Academic Program Review

The Academic Program Review (APR) process is intended to ensure continuous improvement of our academic programs and departments.  APR is one component of KU’s university assessment plan and is required by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) and our accreditors, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).  APR is conducted on a four-year cycle and every unit undergoes APR once during each cycle.    

The APR process begins with the creation of a Self-Study Report (SSR) by each academic unit during the Fall semester. The SSR describes how the unit’s programs serve the mission of the institution, analyzes faculty productivity and achievements, provides an assessment of the curriculum and its effectiveness, and documents the service that the unit provides to the KU community, the State of Kansas, and the wider community and discipline.  The SSR also includes a goal setting exercise where units identify 3-5 unit goals, which are then monitored annually by the respective School/College and outcomes reported during the next APR review.    

Each Spring, the Dean’s Office conducts a review of their units' SSRs for that given year and provides an endorsement of each unit’s goals.  The SSRs and Dean’s review is then submitted to a campus-wide committee, which conducts a final review on behalf of the Office of the Provost.  The committee review, while shared with the Office of the Provost, is primarily intended to provide the Dean and the unit with substantive input and constructive feedback on the report and unit goals.  

KU is required to report to KBOR on the Academic Program Review process every four years.  This includes documentation of our program review policy and procedures, a discussion of key program metrics, as well as a verbal report on the academic program review process, including examples of how the process is utilized to support continuous improvement.    

Faculty Program Review Resources