Program
Review . . .
The
Program Review standard of the Performance Funding
program is designed to provide incentives for colleges
and universities to achieve and maintain program excellence.
During the 2000-05 performance funding cycle, community
colleges can earn up to 5 points and universities
can earn up to 10 points for successful program review.
The academic program review process at Tennessee’s
public colleges and universities allows institutions
to improve the quality of their academic programs
while simultaneously satisfying governing board review
requirements.
Undergraduate
and graduate programs are evaluated by out-of-state
consultants once every five years. Evaluations, similar
to accreditation assessments, are based on standards
established by the Tennessee Board of Regents, the
University of Tennessee System, and the Tennessee
Higher Education Commission. For undergraduate programs,
reviewers are asked to evaluate the presence of 25
quality standards on a checklist and prepare a written
assessment. These standards include the following
categories: program role and scope, curriculum, faculty,
student advisement, and the teaching and learning
environment.
Graduate
programs are measured against objective and qualitative
standards established by the Tennessee
Conference of Graduate Schools. The eight
objective standards, which are either met or not met,
include items primarily related to students’
learning experience. Qualitative standards include
the students’ learning experience, quality of
graduate faculty, teaching-learning environment, and
program evaluation. Reviewers are also required to
submit a narrative report. |
