conclusion of the external review, the findings, as well as the program developed self study report are submitted to the Comprehensive Program Review Committee. Using the CPR Assessment rubric the committee evaluates and ranks overall unit performance. Comprehensive Program Review

Evaluation and Rating Continued Vice President of Academic Affairs schedules meetings with department chairs and the college dean to discuss the findings and subsequent action plans. Comprehensive Program Review

Data Provided by OIRPE Retention Rates Graduation Rates Enrollment Core Courses Data 300 and 400 Level Major Course Data Credit Hours Produced for Core Courses New Program Majors Data Comprehensive Program Review

Modified Schedule Self-Study Preparation Process September- November December January February April Self-Study Preparation Process Selection of External Reviewer Self Study Completion External Reviewer Visit CPR Committee Evaluation Exit Meeting with VP of Academics Comprehensive Program Review

Fort Valley State University Comprehensive Program Review Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness September 21, 2012 Comprehensive Program Review