Policy & Regulation

Chapter 10.06 - Academic Program Review

Regents' Policy  |  University Regulation

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REGENTS’ POLICY
PART X – ACADEMIC POLICY
Chapter 10.06 - Academic Program Review

P10.06.010. Academic Program Review.

  1. In accordance with P10.04.020, it is the responsibility of the board to review and cause the initiation, augmentation, reduction or discontinuance of programs according to the mission of the university and its constituent institutions. This includes a degree or certificate program approved by the board. 
  2. Each MAU will conduct assessments of all instructional, research, and service programs with respect to quality, efficiency, and contribution to mission and goals. Assessments of instructional programs will include analysis of educational effectiveness as an essential part of the ongoing continuous improvement and accreditation processes. Assessments will be conducted at a minimum of every seven years. Occupational endorsements and workforce credentials approved by the president will be subject to review at the MAU level. 
  3. Exceptional reviews may be conducted as needed, to respond to issues including but not limited to specific academic or budgetary concerns. An expedited review process tailored to the particular circumstances shall be used for exceptional reviews.

(04-04-14)

P10.06.020. Educational Effectiveness.

  1. To improve the effectiveness of its educational programs and the fulfillment of its mission and objectives, each MAU will regularly undertake studies of the impact of its academic programs on its students and graduates. 
  2. MAUs will describe achievements expected of their students and adopt reliable procedures for assessing those achievements. Assessment practices will be coordinated among MAUs. An annual report on the implementation and results of assessment practices will be provided to the board. Assessment outcomes will be used in program and institutional planning.

(04-19-96)

UNIVERSITY REGULATION
PART X – ACADEMIC POLICY
Chapter 10.06 - Academic Program Review

R10.06.010. Academic Program Review

  1. Purpose

    This regulation suggests the elements each campus of the statewide system should employ in its review of academic programs. 
  2. Elements for Evaluation

    The programs of each of the university's major units follow from its respective mission (Policy 01.01); changes in programs should be consistent with and guided by these mission statements.
    The necessary elements that a unit should assess during the program review process include the following:
    1. Centrality of the program to the mission, needs and purposes of the university and the unit; 
    2. Quality of the program, as determined by the establishment and regular assessment of program outcomes. Outcomes should be comprehensive, and indications of achievement should involve multiple measures and satisfy the properties of good evidence. 
    3. Demand for program services, as indicated by measures such as: credit hour production appropriate to the program's mission, services performed by the program in support of other programs, graduates produced, the prospective market for graduates, expressed need by clientele in the service area, documented needs of the state and/or nation for specific knowledge, data, or analysis, other documented need; 
    4. Program productivity and efficiency as indicated by courses, student credit hours, sponsored proposals and service achievements produced in comparison to the number of faculty and staff and the costs of program support; 
    5. Timeliness of an action to augment, reduce or discontinue the program; 
    6. Cost of the program relative to the cost of comparable programs or to revenue produced; 
    7. Unnecessary program duplication resulting from the existence of a similar program or programs elsewhere in the University of Alaska statewide system.
  3. Process
    1. Each chancellor shall be responsible for setting an academic program review process in place at his/her campus or unit. Results of the process shall be utilized for budgeting and planning purposes of the unit and shall be reported to the Board of Regents upon their request. 
    2. Exceptional reviews shall be conducted in accordance with an expedited process developed by the chancellor and approved by the president on an ad hoc basis to meet the needs of the campus.

(06-22-05)