The purpose of academic program review is to foster the continuous improvement of academic programs by evaluating their status, progress, efficiency, and success while identifying future priorities and needs. Guided by the college’s mission, this improvement-oriented process aligns with institutional strategic planning, resource allocation, academic learning plans, and decision-making at the division and college levels. Program faculty collaborate to develop action plans that guide the future direction and priorities needed to support program growth, student success, and community engagement.
What Defines a Program
HLC & Federal Definition of an Educational Program
A legally authorized postsecondary program of organized instruction or study that: Leads to an academic, professional, or vocational degree, or certificate, or other recognized educational credential, or is a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program, as described in 34 CFR part 668, subpart O; and may, in lieu of credit hours or clock hours as a measure of student learning, utilize direct assessment of student learning, or recognize the direct assessment of student learning by others, if such assessment is consistent with the accreditation of the institution or program utilizing the results of the assessment and with the provisions of 34 CFR § 668.10.
At Chandler-Gilbert Community College, programs are defined as a discipline or a grouping of interrelated disciplines that share common learning outcomes and courses that contribute to the achievement of a credential, degree, or certificate. CGCC's mission is at the heart of the Program Review process, serving as a guide to shape its execution and outcomes, making the Program Review process a robust tool for sustained academic excellence.
Program Review Outcomes
The overarching goal is to improve student experience and learning.
Program Outcomes
PR informs the future direction of the program
Identifies needs of the program to support student success
Determines appropriate allocation of resources
Identifies opportunities for growth or areas for scaling
Prioritizes actions to be taken for continuous improvement
Institutional Outcomes
Provides quality assurance to students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other stakeholders
Demonstrates the college’s compliance with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation standards
Program Review Process
Use of Results
Program-Level Use of Results
Refine learning outcomes
Redesign courses/procedures to align better with outcomes
Re-sequence courses for better scaffolding
Refocus curricula to reflect changes in discipline
Coordinate assignments between general education and major
Integrate student support services into key courses
Strengthen or streamline assessment practices
Design professional development program to improve customer service, online teaching, assessment
Develop applied learning initiatives with employers, community, clinicians, career center
Use of Results Beyond the Program
Identify resources and respond to trends across programs
Classroom technology updates
Writing, research or information literacy across the curriculum
Clear flow-charts and paths to completion for degrees
Laboratory upgrades
Improvements in IT services for students
Measure progress on strategic plan initiatives
Enhance student success
Collaborate with student affairs to improve student retention and performance
Integration of co-curricular activities
Reallocate resources to academic support services
Use expertise across programs to expand high-impact practices
Communicate good practices and outcomes
Program Review Schedule