Academic Program Review

Purpose of Program Review

The purpose of the seven-year Academic Program Review (APR) of all undergraduate and graduate programs is to engage program faculty in a reflective evaluation of program quality and alignment to the pedagogical standards within their discipline as well as ECU’s mission and vision priorities. Program review is an integral part of the university’s ongoing assessment and strategic planning processes, designed to enhance and maintain the quality and rigor of all educational programs.

Programs with Specialized Accreditation

Programs that are formally reviewed by an external accrediting body are not included in the APR process described in these guidelines; however, they do respond to quality, efficiency, and productivity measures as defined by Section 400.1. of the UNC Policy Manual. Self-study reports are reviewed and archived by the Institutional Assessment (IA) staff and the institutional accreditation liaison in Institutional Planning, Assessment, and Research (IPAR). Programs housed in the same department (or in some cases the same school or college) are described in a single written self-study report.

Goals of the Review Process

The comprehensive review of programs, certificates, and concentrations without external accreditation is intended to help faculty and administrators gain a better understanding of the:

• Purpose and outcomes for each degree program, certificate, and concentration associated with a program being reviewed;
• Each program, certificate, or concentration’s effectiveness in achieving its purpose and outcomes, along with overall program quality;
• The faculty’s vision for the program(s) and potential improvements that can be made based on the results of institutional and assessment data; and
• Future programmatic improvements to the recruitment and advancement of students, curriculum, pedagogy, and/or operational functions of the program.

Integration with Student Learning Outcomes Assessment

APR at ECU consists of two interrelated activities: a virtual (or in rare instances an on-site program review which occurs every seven years for each program, and assessment of student learning outcomes which is conducted on an ongoing basis. An APR is not to be considered a departmental, school, or college review. The focus of an APR is on the specific program(s) being reviewed. Subsequently, data from faculty members who are not substantial contributors to a program should not be included in a program’s APR.

APR Process Visual

Tools and Resources for Program Review

Use the links below to find more information on APR procedures, APR policy, data resources and dashboards, self-study samples, itinerary samples, and APR report templates.

ECU Academic Program Review Procedures

ECU Policy on Academic Program Review

IPAR Business Intelligence App

Data Resource: Institutional Research Support for APR

Academic Program Review Dashboard

APR Self-Study Samples

APR Visit Itinerary Samples

APR Report Templates