Program Review Policy

Purpose:

This policy ensures that all academic programs, including undergraduate major and minor programs and graduate certificate and degree programs at Winona State University (WSU) are reviewed on a regular basis.

Note: This current policy and procedure set is currently being considered for updating:

• WSU 3-26 Academic Program Review Policy (Draft)
• WSU 3-26A Academic Program Review Procedure (Draft)
• WSU 3-26B Program Self-Study Guidelines (Draft)

Policy:

A program review is a cyclical and collaborative process for evaluating and enhancing the quality and currency of academic programs at Winona State University. The review is conducted through a combination of internal and external evaluations with the goal of identifying pedagogical strengths and weaknesses of programs for our students, our accrediting agencies, and the various communities that we serve.

A. Objectives of Program Review

The program review addresses three categories of objectives.

1. Internal to the program:

   • To maintain high quality academic programs.
   • To promote excellence in teaching, research and scholarship, and service.
   • To promote professional growth and development.
   • To promote excellence in the support of student growth.
   • To improve the quality of the learning experience.
   • To assist the program in decision making and planning.
   • To monitor and enhance the quality of the learning experience.

2. Internal to the university:

   • To assist University decision making and planning.
   • To inform students about program quality.

3. External to the university:

   • To benchmark performance measures and standards in all areas of academic activity against appropriate external bodies.
   • To provide external evidence to accrediting bodies, the Minnesota State College & Universities system, and the State of Minnesota.

B. Guiding Principles

1. All non-accredited academic programs are reviewed on the five-year cycle. For accredited programs, the program review schedule is coordinated with accreditation timeline.

2. The program review has the following five components:

   1. Evidence Portfolio
   2. Self-Study Report
   3. External Review
   4. Program Response to External Review
   5. Administrative Response

3. Program review is completed on a pre-defined schedule.

4. The complete record of program review is kept in the dean’s office.

5. The cost of external reviewer is paid by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Subsequent Procedure:

• 3-26A Program Review Procedure

History:

Adoption date: 04/04/2016
Implementation date: 04/04/2016