Process and Procedures for Off-Campus and Online Program Review by the Graduate College Committee on Extended Education and External Degrees (CEEED)
The following is an overview of the CEEED program evaluation process. Exact dates are not included because they vary. Ideally, the program review is conducted during the academic year with survey instruments sent during fall, administrative interview and data analysis during spring, and an opportunity for discussion and recommendations by May.
Off-campus degree programs are typically reviewed by the Graduate College on a five-year cycle. The CEEED administers the review.
Steps include:
- A courtesy letter is sent to the Executive Officer of the unit in which the program is housed informing them of the pending review.
- There are two instruments used for the review, one for faculty and one for students. The unit representative is invited to review the instruments prior to their distribution and is encouraged to include additional questions of particular interest to the department.
- A list of names of faculty who have taught in the program during the review period is solicited from the academic unit or generated by the Office of Continuing Education. The coordinator is asked to review the list and confirm that those listed are available to be contacted. The coordinator is asked to provide recent contact information in the case of faculty who have relocated.
- The program coordinator is asked to send copies of or links to promotional and informational materials available to students, that have been created for the program.
- Lists of degree-seeking students enrolled during the review period are solicited from the academic unit or generated by the Office of Continuing Education.
- Evaluation instruments are sent to the faculty and to the students with due dates for return. The instruments will be sent and completed online. The evaluation instruments are sent out late in the year.
- All the survey data collected are analyzed and summarized. These data are reported by the CEEED to the academic unit.
- The CEEED invites a representative from the academic unit to meet with the committee to discuss the program. Items for discussion are shared with the unit representatives prior to the meeting, and the unit representatives complete a written summary questionnaire to be shared with the committee before the interview. This interview typically occurs during the spring semester. An Executive Officer or faculty designee from the unit must attend this meeting.
- CEEED provides a recommendation with rationale to the unit regarding renewal of the program for another five years or other actions based on the review process. Recommendations for ways to strengthen the program are often included with the recommendation letter.