2006-2007 PROGRAM REVIEW SELF-STUDY GUIDELINES

 

Development of the Self-Study Document

Quality assurance is a hallmark of higher education. A systematic review of degree programs should provide evidence that a degree program is educationally and economically viable and assists the university in being accountable to the public through a report to the Florida Board of Governors in the discharge of its statutory obligations. In addition, a program review and its self-study document provide input to the Provost for:

1. establishing goals each year
2. addressing concerns and providing information to the Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors, the State legislature, and the Board of Education
3. monitoring the university’s performance vis-à-vis national trends
4. making necessary resource (re-)allocations.

The self-study document is part of a program review process that focuses on program performance, continuous program improvement, the identification of problems and solutions, and evidence of student learning outcomes. The self-study presents both an analysis and a description of the total academic program and its future. It must contain specific information on each degree program. The academic unit and the program review staff share responsibility for the development and production of the self-study report. The department self-study team should include the department chair or designee, one or more senior faculty members of the department, and an assistant/associate dean.

The document should not exceed twenty pages including the appendices, if any, and must follow the outline below.

Self Study Topical Outline

Cover Page: Use the standard Program Review cover page with the FIU logo that is available from the Program Review Archives, http://www.fiu.edu/~opie/progreview_archives.htm

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

• Summary of the self-study document
• List of persons who were responsible for the preparation of the document

Response to the Recommendations from Previous Reviews

• List the recommendations from the last program review
• List the actions taken in response to the last review

Program Description

• The degrees offered
• The number of majors
• The number of minor
• University Core Curriculum courses delivered
• Faculty/student ratio
• Percentage of graduates who go on to graduate or professional school

Major Changes in Program

• Discipline or field
• Student demand
• Occupational demand
• Societal need

Student Learning Outcomes

• Attach a copy of the Academic Learning Compact and the direct measures for each baccalaureate degree offered
• How is assessment information used to improve the curriculum, teaching, and learning?
• What is the evidence that feedback and adjustments actually have improved the curriculum, instruction, and student learning?

Strengths that support the achievement of program goals

• List and describe

Weaknesses that impede the achievement of program goals

• List and describe

Opportunities to explore in the achievement of program goals

• List and describe

Threats to overcome in the achievement of program goals

• List and describe

Budget

• Steady state
• Proposed increments in total budget requirements for the next five years, and proposed new deliverables, i.e., expected revenues and return on investment
• Rationale

Major Findings and Recommendations

• List