3.6.3 Comprehensive Academic Program Review

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. (BoR Minutes, April 2010)

Except for programs requiring a formal accreditation review, an institution's cycle of review for all undergraduate academic programs shall be no longer than seven (7) years, and for all graduate programs no longer than ten (10) years. Newly approved programs should automatically be reviewed seven years after launch. If successfully reviewed, the new program will then become part of the regular institutional cycle. If unsuccessful, the institution will present a plan of action to the System Office. 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 may align program review cycles with required external accreditation review, so long as no program review cycle at any level exceeds ten (10) years. Institutions must also review career Associate degrees, Associate of Arts in a specific discipline/major, and Associate of Science in a specific discipline/major every five (5) years; 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. (BoR Minutes, April 2010; May 2016)

Each USG institution will complete the USG Academic Affairs Comprehensive Program Review (CPR) reporting vehicle. The CPR procedures and reporting vehicle are outlined in the Academic and Student Affairs Handbook section 2.3.6 Comprehensive Program Review. Each USG institution will provide the year in which all Board approved academic programs last underwent CPR and the next scheduled year for CPR for each degree program. Academic Affairs will monitor annually and report how many programs underwent CPR by sector and degree level, types of institutional decisions made in regards to include program enhancement, maintenance at the current level, reduction in scope, or, if fully justified, consolidation or termination. The System Office staff will continue to provide data on programs with low enrollment for institutional information. (BoR Minutes, April 2010; May 2016)