Appendix N: Program Assessment

Annual Reports and Assessment Reports

Each program submits an annual program report including comments on visiting scholars, special trips with students, and special honors. Long-range planning goals and areas of strengths and weakness are also identified in the report. Programs are asked to submit a separate program effectiveness report annually that includes, the program mission statement, program goals, student learning objectives, the assessment process, and identified areas of strengths and weaknesses. The Dean of the College meets with each program every other year to discuss their reports.

Self-Studies and External Reviews

Each academic program conducts an internal self-study of the program every 10 years. This is followed by an external review by two external experts in the field every ten years as well. The external reviewers are provided with the self-study of the program and other pertinent material prior to their on-campus visit. The on-campus visit typically lasts a day and a half and consists of meetings with individual members of the program, faculty members who interact with this program, students who are majoring or minoring in the program, the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the President of the College, if available. Directors of the Library, Center for Teaching and Learning, Instructional Technology Services and the Center for Career and Professional Development are also available to the reviewers. After leaving campus, the reviewers are given several weeks to develop their written report and submit to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will send the report to the program. The program will review the report and discuss which of the recommendations they will work on to improve the strength of the program.