Academic Program

Review

7-23-2012 Final
Table of Contents

Page

CCRI Mission Statement	……………………………………………………..3

Preface……………………………………………………………………………………4

Section I:	Mission and Target Population…………………………………........6

Section II:	Curriculum and Outcomes……………………………………………7

Section III:	Assessment of Learning/Program Outcomes……………………12

Section IV: Instructional Support………………………………………………....14

Section V: Program Review Summary…………………………………………..17

Program Faculty Endorsement and/or Comments……………………………...18

Appendix

Department Goals

Budget Requests

External Advisory Committee Minutes

Curriculum Proposals

CCRI Mission Statement

The Community College of Rhode Island is the state's only public comprehensive associate degree-granting institution. We provide affordable open access to higher education at locations throughout the state. Our primary mission is to offer recent high school graduates and returning adults the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for intellectual, professional, and personal growth through an array of academic, career and lifelong learning programs. We meet the wide-ranging educational needs of our diverse student population, building on our rich tradition of excellence in teaching and our dedication to all students with the ability and motivation to succeed. We set high academic standards necessary for transfer and career success, champion diversity, respond to community needs, and contribute to our state's economic development and the region's workforce.

Preface

The Academic Program Review is a process intended to assist each academic program in fulfilling its mission and that of the College. The APR framework guides the Program in the

review of program goals,

examination of strengths,

identification of areas of concern,

implementation of change that will improve the program and benefit students.

The process is meant to be a collaborative one in which program directors, faculty, and divisional deans work together to review how effectively all elements of the program - curriculum, staffing, budget, facilities and services - contribute to the mission of the College and to the success of students in meeting established Program Learning Outcomes.

The Academic Program Review (APR) is therefore closely linked to Learning Outcomes and Assessment. All documents associated with the Program’s Learning Outcomes Assessment including the summary comments/recommendations prepared by the College’s Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee -- are considered an integral part of the Academic Program Review. All elements of the APR need to be considered in terms of how the Program can best assure that dedicated students are successful in meeting the Program Outcomes and that the Outcomes themselves do, in fact, prepare students for any post-program related endeavors (i.e. transfer, employment).

Annual budget requests, program goal statements, minutes of External Advisory Committee meetings, approved curriculum proposals, and other similar documentation should also be considered as part of the APR and are to be submitted as appendices to the final report. These documents provide valuable information about the dynamics of the program from one year to the next, and can serve both as foci for reflection on past practice as well as the basis for moving toward successful implementation of changes recognized as important by program personnel.

All program faculty are encouraged to actively participate in the APR process and approach the process with the goal of program improvement in mind. One benefit of the APR process is that it enables faculty to determine what current strategies and approaches are indeed leading to students’ meeting the stated Program Learning Outcomes. The Divisional Dean will provide support, review, and comment on each section of the review as the process progresses.

Upon completion of the review, the APR document is forwarded to the Divisional Dean and the Academic Program Review Committee, which is composed of faculty representing all College divisions. A “dialogue” between the committee and program personnel is scheduled. Subsequent to the dialog, the APR Committee submits a report on the dialogue to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, the Divisional Dean and the program faculty.

Communication between the Dean and the Program personnel throughout the review process is essential; Deans serve as program advocates. Collectively, the Deans are responsible for prioritizing the needs of the reviewed programs and presenting their findings to the President’s Council thereby providing the critical link between the Academic Program Review, strategic planning, budgeting and the implementation of beneficial change.

Section I:	Mission and Target Population

Program faculty and staff provide information for this section.

State the program’s mission statement and comment on its alignment with the College’s mission.

Explain how the program uniquely satisfies an institutional or community need.

Identify the program’s target population(s).

4.	Summarize activities directed toward program recruitment and the success of these efforts.

Dean’s Review and Comments, Section I: Mission and Target Population

I have read and reviewed the content of this section, and I believe it provides an in-depth, comprehensive analysis in the areas requested.

I have read the content of this section, and I find that more information is necessary in the following areas in order to proceed to the next section:

Suggested areas for further development include:

I have read the content of this section, and I recommend meeting with the faculty and the APR Coordinator to review in person the additional steps that are necessary for completion of this section.

Signature___________________________________	Date___________

(Dean)

Section II:	Curriculum and Outcomes

1. Scope and Sequence:

1a.	Identify the sequence of program specific courses in your program. Catalog pages may be attached.

1b. Identify any distance learning (DL) courses available for students in the program. Has the number of distance learning courses offered increased since the program’s last academic program review? What percentage of program students enroll in DL courses? Is there a difference in outcomes assessment between conventional and DL offerings of a specific course?

1c. Identify any interdisciplinary courses that are required as part of this program.

1d. List any general education courses specifically identified as required for this program.

1e. How are program concepts introduced, reinforced, and mastered through the sequence of required courses? (Attach curriculum map for this program; curriculum map format can be found as part of the Curriculum Committee - Program Proposal form.)

1f. Comment on experiential learning activities within the program such as co-op, internships, service learning, field trips, and/or clinical requirements. Indicate any changes in experiential learning opportunities/requirements that have been made since the program’s last Academic Program Review. What percent of students participate in these activities? List the businesses/agencies that accommodate student participants. Identify any obstacles in incorporating work-based learning in the curriculum.

