Academic Program Review Process
All departments, degree-granting graduate fields, and centers are reviewed every 7–10 years. Whenever possible, fields and centers associated with a department are included in the department’s review. Where the interdisciplinary nature of a field or center makes a combined review unfeasible, an independent review may be conducted.
The academic program review process includes a self-study, an external review and site visit, responses to the external review report, review by the Faculty Committee on Program Review (FCPR), and a final meeting coordinated by the Office of the Provost following discussion by the Provost’s Staff Council.
Program Review Planning Meetings are held each fall and spring semester for departments and programs preparing for an upcoming review. The Deputy Provost, who serves as an ex officio member of the FCPR, the FCPR chair, and the Academic Program Review and Planning Associate meet with department and program leadership to discuss the review process, including the self-study, available data, the schedule of review activities, and the process for identifying external reviewers.
Related Resources
Data for Academic Program Review
Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) provides institutional data to support the self-study and external review, including 10 years of enrollment, degrees awarded, and demographic trends. When sufficient response data are available, IRP also provides selected results from the undergraduate Senior Survey, which is administered every two years.
Graduate Field Administrators (GFAs) can access additional graduate-program data through the Graduate School Intranet. Available resources include Field Metrics showing trends in graduate admissions, enrollment, degree completion, student financial support, and other measures, as well as graduate student survey results and doctoral alumni career outcomes.
The Self-Study
The department prepares a self-study using the current FCPR Self-Study Format. The self-study provides an opportunity for the department to assess its current programs and activities, identify issues or questions it would like the external review team to address, and consider its priorities and plans for the next review cycle. The self-study also addresses specific issues raised by the dean, the department under review, and university administration.
One electronic copy of the draft self-study should be submitted to the FCPR for review and comment no later than six weeks before the scheduled external review. The FCPR typically provides comments within two weeks, allowing time for the department to make any revisions before the self-study is shared with the external review team.
One electronic copy of the final self-study should be submitted to the Academic Program Review and Planning Associate no later than one week before the external review.
Related Resources
External Review Team and Site Visit
The external review team consists of at least three specialists in the field from outside Cornell. The dean forms the review team in consultation with the faculty of the department under review.
The external review team evaluates the department’s principal activities, considers its trajectory, and recommends changes or areas for further consideration under the assumption of constant resources.
Establishing the dates for the external review, developing the charge, questions, and objectives for the external review team, and setting the agenda require coordination between the department and the dean.
The external review visit includes opening and closing meetings with university and college leadership and FCPR representatives. Participants include the dean, the Provost’s designee, the Dean of the Graduate School, and two FCPR members. Members of the department under review do not participate in these meetings.
Related Resources
- Choosing an External Review Team (PDF)
- Sample Invitation Letter to Potential External Reviewer (PDF)
- Scheduling the External Review Team Visit (PDF)
- Sample External Review Team Schedule (PDF)
- Sample Dean’s Charge to the External Review Team (PDF)
After the Site Visit
External Review Report
The external review team submits a written report of its findings and recommendations simultaneously to the appropriate dean and the Academic Program Review and Planning Associate within one month following the external review visit.
Distribution of the report is limited to the provost, the appropriate vice provost, relevant deans and associate deans, the department chair, professorial faculty directly involved in the review, and members of the FCPR. The report is treated as confidential and is watermarked “Confidential – Do Not Copy.”
External review teams may also attach a confidential annex to the report. The annex is provided to the provost and appropriate dean before the main report is distributed to the department chair and professorial faculty.
Department Response
After receiving the external review report, the department prepares a written response addressing the external review team’s findings and recommendations. The response should identify areas of agreement or disagreement, indicate how the department plans to respond to the recommendations, and address recommendations that require further consideration or discussion.
The department should submit its response simultaneously to the appropriate dean and the Academic Program Review and Planning Associate within one month of receiving the external review report.
Dean’s Response
Upon receipt of the department’s response, the dean prepares a written response addressing the external review team’s findings and recommendations and the department’s response.
The dean submits the response to the Academic Program Review and Planning Associate within one month of receiving the department’s response.
Faculty Committee on Program Review Summary
Once the external review report, department response, and dean’s response are complete, the FCPR prepares a brief summary of these reports and responses for the provost.
If the dean’s response is not received within the established timeframe, the FCPR may proceed with its summary based on the materials available.
Related Resources
Provost’s Staff Council Review
Once the external review report, department response, dean’s response, and FCPR summary are complete, the materials are presented to the Provost’s Staff Council for discussion.
Final Meeting
Following discussion by the Provost’s Staff Council, the Office of the Provost schedules a final meeting with the dean and department chair to discuss the review and bring the academic program review process to a close.
Academic Program Review Expenses and Reimbursement
The department or college is responsible for paying expenses associated with the external review, including travel, lodging, meals, and honoraria.
The department or college may request reimbursement for approved expenses associated with three to four external review team members per academic program review. When a meal includes additional attendees, reimbursement is limited to the portion attributable to the external review team members. The total meal cost should be divided by the number of attendees, and reimbursement requested only for the external review team members.
The department or college is responsible for all other expenses associated with the review.
Please use the Academic Program Review Expense Reimbursement Form (PDF) to request reimbursement.
Contact
For questions about the academic program review process or submission of review materials, please contact:
Kristin Walker
Academic Program Review and Planning Associate
Institutional Research and Planning
walker@cornell.edu
440 Day Hall