Overview

Program Review is one process of continuous improvement employed by the Division of Academic and Student Affairs. The program review process allows us to engage in self-study, identify critical issues and challenges, get support and suggestions on meeting those challenges, and communicate position and priorities to division leadership.

Principles

A strong program review process must rest on a foundation of several principles, including:

• Commitment and support from DASA senior-leadership for the process;
• A strong partnership between DASA senior-leadership, DASA Assessment, and the unit;
• A focus on identifying opportunities for positive change and growth (not being punitive);
• A belief that the process is just as important as the reports and conclusions, and that the process has impact beyond the review;
• Broad participation from all units and stakeholders within DASA (all units must participate and all stakeholders must be included in the conversation);
• A comprehensive and systematic process grounded in solid standards and practices.

Components

The DASA program review process is grounded in a systematic structure with clear standards agreed upon by DASA senior-leadership, Vice Chancellor and Dean, DASA Assessment, and the participating unit. At a minimum, the program review process for DASA units includes the following components to ensure a comprehensive, high-quality, and effective program review:

Notification and Training

A rotating schedule for DASA Program Review has been developed so units have the opportunity to plan well before their review begins. Units will be given a formal notice of program review approximately six months prior to the on-site component of the program review. DASA Assessment will provide training and support to the unit and to those participating in the review to ensure a high-quality process.

Self Study

Each unit will produce a Self-Study that covers a unit overview, organization and structure, resource management, partnerships and collaboration, assessment and strategic planning. This report is made available to the line of supervision up to the Vice Chancellor and Dean and to the review team to provide the background and guiding information to conduct an examination of the unit.

On-Site Visit

Facilitated by a staff member from DASA Assessment, a review team of internal (NC State staff/faculty from outside the unit) and external (from outside the university) members conducts an on-site visit over the course of one to three days. The team engages in candid conversations with students, DASA and university faculty, staff, and administrators, and other stakeholders to learn more about the unit, its performance, strengths, and areas of opportunity. The culmination of this visit is a report from the review team that outlines their general findings, conclusions about the strengths and areas for improvement of the unit, and their recommendations to address the areas for improvement. This report is shared with the unit and with the line of supervision up to the Vice Chancellor and Dean.

Response to the Program Review

Based on recommendations from the review team report, the unit will produce a Response to the Program Review that includes a plan with specific actions for each recommendation. A meeting between the unit director or equivalent, DASA Assessment, and the line of supervision up to the Vice Chancellor and Dean will occur to discuss the recommendations from the review team report and the unit response report.

Update Report

The unit will author a One Year Update Report; due one year after the response to the program review meeting. If all of the recommendations have not been addressed adequately at that time, the unit will provide an annual update in the DASA Annual Report each year until all recommendations are addressed.

Support & Resources

DASA Program Review requires significant resources in terms of funding and time. Each external review team member will receive an honorarium. Units are responsible for covering the costs of their review; however, for units with constrained resources, the distribution of DASA Program Review funding will be discussed with DASA senior-leadership.

There is also a great deal of time and effort required to plan, schedule, and run an effective program review. Responsibilities will be divided up between the unit, DASA Assessment, and DASA Finance, with support from DASA senior-leadership and Vice Chancellor and Dean, as needed. Specific responsibilities are indicated in the Roles and Responsibilities for DASA Program Review document.