Academic Program Review

Academic Program Review (APR)

The primary goal of academic program review is to examine all aspects of a degree program to identify its strengths and weaknesses and to develop a guide for the program’s future. Program review is critical to university efforts to promote and maintain academic excellence. Palo Alto University (PAU) is committed to institutionalizing the assessment and planning process into a culture of evidence that seeks to minimize the impact on existing faculty processes.  

The academic program review focuses on student learning over the entire curriculum, the formal assessment of that learning, and the incorporation of assessment results into departmental and program planning. Therefore, academic program review must consider learning related to the major discipline and learning related to the University's mission, strategic priorities, and institutional learning goals. Good program review should assess program quality and currency, improve student learning, reflect on the alignment of program goals and learning outcomes with the University’s mission and strategic plans, and provide data and evidence to support institutional planning. 

Academic program reviews are most effective when the process engages faculty teaching in the program, students in the program, and the relevant administrators, starting with the development of the self-study to the external review and the final action steps agreed to by the Provost and departmental and program leadership.