AP 303-41: Academic Program Reduction

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Academic Policy 303-41	Authority: University President
Effective: July 1, 2026	Proponent: Academic Senate

Summary: This policy applies to all credit-bearing degree programs (undergraduate and graduate) and establishes
procedures for Comprehensive Program Review and Program Action Review at Eastern Washington University. Routine
program reviews conducted by the Program Review Committee (PRC) are governed by the standard program review policy
(AP 303-40) and are not subject to this policy. Comprehensive Program Reviews and Program Action Reviews are
conducted by the Program Action Committee (PAC) following the procedures defined herein.

History: This is a new policy effective July 1, 2026. It was recommended for approval by the Academic Senate on May
11, 2026, and approved by the University President on July 28, 2026..

CONTENTS

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Chapter 1 – Comprehensive Program Review

1.1 Initiation of Comprehensive Program Review

Proposals to enter a program into Comprehensive Program Review may be initiated by:

• The Program Review Committee (PRC);
• The dean of the college in which the program resides; and/or
• The Provost or University President.

Proposals for Comprehensive Program Review may be retracted at any time by the Provost, provided written notice is given to the chair or director of the affected program, the chair of the Program Action Committee (PAC), and the dean of the affected program.

1-2. Criteria for Comprehensive Program Review

Entry into Comprehensive Program Review may be prompted by one or more of the following:

Findings from regular AP 303-40 review or specialized accreditation processes;

• Persistent low enrollment, retention, or completion rates;
• Evidence of declining student demand or workforce relevance;
• Concerns regarding academic quality or student learning outcomes;
• Resource constraints or unsustainable costs;
• Duplication with other internal programs where consolidation is feasible; or
• Inadequate resources, staffing, and/or faculty to maintain the program.

 1-3. Proposal

All proposals must describe the rationale for initiating Comprehensive Program Review and affirm that the process will comply with the applicable provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The Declaration of Intent shall be sent to the chair or director of the affected program, the chair of the PAC, the dean of the affected program, the Faculty Organization President and Vice President, the Provost, and the University President.

1-4. Comprehensive Program Review Process

Upon entry into review, the following timeline applies:

1.     Notification: Within 7 calendar days from receipt of the proposal, the PAC Chair shall request a Comprehensive Self-Study from the program and updated data from the Provost.

2.     Submission: The program has 28 calendar days to submit the self-study and data. Extensions require written agreement between the program chair, PAC Chair, and Provost.

3.     Evaluation: The PAC shall evaluate the program in alignment with the standards established in AP 303-40, focusing on viability and strategic alignment.

The PAC shall evaluate programs using the criteria and methodology consistent with standard program review under AP 303-40. The evaluation shall consider all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors, including enrollment trends, student learning outcomes, program completion rates, faculty resources, curriculum alignment, workforce relevance, and fiscal sustainability. The PAC may request additional data, conduct site visits, or invite program representatives to present before the committee. The self-study shall address each of the criteria identified in section 1-2 and shall provide supporting evidence for the program’s viability and continued operation.

1-5. PAC Recommendations

Within 28 calendar days of receipt of the self-study, the PAC shall issue one of four recommendations:

• Maintain: No further action; return to regular review cycle.
• Modify/Consolidate: Adjustments to curriculum or structure within existing resources.
• Preliminary Determination of Potential Reconfiguration: Significant changes to the program’s structure, scope, or delivery model that may affect positions held by probationary and/or tenured faculty but does not discontinue the program. Triggers a 28 calendar day consultation period with affected students, departments, and either the Undergraduate Affairs Council (UAC) or Graduate Affairs Council (GAC).
• Preliminary Determination of Potential Discontinuance: Triggers a 28 calendar day consultation period with affected students, departments, and either the Undergraduate Affairs Council (UAC) or Graduate Affairs Council (GAC).

Recommendations to maintain, modify, or consolidate the program shall be sent to the Provost, the chair or director of the affected program, the dean of the affected program, the Faculty Organization President and Vice President, and the University President. The recommendation shall include the self-study and program review data.

If the PAC issues a Preliminary Determination of Potential Reconfiguration or Discontinuance, the PAC must seek broad consultations with groups or persons likely to be affected, including students enrolled in the degree program, the department(s) housing the program, and the appropriate dean(s). The PAC must consult with the Undergraduate Affairs Council (UAC) for undergraduate programs or the Graduate Affairs Council (GAC) for graduate programs regarding the impact of reconfiguration or discontinuance on other academic programs. The UAC or GAC will use the PAC’s initial recommendation, the program’s self-study, and the program review data to inform its independent recommendation. The PAC shall complete consultations within 28 calendar days of the Preliminary Determination of Potential Discontinuance.

