BACKGROUND MATERIAL
Purposes and Goals for Department Review
Department review* is integral to effective academic planning at the department, college, campus and university level. Its major objective is to improve academic programs through ongoing self-assessment as provided for in the AQIP process. It fosters a strong and positive sense of each department’s identity and contributions to the educational mission of Kent State University. The primary goals of department review include:
· Ensure that a department’s mission, goals, and priorities are consistent with the university’s mission and strategic direction;
· Evaluate program quality relative to institutional standards and in comparison to national norms for the discipline;
· Assess the quality of academic programs by reviewing existing academic program strengths and weaknesses;
· Refine the scope of department offerings to optimize student access;
· Identify areas of department and academic program need and opportunity;
· Identify needs for new programs; and
· Assist the institution and department in achieving the best use and allocation of available resources.
Focus of Department Review
A comprehensive department review includes examination of the following unit characteristics:
- Goals and objectives,
- Curriculum,
- Faculty quality and productivity,
- Administrative quality and support,
- Teaching/learning environment,
- Space needs,
- Resources, and
- Program demand.
*As used hereafter in this document, the terms “department” and “department chair” are intended to include not only departments and department chairs but also schools and school directors.
Background Information
Scope of department review
Department review will include the following academic programs and course offerings: 1) all of the department’s degree programs; 2) interdisciplinary programs; 3) service courses; and 4) nondegree granting instructional programs. Review of interdisciplinary programs not located within an individual academic department will coincide, if appropriate and practical, with the review of one or more related departments.
Frequency of department review
Department review will be conducted on a 7-year cycle.
Duration of department review
Department review will be conducted and completed within one year.
Relationship of department review to program accreditation
Re-accreditation requirements vary widely by discipline. Programs that are externally accredited will submit their accreditation reports as part of their department review. Prior to the scheduled department review, the accreditation self-study requirements will be compared with the program review requirements to determine if additional topics need to be addressed.
Relationship of department review to annual student outcomes assessment
The Annual Student Outcomes Assessment process will inform the departmental review process.
Data gathering for department review
The basic information and data (e.g. number of majors, course enrollments, graduation rates, etc.) required for the self-study will be provided by Research, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (RPIE).
Procedures and Timetable
- Notification: By April 1 the Associate Provost for Academic Quality Improvement (APAQI) and the Vice President and Dean for Research and Graduate Studies (VPRAGS) will notify the appropriate deans and department chairs if their programs are to be reviewed in the next year. If an academic program is accredited by an outside body and re-accreditation occurs at different intervals than the program review policy allows (seven years) two options are available. The APAQI, in consultation with the VPRAGS, may either (1) grant an exception to the seven-year review schedule; or (2) in consultation with the department, conduct an interim review that is limited to concerns identified in the previous full review.
- Selection of Review Committee: Four tenured faculty members (two must be graduate faculty) from cognate disciplines selected one each by the department chair, the dean of the college, the VPRAGS and the APAQI. If a unit ‘s only program is at the graduate level, the review committee will consist of three tenured graduate faculty from cognate disciplines selected one each by the department chair, the dean of the college and the VPRAGS, in consultation with the APAQI. If a unit’s only programs are at the undergraduate level, the review committee will consist of three tenured faculty from cognate disciplines selected one each by the department chair, the dean of the college and the APAQI.
- Provision of Required Information and Data: The data for the 5-year period will be forwarded to the department on or about the date the review committee is named.
- Self- Study Report and Tentative Action Plan: The self-study will be prepared, along with a tentative action plan, by the department faculty and chair. The self-study and tentative action plan will be made available to the review committee, the college dean, the VPRAGS and the APAQI by November 24. PLEASE SUBMIT THE COMPLETE SELF-STUDY ELECTRONICALLY IN ADDITION TO 2 HARD COPIES;
- Review Committee Report: The review committee will submit its written report to the department, the college dean, VPRAGS and the APAQI by March 1.
- Department Response: The department will prepare and submit its response within three (3) weeks or by the Friday before spring break, whichever falls later. The response will be shared with the review committee, the college dean, VPRAGS and the APAQI.
- External Review: If requested by the internal review committee and/or dean and approved by the Provost’s Office, an external review team visit will be scheduled and completed by May 1. External reviewer(s) will be chosen, after consultation with the appropriate dean and department FAC, by the APAQI and VPRAGS. External reviewers will be provided with the self-study, tentative action plan, review committee report and department response. The external review team’s report will be shared with the review committee, the college dean, the department, the VPRAGS and the APAQI. (External reviews are mandated by the Ohio Board of Regents for all doctoral programs.)
- Final Department Response: After considering the report from the external review team, the department will prepare and submit its response within two weeks of receiving the report. The response will be shared with the review committee, the college dean, the VPRAGS and the APAQI.
- Summary and Final Action Plan: The college dean, department chair, VPRAGS and APAQI will prepare a summary that will highlight program strengths and areas in need of improvement and/or development. If appropriate, a final action plan that will propose specific measures to ensure improvement will be included. The summary and final action plan will be shared with the department faculty and the review committee.
- No later than 18 months after the conclusion of the review, the department will submit to the college dean, the VPRAGS and the APAQI a summary of the steps it has taken to implement the final action plan.