Academic Program Review

Program review serves several purposes at UAA. It provides an opportunity for faculty to systematically talk about their curriculum and program, reflect on what has happened over the past several years, make recommendations regarding program improvement, and to voice their resource needs. It incorporates the annual process of Program Student Learning Outcomes Assessment, and allows faculty to examine whether or not ongoing improvements based on assessment findings have improved student learning over time. Program review is also an opportunity for administrators with responsibility for the program to review the program for performance and effectiveness and to engage the faculty in conversation about program quality and the program's goals for its future. 

All academic programs and units at UAA are required by Board of Regents Policy P10.06.010 to engage in program review on a seven-year cycle. University Regulation R10.06.010 sets out the minimum requirements for program review, including centrality of program mission, quality, demand, program productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency. Exceptional reviews may be conducted, per University Policy and Regulation, and with the provost's approval. 

Program Review Seven-Year Schedule

The table below shows UAA's seven-year academic program review cycle. The type of review was determined by the AY20 Expedited Program Review process. The Provost has approved some adjustments in the schedule to achieve a balance in the number of programs under review every year. See the drop-down menus below for detailed information about these reviews.

*Important Note: Interim Progress Reports have been postponed or waived for AY21, except for those programs identified for Revision. The seven-year schedule on this site indicates all reporting that is due moving forward, including Interim Progress Reports, Follow-up Reviews, or regularly scheduled Program Reviews. 

Moving forward, detailed information for each program will be included in the year it is scheduled. See the appropriate year below. Forms will be pre-loaded for each program and posted in the list of programs up for review that year.

Program Review Type Key:     IPR - Interim Progress Report   FPR - Follow-up Program Review     PR - Program Review

 

AY21 AY22 AY23 AY24 AY25 AY26 AY27
Art (BFA) - IPR Accounting (AAS) - FPR Applied Geological Sciences (MS) - FPR Schedule in Progress Schedule in Progress Schedule in Progress Schedule in Progress
Biological Sciences (MS) - IPR Air Traffic Control (AAS) - FPR Applied Technologies Leadership (BS) - FPR        
Business Computer Information Systems (AAS) - IPR Anthropology (MA) - FPR Architectural and Engineering Tech (AAS) - FPR        
Children's Mental Health (GC) - IPR Comp Net & Syst Tech (AAS), Cisco Net Assoc (OEC) - FPR Comp Systems Engineering (BS) - FPR        
Clinical Psychology (MS) - IPR Dental Asstg (UC-AAS) - FPR Culinary Arts (AAS-OEC) - FPR        
Corrections (OEC-UC) - IPR Diesel Power Technology (UC-AAS) - FPR English (BA) - FPR        
General Management (MBA) - IPR General Business (AAS) - FPR Global Logistics and Supply Chain Mgmt (BBA) - FPR        
Geomatics (BS)- IPR Justice (BA) - FPR Global Supply Chain Mgmt (MS) - FPR        
Journalism and Public Comm (BA) - IPR Med Lab Science (AAS-BS) & Phlebotomist (OEC) - FPR Human Services (Children's Behavioral Health OEC, Conflict Resolution OEC) - FPR        
Languages (BA) - IPR Music (BA) - FPR Mechanical Engineering (MS) - FPR        
Public Administration (MPA) - IPR Music (BM) - FPR Millwright (OEC) - FPR        
Radiologic Tech (Diagnostic Med Sonography AAS) - IPR Philosophy (BA) - FPR Natural Sciences (BS) - FPR        
Technology (AAS) - IPR Professional Piloting (AAS) - FPR Nursing (DNP) - FPR        
  Project Management (MS) - FPR Nursing (GC-MS) - FPR        
  Welding and Nondestructive Testing (UC-OEC) - FPR Political Science (BA) - FPR        
    Public Health Practice (MPH)  - FPR        
    Refrigeration and Heating (OEC-UC-AAS) - FPR        

Current and Upcoming Program Reviews

Previous Program Reviews 

  • AY20 Expedited Academic Program Review

    The tabs below provide historical context about the AY20 Expedited Program Review process.  View the program reports and results from the AY20 Expedited Program Review here.

     

    The following list of questions is based on the most recent information. Information about Administrative Review can be found on a separate website.

    Q: What is expedited program review?

    A: Expedited program review is a comprehensive assessment of all our academic programs during the 2019-20 academic year. It is based on our regular academic program review process, which evaluates all UAA programs over a seven-year cycle as part of our normal quality assurance process.

     Q: What is academic program review?

    A: Regular academic program review is part of our normal quality assurance process that reviews centrality to mission, program quality and student learning & success, as well as measures of demand, productivity and efficiency. The results of regular review help us identify new opportunities for collaboration, as well as make decisions about program enhancements, reductions or discontinuations. 

    Q: Why are we doing expedited program review?

    A: In October 2019, the University of Alaska Board of Regents charged each university with conducting its own expedited program review process. This was a change from the original plan to conduct reviews at the statewide level. Expedited program review is occurring in order to meet new fiscal realities resulting from $70 million in state budget cuts to the university system over a three-year period. This cut influenced the board to direct UAA to consolidate programs and services quickly to meet our share of the fiscal year '21 reduction.

    Q: What is the larger plan for budget decisions, and how does expedited program review fit into that plan?

    A: While we always first look to administrative cuts,  UAA's budget cuts are substantial. In light of this new budget reality, UAA leadership is doing all it can to identify a path forward. This means investing in and growing academic programs that meet Alaska's needs, consolidating programs and services feasible and changing the way we offer programs. It also means that in order to ensure the university's long-term viability, UAA will need to offer fewer academic majors than we do currently. The expedited program review process will ensure we have both quantitative and qualitative data for making difficult, but fair, decisions.