Within 28 calendar days after the consultation period concludes, the PAC shall issue a final recommendation to maintain, modify/consolidate, reconfigure, or discontinue the program. The recommendation shall be sent to the Provost, the chair or director of the affected program, the dean of the affected program, the Faculty Organization President and Vice President, and the University President. The recommendation shall include the self-study, program review data, and consultations used as evidence in forming the final recommendation.

Failure to make a recommendation shall not be interpreted as agreement with the proposed program changes, but will allow the matter to proceed to the Provost.

1-6. Provost Recommendation

Within 7 calendar days of receiving the PAC recommendation, the Provost will make an independent recommendation to maintain, modify, consolidate, reconfigure, or discontinue the program. Proposals to consolidate, reconfigure, or discontinue a program must specify mechanisms, a “teach out plan”, to protect the interests of students currently enrolled in such programs and to allow those students to complete their degrees in a reasonable time period.

If the Provost recommends to reconfigure or discontinue a program that PAC recommended to maintain, modify, or consolidate, PAC will initiate the consultation phase as described in 1-5. PAC’s final recommendation will be sent to the Provost, chair/director of the affected program, the dean of the affected program, the Faculty Organization President and Vice President, and the University President. The program shall have 7 calendar days to submit a response as described in 1-7. The Provost can revise his recommendation from reconfiguration or discontinuance to maintain, modify, or consolidate at any time.

All recommendations must comply with the requirements of the United Faculty of Eastern Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Provost’s recommendation shall be sent to the chair or director of the affected program, the chair of the PAC, the dean of the affected program, the Faculty Organization President and Vice President, and the president.

1-7. Post-Review Outcomes

Maintain. If the Provost recommends maintaining the program, the program returns to the regular program review process. The program’s review schedule will be updated to align with a 5-year review cycle. A program that has completed Comprehensive Program Review shall not reenter Comprehensive Program Review for a period of 3 academic years following the conclusion of the review, unless an alternative timeline is established through a written agreement between the Provost and the chair or director of the affected program. For example, if a program completes Comprehensive Program Review during the 2026–2027 academic year, the earliest it would be eligible to reenter Comprehensive Program Review would be the 2030–2031 academic year. Reentry prior to the expiration of the 3-year period shall require written justification and consultation with the PAC.

Modify or Consolidate. If the Provost recommends modifying or consolidating the program, the Provost will consult with the chair or director of the affected program and the dean of the affected program to reach an agreement on the program changes necessary to make the program viable. If the impacted parties reach an agreement, the Provost shall document the expectations for program changes, including any applicable deadlines to submit relevant changes to the Course and Program Approval Committee (CPAC), and the potential consequences for not making the agreed-upon changes (e.g., Program Action Review). If the impacted parties cannot reach an agreement or the agreed upon changes are not implemented within the established timeframe, the PAC shall initiate the consultation processes described in Section 1-5 and issue a subsequent recommendation regarding program reconfiguration or discontinuance.

Reconfigure or Discontinue. If the Provost recommends reconfiguring or discontinuing a program, the program shall have 14 calendar days to submit a written response accepting or appealing the recommendation to the Provost, the chair of the PAC, the dean of the affected program, the Faculty Organization President and Vice President, and the University President. Failure to respond shall not be interpreted as agreement but will allow the matter to proceed to Program Action Review and will proceed to Chapter 2. If the program accepts a recommendation for reconfiguration or discontinuance, the chair or director shall consult with the unit’s dean and the Provost to develop and implement a transition plan. In cases where the program accepts a recommendation for discontinuance, the action may proceed through the CPAC in accordance with standard program deletion procedures and does not require Program Action Review.

If the Provost recommends reconfiguration because the degree program is over staffed, the Provost may identify opportunities for faculty redeployment rather than retrenchment. In cases where the program accepts a recommendation for reconfiguration, the action may proceed in accordance with the CBA and does not require Program Action Review.

• Internal Redeployment: Faculty qualified to teach in other units (e.g., General Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, or high-demand majors) may be reassigned partial or full teaching loads in those units.
• Voluntary Separation Options: Before any involuntary changes are proposed, the University may offer voluntary options to align staffing with enrollment, subject to available funding and negotiation with the UFE. 

