Balancing State and Institutional Perspectives in the Implementation of Effective State-Level Academic Program Review. ASHE 1983 Annual Meeting Paper.

Academic program review is analyzed in regard to purposes, process, schedule and timing, criteria, and decisions. Attention is also briefly addressed to the organizational entities that oversee the process of state-level program review. The purposes of program review are linked to budgeting decisions, mission delineation, and potential program improvement. In terms of process, statewide boards can share responsibility for review with public universities, or the boards may assume major responsibility for academic program review through a consultant-based approach or through the use of agency staff. Most states have applied a number of criteria in program review rather than a few--particularly, the number of graduates, students enrolled, student interest and demand, appropriateness to role and mission, program quality, size of classes, and cost of courses--but consensus is lacking as to how qualitative factors should be used in program review. State-level recommendations resulting from program review may include continuation, modification, merger, or discontinuation. Additional considerations relating to state-level program review include: whether to review degree programs or departments, research and public service centers, and nonacademic areas; the accommodation between program review and specialized accreditation; the pattern of use of program review in other state-level decision making; expectations of other state-level authorities; and the nature of institutional leadership exercised. (SW)