Course and Program Outcomes:

2a. Program outcomes: Identify the student outcomes for the program.

2b. Course Outcomes: Complete the Table below for each course required by the program.

Course Outcomes and Assessments

Course	Outcomes	Method(s) of Assessment	Date of Last Assessment	Changes Made Based Upon Assessment Results

2c. What efforts are made to ensure the consistency of course learning outcomes across all sections of a given class?

2d. Core Competencies: The College has identified four graduate outcomes or “abilities” that guide students, faculty and staff in establishing educational goals and provide the framework for overall assessment of learning at the College. A CCRI education should develop these critical core competencies in each graduate.

Use the matrix below to indicate the courses in the program that support achievement of each competency.

CCRI Core Competencies	Course
Effective Communication Use standard English grammar and mechanics. Utilize current communication technology. Create work that addresses a given purpose and context and responds to the target audience. Present a central idea, supported by concrete, relevant details. Establish a clear and consistent sequence of ideas.
Critical Thinking Identify, analyze, and understand complex ideas. Determine the nature and extent of information needed. Locate, evaluate, and use information effectively. Draw logical conclusions from information. Express well-reasoned or innovative perspectives.
Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning Demonstrate an understanding of mathematical, quantitative, or scientific principles. Apply a scientific approach in asking questions. Apply mathematical, quantitative, or scientific principles in solving problems. Interpret numeric information presented in graphic form.
Social Interaction Evaluate ethical dimensions of decisions. Use teamwork to accomplish tasks in groups. Demonstrate an understanding of global, cultural and historical perspectives.

Student Success: What percentage of students enrolled in the program achieve success as evidenced by

Graduation (Associates degree; certificate completion)?

Transfer to an institution of higher learning?

Grade Distributions: Supply, in table form, grade distributions for all program-specific courses by academic year since the program’s last APR (Available as a Discoverer report). Can any conclusions be drawn from this information?

Year	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	D+	D	F	NA	NR	WP	WF	F	Total Head Count
1
2
3
4
5

Accreditation:

5a. Does the program report to an external accrediting agency? If so, identify the agency.

5b. How frequently does the accreditation process occur?

5c. Discuss the results of the last accreditation review, especially areas identified for improvement.

6. Advisory Committees:

6a. Does the program have an advisory committee with external membership? If so, describe the professional qualifications of its members.

6b. How frequently does the committee meet? Attach the agenda/minutes for each meeting of the Advisory Committee since the last APR.

6c. How has input received from the advisory committee contributed to the program?

7. Curriculum Currency:

7a. How is the currency of the program outcomes and curriculum assured, i.e. what precisely is being done by faculty to assure that program outcomes and curriculum remain current with workplace standards and practices?

7b. How do faculty maintain currency in their discipline?

8. 21st Century Workforce:

Describe, in detail, how your program contributes to the development of the 21st century workforce of Rhode Island. Include data/information concerning the anticipated need for program graduates in the coming years.

Dean’s Review and Comments Section II: Curriculum and Outcomes

I have read and reviewed the content of this section, and I believe it provides an in-depth, comprehensive analysis in the areas requested.

I have read the content of this section, and I find that more information is necessary in the following areas in order to proceed to the next section:

Suggested areas for further development include:

I have read the content of this section, and I recommend meeting with the faculty and the APR Coordinator to review in person the additional steps that are necessary for completion of this section.

Signature___________________________________	Date___________

(Dean)

Section III:	Assessment of Learning/Program Outcomes

1. Identify the designated Level of Assessment (level 1 or Level 2) the program has achieved.

2. Attach the “INVENTORY OF EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS INDICATORS” assessment forms (Level 1 and/or level 2 as determined by the RIBGHE and/or CCRI Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee) completed for the program since the last academic program review. See below:

Level 1: INVENTORY OF EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS INDICATORS

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES	Other than grades what data/evidence are used to determine that graduates have achieved the stated outcomes of the degree (e.g., capstone course, portfolio review, licensure examination)	What method or process was used to evaluate student work? Who interprets the evidence?	What was the expected level of student achievement? What was the actual level of student achievement?	What changes have been made as a result of using the data/evidence?

Level 2: Program Assessment Form

Part1:

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES	Performance Criteria	Evidence of Intentional Commitment to Address and Assess Outcome(s) Across the Program	Program-Level Assessment Method(s) and Timing
Upon completion of the program, students are expected to (know and be able to do):	List specific attributes- knowledge, skills, behaviors, etc. you expect students to exhibit that reveal achievement of specific outcomes assessed during this cycle.	Identify the collaborative means you used to ascertain that students have multiple and varied opportunities to learn a program-level outcome or outcomes, such as through curricular mapping, an audit or review of syllabi, or an inventory of teaching, learning, and assessment practices.	Identify the direct and indirect methods you chose or will choose to gather evidence of the program-level outcomes.