If the program appeals or fails to respond to a recommendation to reconfigure or discontinue the program, the matter shall proceed to Chapter 2.

 Chapter 2 – Program Action Review

2-1. Initiation of Program Action Review

Programs enter Program Action Review only through one of the following mechanisms after completing Comprehensive Program Review (Chapter 1) and meeting one of the following:

1. Formal appeal following a Provost recommendation to reconfigure or discontinue the program.
2. The program cannot reach an agreement on modifying or consolidating the program following the applicable Provost recommendation in Comprehensive Program Review.
3. The program was unable to meet the agreed-upon expectations to modify or consolidate the program following the applicable Provost recommendation in Comprehensive Program Review.

Programs may be removed from the Program Action Review process at any time by the Provost. 

2-2. Program Action Review Process

1. Rules Committee: Receives the full record (Self-study, PAC recommendation, Provost recommendation). It must forward a recommendation to the Academic Senate by the conclusion of its second meeting on the matter.
2. Academic Senate: Conducts a review over no more than 3 consecutive regular meetings. The Senate then forwards its recommendation to the University President.
3. Final Authority: The University President makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees (BOT), which retains final statutory authority for program discontinuance.

The Provost’s recommendation, the PAC’s Comprehensive Program Review recommendation, and the evidence supporting those recommendations (self-study, program review data, and consultations) shall be sent to the Rules Committee. After consideration of the PAC and Provost’s recommendations, the Rules Committee shall forward its recommendation to the Academic Senate no later than the conclusion of its second consecutive regular meeting at which the matter appears on the agenda. Failure to make a recommendation shall not be interpreted as agreement but will allow the matter to proceed to the Academic Senate.

Upon receipt of the full record, the Academic Senate shall review the matter over no more than 3 consecutive regular meetings at which the item appears on the agenda. The full record shall include the recommendations of the PAC, the Provost, and the Rules Committee, together with the supporting evidence. The Academic Senate shall forward its recommendation to the University President no later than the conclusion of the third such meeting. Failure to make a recommendation shall not be interpreted as agreement but will allow the matter to proceed to the University President.

The University President makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees (BOT).

The BOT takes final action.

2-3.  Program initiates discontinuance.

A program may not enter directly into Program Action Review. If faculty wish to discontinue a program, the chair will notify the dean, the Provost, the Rules Committee and Academic Senate as an informational item. This discontinuance will not go through Program Action Review processes or Comprehensive Program Review.

Chapter 3 – Timelines

Required faculty actions, including committee deliberations, formal consultations, and response deadlines, shall be conducted exclusively during the regular academic year, defined as September 16 through June 15. If a procedural deadline or action item extends beyond June 15, the faculty governance portion of the process shall automatically pause. This process shall resume no earlier than September 16 of the subsequent academic year, unless a specific alternative timeline is established through written agreement between the Faculty Organization Executive Committee and the Provost.

Consultation periods shall occur during regular academic terms when classes are in session to ensure that students are reasonably available to provide input. If a portion of the consultation period would otherwise occur outside of a regular academic term, the timeline shall be adjusted to ensure a full 28 calendar days when classes are in session.

For a Comprehensive Program Review initiated under Chapter 1, the Declaration of Intent shall be issued no later than September 16 for the review to conclude within the same academic year. Entry after this date requires written acknowledgment from the Provost, PAC chair, and program chair or director that the review may extend into the following academic year under the pause and resume provisions of this chapter.

When a deadline is stated in calendar days, the PAC, Rules Committee, or Academic Senate must have the opportunity to consider the matter at no fewer than 2 consecutive regularly scheduled meetings, without suspension of the rules. If adherence to a stated timeline would prevent a committee from meeting this requirement the timeline shall be extended into the next academic year. The PAC and Provost may mutually agree to adjust timelines during Comprehensive Program Review and/or Program Action Review to ensure that review activities align with the academic calendar. Any such adjustments must be documented. 

Any program that is not completed prior to the end of the academic year, and only under extreme extenuating circumstances, can be carried over to the next academic year.

This limitation applies only to faculty governance bodies. Administrative review and planning activities may continue during the summer months. Final action by the Board of Trustees may occur outside the academic year, provided that all required faculty governance steps under this policy have been completed