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.  APR is conducted on a four-year cycle and every unit undergoes APR once during each cycle.  Academic Program Review is required by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) and our accreditors, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). 

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 degree 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 department/area is provided with a data briefing book compiled by the office of Analytics, Institutional Research & Effectiveness (AIRE).

In the 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 Academic Program Review Committee (APRC), 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.  A report on unit goals will be the starting point of the unit's next SSR.  

Please review the Academic Program Review policy (pending final approval) for more information about the process and the composition and work of the APRC. 

KBOR requires all Regent's institutions to establish and document clear policies and procedures relating to Academic Program Review.  At minimum, the university's academic program review must include an analysis of:

• Market demand for the program
• Student demand, student accessibility, and student return on investment;
• Centrality of the program to fulfilling the mission and the role of the institution
• Quality of the program as assessed by its curriculum and impact on students
• Service the program provides to the discipline, the university, and beyond
• Program’s cost‐effectiveness

Each Regent's university must report on the outcomes of Academic Program Review every four years.  This includes an overview of our program review policy and procedures, a discussion of key program metrics, and a report by the Provost on the APR process.  This report includes examples of how the process is utilized to support continuous improvement.   

Please review the KBOR Program Review Framework for more information.  

All materials relating to the Academic Program Review process are housed in a dedicated Microsoft Teams site. Each department/area has it's own private channel within the general site where current and past reporting is accessible to units at any time. 

Staff from Academic Affairs meet with unit leadership at the start of the APR process to review expectations and answer questions.  Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.  Data assistance is available at aire-help@ku.edu.  Units may post general questions to the Teams site or their private channel at any time.

For information about the Teams site or to set up or change access for your department/area, please contact Academic Affairs.