Part 2:

Expected level of Achievement	Actual level of Achievement	Analysis and Interpretation of Data evidence?	Actions Taken	Timetable for Reassessment
Identify the level of norm-based or criteria-based performance you expect graduating students to achieve.	Identify students’ actual level of achievement against the expected performance level.	Identify the recommendations that emerged from your interpretation of data (such as through aggregating data or triangulating multiple sources of data).	Describe the actions you have taken (or will take) with particular focus on improving teaching and learning.	Identify when you have reassessed or will reassess specific outcomes to ascertain the efficacy of actions you have taken or will have taken. If you have already reassessed what did you find?

3. Have any changes in assessment methods occurred since the last academic program review? If so, identify these changes by highlighting/underlining them in the attached documents.

4. Identify and discuss any major curriculum changes that have occurred as a result of assessment activities.

5. Based on the results of assessment activities, discuss how effective the program has been in assuring that program graduates have achieved the established program outcomes.

6. Describe the organization of assessment efforts within the program. Does the program have an assessment committee or is assessment a departmental activity? Comment on the degree of faculty support of, and participation in, assessment activities.

7. Prepare a timeline for future assessment activities.

Dean’s Review and Comments, Section III: Assessment of Student/Learning Outcomes

I have read and reviewed the content of this section, and I believe it provides an in-depth, comprehensive analysis in the areas requested.

I have read the content of this section, and I find that more information is necessary in the following areas in order to proceed to the next section:

Suggested areas for further development include:

I have read the content of this section, and I recommend meeting with the faculty and the APR Coordinator to review in person the additional steps that are necessary for completion of this section.

Signature___________________________________	Date___________

(Dean)

Section IV: Instructional Support

Program Staffing:

1a. Attach the program faculty profile provided by Banner/Discoverer.

1b. Analyze program staffing and discuss how it impacts your program. Consider the following in your analysis:

Ratio of full-time to part-time faculty

Education attainment of faculty

Anticipated attrition of faculty or staff

Identification of and ability to secure qualified adjunct faculty

Exceptional faculty overload

Average class size (faculty to student ratio). Include Discoverer report on average enrollment across all sections by campus.

Support staff

Other

2. Professional Development:

2a. Discuss faculty and/or staff professional development activities over the past 5 years.

2b. What specific changes resulted from participation (i.e., curriculum revisions, course development, teaching methodologies) in these professional development activities?

2c. What additional professional development opportunities would benefit the faculty/staff in this program?

2d. Discuss the anticipated benefit of additional professional development opportunities to the program.

2e. If possible, estimate and explain the costs of additional professional development opportunities that are important for the faculty in this program.

3.	Support Services:

3a. What specific support services and activities (i.e., advising, tutoring, media, library, disabled student support, computer labs, distance and service learning) does this program require?

3b. Discuss the availability and adequacy of these services. Be specific about any current deficiencies or projected needs.

4.	Program Facilities:

4a. How adequate and appropriate are program facilities/ equipment? (Fiscal needs can be discussed in question 6 below.)

4b. How could facilities and their use be improved?

5. Program Budget:

5a. Attach the program budget.

5b. Explain how the budget is currently allocated among program expenditures.

5c. Attach budgetary (non-capital) funds requests made since the program’s last APR and indicate which requests were approved for funding. How did the decisions made by the college administration regarding these requests impact the program? Prioritize any unmet needs.

5d. Discuss the role lab fees play in meeting program needs.

6. Capital /Fiscal Needs: Attach capital funds requests made since the program’s last APR and indicate which requests were approved for funding. How did the decisions made by the college administration regarding these requests impact the program? Prioritize any unmet needs.

7. Identify and justify any fiscal needs not mentioned above. Prioritize these needs.

Dean’s Review and Comments, Section IV: Instructional Support

I have read and reviewed the content of this section, and I believe it provides an in-depth, comprehensive analysis in the areas requested.

I have read the content of this section, and I find that more information is necessary in the following areas in order to proceed to the next section:

Suggested areas for further development include:

I have read the content of this section, and I recommend meeting with the faculty and the APR Coordinator to review in person the additional steps that are necessary for completion of this section.

Signature___________________________________	Date___________

(Dean)

Section V: Program Review Summary

Identify:

1.	Major Program Strengths

2.	Program Weaknesses or Needs for Improvement

3.	Plans and Fiscal Needs for Improving or Correcting Identified Weaknesses

(Include proposed time lines for those improvements/corrections).

4. Current Program Goals and the Fiscal Needs for Goals Attainment

Dean’s Review and Comments, Section V: Program Review Summary

I have read and reviewed the content of this section, and I believe it provides an in-depth, comprehensive analysis in the areas requested.

I have read the content of this section, and I find that more information is necessary in the following areas in order to proceed to the next section:

Suggested areas for further development include:

I have read the content of this section, and I recommend meeting with the faculty and the APR Coordinator to review in person the additional steps that are necessary for completion of this section.

Signature___________________________________	Date___________

(Dean)

Section VI: Program Faculty Endorsement and/or Comments

All full-time program faculty must be given the opportunity to review and comment on the Academic Program Review document prior to submission. Validate this process by having faculty sign below.

Faculty member	Comments