About Academic Program Review
Academic Program Review (APR) is a seven-year cycle in which departments and programs implement and assess changes to improve outcomes. Annual reports provide the scaffolding for the Self-Study Report that occurs in Year 6 of the cycle. In the Fall of Year 7 of the cycle, a group of external Peer Evaluators is engaged to provide feedback. The report and external feedback inform changes that departments enact and assess through an Implementation Plan to improve outcomes in the next APR cycle.
Academic Program Review is one way in which Queens College participates in regular cycles of evaluation, assessment, and continuous improvement to fulfill expectations from our institutional accreditation.
The Academic Program Review Cycle
The timeline of the Academic Program Review cycle is visualized below.
Your APR Cycle Calendar depends on your department or program.
Consult this chart to determine the Academic Program Review cycle for your department or program.
Click here for more information about Annual Reporting.
Click here for more information about Assessment Reporting.
Timeline for the Self-Study Process (Years 6 and 7)
Phase 1: The Self-Study Report
Fall of Year 6: Your department or program collects evidence that addresses questions from the Self-Study Report guidance.
Spring of Year 6: Your department or program reflects on this evidence to develop a 15–20 page Self-Study Report.
Phase 2: Engaging External Reviewers
By May 1 of Year 6: External reviewers are identified in coordination with your dean (or for interdisciplinary programs, Associate Provost) and engaged (by your dean or AP) to participate in an External Reviewer Visit to be held in the fall.
Fall of Year 7: Your department or program hosts a visit by the external reviewers (which is virtual in most cases) and receives a Reviewers’ Report.
Phase 3: Use of Results and Planning
Spring of Year 7: Your department or program develops a Post-Review Report that includes a multi-year Implementation Plan with strategic goals for improving outcomes during the next Academic Program Review cycle. You meet with the Provost to present the findings of the Post-Review Report.
Going forward: Progress made towards these strategic goals will be documented in your annual reports.
Phase 1: The Self-Study Report
In this phase, you collect evidence during the Fall Semester in preparation for writing your Self-Study Report in the Spring Semester. The Self-Study Report addresses the following points. Consult this Self-Study Report guidance for more details.
1. Context for the Self-Study
2. Mission Statement
3. Resources
4. Curriculum and Instruction
5. Assessment of Learning Outcomes
6. Student Enrollment, Support, and Engagement
7. Community and Climate
8. External Relationships
9. Reflection and Analysis
Your final draft should be shared with your dean (or, for interdisciplinary programs, the Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs), who will read through and provide feedback about the report. You will engage in a discussion about Section 9 with your dean (or AP), who can help prioritize and determine the feasibility of proposed initiatives. Furthermore, your dean (or AP) may have some additional topics to include or questions for the reviewers to explore during their virtual or in-person visit. The feedback should be incorporated into the final version of your Self-Study Report.
Phase 2: Engaging External Reviewers
In this phase, external reviewers provide the department / program with an outside perspective of its role in the institution and the community, internal and external relationships, and its strategic priorities.
The Reviewers’ Report provides the department / program with
1. Assessment of the department/program’s strengths and weaknesses
2. Examination of all degree programs in the department/program
3. Review of plans for future development
and concludes with the reviewers’ actionable recommendations.
Consult this Phase 2 Guidance Document for more details.
Phase 3: Use of Results and Planning
In this phase, you use the Self-Study Report and the Reviewers’ Report to develop a Post-Review Report that includes:
1. Status of Goals from Prior Implementation Plan
2. Summary of Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities
3. Implementation Plan for the next five years
4. Action Plan for the next year
Consult this Phase 3 Guidance Document for more details.
You will share the final draft of your Post-Review Report with your dean (or, for interdisciplinary programs, the Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs) and the Academic Assessment Council by way of your School’s Assessment Coordinator.
- Your dean (or AP) will provide feedback about your entire Post-Review Report and help to ensure that your strategic goals align with the priorities of your Academic School and the College.
- The Academic Assessment Council will provide feedback about your Implementation Plan including the measurable outcomes you put forth to ensure progress towards your goals. They will also help to disseminate the best practices that you and your reviewers have identified to other departments and programs on campus.
Once you revise your Post-Review Report with this feedback and it is approved by your dean (or AP), you will meet with the Provost and another representative of the College’s Space Committee to discuss it.