Program Reviews: The Focus of Outcomes Assessment in the Graduate School

1
Program Reviews The Focus of Outcomes Assessment
in the Graduate School

• Orlando L. Taylor
• Dean
• otaylor_at_howard.edu

2
Background on Graduate Program Reviews

• Periodic Program Reviews Are a Norm in Graduate
  Schools Throughout the U.S.
• Howard University Has Conducted Graduate Program
  Reviews Since 1970s
• The Current Model Was Refined in 1997 in
  Accordance with National Trends
• Emphases on Enhancing Academic Planning and
  External Reputation

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Key Aspects of Graduate School Program Reviews

• Coordinated by a Program Review Council
• Typically Conducted Within Units Every 5-7 Years
• All Units Assessed Since 1998 as a Part of SFA I
• Focus on Student Enrollment, Faculty
  Productivity, Graduate Faculty Membership,
  Extramural Support, External Reputation,
  Curriculum Resources
• Utilize Internal Data, Institutional Data,
  External Reputational Data, Self Studies and Site
  Visits
• Final Planning Conference Convened with Unit
  Faculty, Chairs, Deans and Provost

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Categories of Graduate Programs Based Upon Recent
Reviews

• IStrong Programs and Targets of Opportunity
• IIPrograms on the Threshold of Achieving
  National Prominence
• IIIPrograms That Meet Acceptable Levels of
  Quality, But Are Unlikely to Achieve Higher
  Standing in the Foreseeable Future Without
  Greater Research Productivity, Funding and/or
  Student Interest
• IVWeak Programs Where Warning Signs Are on the
  Horizon with Respect to Low Student Enrollment,
  Faculty Productivity, Reputation and/or
  Accreditation Status (if applicable).
• VWeak Programs That Are Candidates for
  Termination Because of Low Student Enrollment,
  Faculty Productivity and/or Reputation

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Strategic Academic Planning Based Upon Program
Reviews

• Enhanced Support for Strong Programs and Targets
  of Opportunity
• Review and Re-engineering of Specializations
  Based upon Resources, Trends and Needs
• Consideration of New Programs, Program Mergers
  and Interdisciplinary Arrangements
• Creation of Strategies to Enhance Enrollment,
  Productivity, Graduate Faculty in Weaker
  Programs
• Creation of Strategies to Achieve Accreditation,
  Where Applicable
• Preparation of Plans for Elimination of
  Non-Productive Programs

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For Further Information

• Wayne Patterson
• Senior Fellow for Program Reviews and
  International Programs
• Graduate School
• Howard University
• 202-806-4686
• wpatterson_at_howard.edu