Formation of the Program Review and Assessment Advisory Council (PRAAC)
The Faculty Senate voted in September to have the Teaching and Assessment Committee
form a subcommittee for Academic Program Review. This will allow collaboration with
the College using a subcommittee of the faculty to serve as liaisons to a broader
college body, the Program Review and Assessment Advisory Council (PRAAC), and allow
the Teaching and Assessment Committee to focus on policy-making related to teaching.
Chaired by the Director of Academic Program Review and Accreditation, PRAAC has been
created to serve as an advisory body to the college so that the work of the Director
of Academic Program Review and Accreditation has a strong faculty voice in the improvement
of assessment and program review processes. This body, with broad faculty representation,
will also support the growth of a culture of assessment at the college. This new broader
group has the following charge:
The Program Review and Assessment Advisory Council is charged with overseeing the
coordination and improvement of the Academic Program Review (APR) and assessment processes,
providing recommendations in response to APR reports, and providing feedback on systems
of the assessment of student learning in order to ensure CCRI’s effectiveness in promoting
student success. This faculty and administrative advisory council will collaborate
on the continuous improvement of assessment and program review, supporting CCRI’s
mission and strategic planning. PRAAC will maintain close communications with the
Faculty Senate and its Teaching and Assessment subcommittee, the Staff Assembly, the
Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and other appropriate committees,
administrative bodies, and academic units.
The key objectives of the Program Review and Assessment Advisory Council include:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive assessment and Academic Program Review plan
for the college, including assessment cycles, data collection methods, and reporting
mechanisms.
- Review and provide feedback on Academic Program Reviews, assessment plans and reports
submitted by academic programs, student services, and administrative units, ensuring
that they align with the college's mission, goals, and accreditation requirements.
- Facilitate professional development opportunities for faculty and staff related to
assessment, including workshops, training sessions, and resources to enhance assessment
literacy and practices.
- Oversee and evaluate the effectiveness of our systems for assessment, identify areas
for improvement, and provide recommendations for changes in assessment or Academic
Program Review practices and processes.
- Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to build a college-wide understanding
of the use of assessment data to inform continuous improvement, strategic planning,
and resource allocation.
- Stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in program review, assessment
standards and requirements, and provide guidance and recommendations for incorporating
them into the college's assessment and program review processes.
The Advisory Council shall provide regular reports to CCRI leadership, faculty, and
staff on the status of assessment efforts, including progress made, challenges faced,
and recommendations for improvement. To ensure a broad representation of faculty and
staff, members will be as follows:
- The Director of Academic Program Review and Accreditation, who serves as chair
- The Assessment Coordinator
- A Department Chairperson or representative from each academic department
- Two Faculty Senate representatives, serving concurrently with their Senate appointment
- One Staff Assembly representative, serving concurrently with their Staff Assembly
appointment
- One faculty member from the library, serving a three-year term
- One Academic Dean or Assistant Dean, serving a three-year term
- The Director of the General Education
- The Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence
- The Director of Institutional Research and Analytics
- The Executive Director of Online Learning and Technology
- One Student Affairs Dean or designee, serving a three-year term
- The Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
- One student for a one-year term
Meeting minutes and more information will be posted here as the committee undertakes its work. You can reach out to Lauren Webb, Director of
Academic Program Review and Accreditation, at lanicoll@ccri.edu if you have any questions or would like more information.
The Academic Program Review (APR) Process
During an academic year, the Teaching and Assessment Committee evaluates the Academic
Program Reviews for four to six academic programs. Each program is required to complete
the process every five years.
The Academic Program Review (APR) is a process intended to assist each academic program
in fulfilling its mission and that of the college. While non-externally accredited
programs complete the college's internal Academic Program Review template, externally
accredited programs submit their self-studies in lieu of the internal document. The
APR process is distinctly different from the Annual Academic Program Report (AAPR);
however, the annual reports will inform the development of the Academic Program Review
that is submitted for review.
The APR process is in alignment with the college's Academic Program Review Policy
and is meant to be collaborative, involving program directors, faculty, and divisional
deans. The scope of the Academic Program Review includes:
- Section I: Mission and Target Population
- Section II: Curriculum
- Section III: Assessment of Program and Concentration Outcomes
- Section IV: Assessment of Course Outcomes and Core Competencies
- Section V: Other Measures of Program Performance
- Section VI: Resources
- Section VII: Program Review Summary
- Section VIII: Program Faculty Endorsement and/or Comments