    Q: Will the university conduct a parallel review of administrative structures with meaningful faculty involvement to determine how savings can be achieved through reduction in administrative costs?

    A: Yes, UAA's administrative review process is now underway. On Feb. 6, administrative area leaders received a questionnaire for completion by Wednesday, Feb. 26. The timeline for these administrative reviews can be found on the Administrative Review website, along with FAQs and other details. As part of the administrative review process, the UAA Campus Planning Advisory Board (CPAB) will provide input to Chancellor Sandeen and her cabinet.

    Q: Why is UAA administration requiring all programs to go through this process? (UAF and UAS are going through a more limited review.)

    A: We believe this is the most fair and equitable approach. We did not want to predetermine the outcome of these reviews by selecting a subset of programs from the very beginning.  Moreover, decisions made on quantitative data alone do not give the full picture of our programs and the perspectives of faculty who know the programs well.  The process brings in qualitative data, which only the programs can provide.

    Q: Why is our expedited review process different from those being conducted at UAF and UAS?

    A: UAA has an established process for academic program review, as do UAF and UAS. The expedited review is based on UAA’s regular process. We are sticking closely to UAA’s standard process.

    Q: Shouldn’t faculty have a voice in whether or not to conduct a program review?

    A:  Academic program review is an institutional process mandated by the Board of Regents. The schedule of review has historically been determined by the Office of Academic Affairs in consultation with the deans and community campus directors.

    Q: Do programs scheduled for regular program review this year need to still do that as well as the expedited process? 

    A: No. Programs that were scheduled for regular program review only need to do the expedited process this year.

    Q: Do programs scheduled to submit an interim progress report this year on the recommendations from their last program review need to submit an interim progress report this year? 

    A: No. Programs scheduled to submit an interim progress report do not need to submit one this year.  They should, however, continue their work to address any recommendations that came out of their last program review.

    Q: Couldn’t programs that recently conducted reviews or meet broad metrics (e.g. enrollment) be allowed to forego review if faculty choose that option?

    A:  For the process to be fair, everyone should be using the same data and format rather than relying on previous reviews. Further, allowing some programs to be defined by old data and narrative could be unfair to those programs. Having said that, programs can use much of their work from previous program reviews.

    Q: How long will it take my program to complete our part of the review?

    A: When compared to the regular academic program review process, the format has been streamlined.  There are fewer questions, as well as maximum word counts. The deans’ offices have provided the data, so programs can focus on contextualizing and analyzing the data and making their main points. The time needed will depend on individual programs.

    Q:  How will faculty be compensated for participating in this process?

    A: We have asked the deans and directors to address workload as part of this process and to bring to our attention any outstanding workload issues.

    Q: What kind of support can we get? 

    A: IR (Institutional Research) is available for questions about the data, and there is a "Notes" tab on the IR-Reports Program Review site. Deans and community campus directors are meeting with programs, individually and collectively, to talk about ways to think about the data.  The provost is also willing to meet with programs.

    Q: How are the benefits of research assessed?

    A: Programs should consider including information about research as it relates to, among other areas, centrality of program mission, program quality, student success, and program distinctiveness.  Since this is an academic program review, be sure to tie research to the academic program.

    Q:  How can we include information about our minor or pre-major?

    A: Programs can include information about the minor or pre-major in their responses to the narrative questions.  For example, what role does the minor or pre-major play in enrollment? Student success? 

    Q; Where are the data definitions?

    A: IR-Reports includes a "Notes" tab with the data definitions, as shown in the screenshot below.

    IR-Reports screenshot of the "Notes" tab

    Q: Why are data such as Course Pass Rates and Average Credits to Degree included for Program Review? 

    A: These are important student success data that the university is required to address. In analyzing these data, programs can talk about interventions they are taking to address these issues on their level.  For example, if a course has a low pass rate, perhaps the program is changing the prerequisites for that course, switching texts, using active-learning strategies or other best practices.

    Q: Since we know UAA enrollment has been falling, and we know the demographics of Alaska have been changing, how can or should we include that information to help explain why our numbers might not be as strong as they once were?

    A: This is an important part of contextualizing and analyzing the data. Access to IR-Reports gives faculty access to enrollments across UAA, allowing faculty to compare enrollments in their programs to enrollments in other programs at UAA.

    Q: What happens when the review leaves the college?

    A: The program has an opportunity to submit to the provost an optional response to the dean's review. The form will be posted below and available on IR-Reports.

    Q: What is the feedback window?

    A: At each step of the process, the documents will be posted on IR-Reports.  There are two main windows for feedback. 

    1. The optional program response to the dean's review is now due Feb. 28.
    2. There will be a period of Faculty Senate and broader audience feedback from March 9-18. 

    Q: Will there be a ranking or list at the end of the process?

    A: Consistent with UAA’s standard procedures for regular program review, UAA will not use rankings of programs. Instead, we will use the approved list of Program Review decision types: enhancement, continuation, revision, continued review, suspension and deletion. 

    Q: How will the University of Alaska system and Board of Regents be involved in this process?

    A: We will submit decisions for major revision, including program reduction, suspension or discontinuation to the UA system and the Board of Regents.

    Q: If I am a student, what should I know about this process?

    A: This is a multistep process, and there will be communication along the way. A SharePoint site with program review documents will be provided for student access.  

UAA Program Review Reports to the Board of Regents