Instructional Program Review
The program review process is systematic and faculty-driven, providing an avenue for continuous improvement of educational programs at TSC. The process is conducted by the Program Coordinator/Program Director together with the faculty who comprise the Program Committee.
Input from all full-time faculty teaching in the program is essential. Information gleaned from the process form the basis of recommendations to the Department Chairs and Divisional Deans by the faculty for program improvement and to request resources.
Program Review Purpose
The purpose of this process is to facilitate the achievement of stated goals for a program as well as to improve teaching and learning within a program. Moreover, the review helps to ensure a program is aligned with TSC’s strategic goals. Reviews are an introspective process to assess program mission, continued program need, student success, student achievement, and program quality among other key indicators. For the program review, success measures and standards are driven by The Commission on Colleges and Universities (SACSCOC) criteria, THECB requirements, other external accrediting agencies, and TSC’s strategic goals and priorities. The categories or areas of inquiry for the Program Review are as follows:
- Program Mission
- Continued Program Need
- Student Success
- Student Achievement
- Program Quality
- Faculty Development and Evaluation
- Instructional Resources
- Industry Engagement
Program Review Process
The review process provides faculty with an opportunity to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement for a program. Faculty and administrators use program data, including providing descriptive information and supporting documentation, to assess and make improvements to the program. Further, the program review supports the planning and delivery of instruction as well as influencing the budgetary decision-making process. The process involves:
- Collection of program data, comparing the stated goals with achieved outcomes for critical success indicators of a program;
- Analyses of the data to indicate the levels of performance and/or direction of trends;
- Writing recommendations focused on improving the program’s teaching and students’ learning; and
- Supporting documentation.
Program Review Timeline
Program reviews are scheduled over a four-year cycle, meaning each program completes a Program Review Report every four years. The Program Review Cycle Schedule identifies which year each program’s review is to be conducted. The initial Program Review is completed prior to or at the beginning of the budgeting process with the finalized report completed prior to approval of the annual budget by the Board of Trustees.