AP 303-40: Academic Program Review

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Academics & Research – Academics & Instruction

Academic Policy 303-40	Authority: University President
Effective: June 30, 2026	Proponent: Academic Senate

Summary: This policy describes standards for the review of degree major programs at Eastern Washington University. It establishes the purpose, schedule, data criteria, procedures, and reporting requirements for academic degree major program review conducted by the Program Review Committee (PRC).

History: This policy revises and supersedes a previous version of the policy dated May 25, 2022. It was recommended for approval by the Academic Senate on May 11, 2026, and approved by the University President on June 30, 2026.

Chapter 1 – Purpose of Program Review

The purpose of the Program Review Committee (PRC) is to review degree major program(s). A degree major program is defined as a major, a major with an option or concentration, a master’s degree, or a master’s degree with an option or concentration or doctoral programs. The purpose of academic degree major program review at EWU relates to three primary functions:

1. Accountability: Academic degree major program review is one way to ensure to students, the Board of Trustees, NWCCU, and the public that EWU is providing high quality academic degree major programs.
2. Degree Major Program Improvement: The academic degree major program review process provides a continuing cycle for department and degree major program faculty, staff, and administrators to receive timely information and a forum for providing feedback, ensuring an institutional commitment to the highest academic and professional standards.
3. Degree Major Program and Resource Alignment: Academic degree major program review provides the means to ensure that EWU will offer a full and comprehensive array of academic degree major programs and that institutional resources will be effectively aligned with the institution’s mission to serve as a comprehensive, regional university.

Chapter 2- Program Review Schedule

Degree major programs should have planned review at least once every five years, or as outlined by an accredited degree major program’s external review process. If extensions are granted, the time between reviews shall not exceed seven years. 

Degree major programs scheduled for review in the next academic year will be notified by the first Friday of April in the current academic year.

The review calendar will be developed by the Provost. To the extent possible, the review cycle will be coordinated with other review processes including leadership reviews and reviews by external accrediting bodies. The degree major program review schedule will be updated annually and posted on the University Provost’s website. 

Deans and Department Chairs will perform data reviews on degree major programs to examine trends regarding key data at least once every three years. The data review calendar will be set and maintained by each dean or their designee working in conjunction with degree major program directors and chairs.

A degree major program may request a full PRC review for the upcoming academic year through discussions with the dean and the Provost’s office, based on any self-identified trend concerns or problematic trends, in order to collaboratively seek solutions and to create a degree major program success plan.

Self-Study

All reviews must include a self-study. The self-study includes a set of questions determined by the PRC. These questions may include questions that describe and evaluate how well the unit fulfills its strategic or operational mission and contributes to the overall mission of the University, an external review, and a follow-up plan that establishes priorities for action.

Chapter 3 – Academic Performance Review

The intention of the degree major program review is to assist degree major programs in maintaining high academic standards, as well as to identify areas of needed support for the degree major program.  The timely review of relevant data is essential to the process.  The types of data used in university degree major program review relate to student growth and success, the relation of the degree major program to the university mission, degree major program effectiveness, and degree major program resources.  These data include both quantitative and qualitative aspects obtained from both the Office of Institutional Research and that provided by the degree major program itself.

Examples of data may include:

• Number of degrees awarded and graduation rates (mean time to degree completion);
• Assessment data;
• Student progress over degree period;
• Graduate placement and post-degree experiences;
• Academic centrality and contribution to other degree major programs, services, and needs;
• Co-curricular highlights and contribution to campus culture;
• Productivity in faculty and student research, scholarship, and public works;
• Local, regional, national, and international recognition of degree major program;
• Faculty and student recognition;
• Total cost including faculty, support staff, and operations;
• Expenditures and budgetary deficits including use of PTOL; and
• FTEF and FTES.

Chapter 4 – Accreditation

Degree major programs that must complete an accreditation will, as soon as possible after their external accreditation is complete, submit to the PRC evidence of the positive outcome of this review. Passing an accreditation review does not necessarily remove the accredited program from review. If the degree major program fails to receive outside accreditation, the program must work with the Provost to schedule a full degree major program review in compliance with this policy.

Chapter 5 – Timeline Extensions

Minor procedural delays within the academic year are generally granted with the expectation that the degree major program will adhere to the timeline as closely as possible. Requests for such delays shall be submitted to the PRC in writing through the Faculty Organization Office, with written approval from the dean.

Chapter 6- Program Review Reports  

6-1. Degree Major Program Review Reports

Upon completion of a degree major program review, the PRC will prepare a written report containing its findings and recommendations regarding the degree major program no later than the first Friday of the next term, not to exceed the end of the current academic year. This report shall be submitted to the Provost (or designee) and forwarded to the Academic Senate as an informational item. No senate vote is required for routine program review reports.

The Provost (or designee) will review the PRC report and may, in consultation with the relevant dean and program chair or director, develop a response plan or timeline for addressing identified concerns. If a degree program does not adequately fulfill the response plan, the degree program is immediately moved to 303-41 Chapter 1. The Provost’s response and any resulting action plan shall be communicated to the PRC, the affected program, and the Academic Senate.

6-2. Referral to Comprehensive Program Review

If the PRC, in the course of its review, identifies significant or persistent concerns regarding a degree major program’s viability, academic quality, enrollment, resources, or alignment with institutional mission, the PRC may recommend that the program enter Comprehensive Program Review under AP 303-41 (Program Reduction). The PRC shall document its basis for such a recommendation and shall notify the Provost, the chair or director of the affected program, the relevant dean, and the Faculty Organization President and Vice President.

Entry into Comprehensive Program Review under AP 303-41 may also be initiated independently by the dean of the college, or by the Provost, or University President consistent with the criteria set forth in AP 303-41, Section 1-2.

Chapter 7 – Program Review Committee 

The Program Review Committee (PRC), a committee of the Academic Senate, was established to coordinate the academic degree major program review process. The membership of the PRC consists of:

• Representatives of each college, as well as five at-large members and up to three students appointed by ASEWU;
• The Provost (or designee); and
• A chair is elected from the faculty membership.

The PRC is required to meet until all degree major program reviews scheduled for a given academic year are completed, but will not extend beyond the end of the academic year cycle.