PROGRAM PRIORITIZATION

Open ForumJanuary 16, 2013

Program Prioritization Website

http://www.wcu.edu/31453.asp

Overview of Progress• Completed conversations with colleagues at

peer institutions with prioritization initiatives.• Communication strategies, campus feedback.• Choice of criteria and data• Review process

• Created multiple drafts of criteria and indicators by adapting models from other institutions. Debated categories of analysis and reliability of quantitative and qualitative data.

Overview of Progress• Revised criteria based on data reliability and

availability (from 29 to 10 major points).

• Created and revised program review list.– Stand-alone minors omitted pending

additional data discussion.

• Debated and drafted process of review for Phase 1 and follow-up in Phase 2.

Timeframe21 January – End of January• Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness receives final

criteria for Phase 1 data reports

• IPE produces and distributes reports to program directors and department heads– Review and resolve data issues with IPE

– Write 600 word qualitative narrative based on three prompts

– Program directors / Department heads provide number of faculty members primarily assigned to program (This may be fractional, in the case of faculty with split assignments across programs

Timeframe15 February• Program reports due to Anne Aldrich / Office

of the Provost; submit as electronic files.

February & March• Prioritization Task Force reads and reviews all

program reports, sorting them into three categories:

Timeframe•Category 1: programs

recommended for investment.

•Category 2: programs requiring no additional study or discussion.

•Category 3: programs requiring additional study or discussion.

TimeframeLate March • PPTF produces initial program assessments

– Completion of process for Category 2 programs

April & early May• Secondary assessments (Phase 2) for programs in Categories 1

and 3. – Written reports (Categories 1 and 3).– Program director and department head meetings with Task Force

(Category 3 only).

Late May• Final PPTF report and recommendations submitted to the Chancellor.

Initial Program Screening Criteria

Initial Program Screening Criteria

Number of Majors (Enrolled at Fall Census): Baccalaureate, Masters, Doctoral.

Number of majors declared in Banner as of Census.

Comparative Standard: WCU Median

Numbers at UNC Peers

Unit of Analysis:9-Digit CIP

Initial Program Screening CriteriaDegrees Awarded (per Academic Year):

Baccalaureate, Masters, Doctoral.Number of degrees conferred within a

complete academic year.

Comparative Standard: WCU Median

Numbers at UNC Peers

Unit of Analysis:9-Digit CIP

Initial Program Screening CriteriaStudent Success:

Retention Rate; Graduation Rate.This portion will capture the program-level

retention and graduation rates.

Comparative Standard: WCU Average for program level

Unit of Analysis:Program Code

Initial Program Screening Criteria

SCHs Generated: Total Annual SCH’s.This is the annual total of SCHs generated

within all the prefixes housed within a department.

Comparative Standard: WCU median

Unit of Analysis:Department

Initial Program Screening Criteria

Generated / Allocated Faculty FTE: Ratio of allocated to generated faculty FTE.

Comparative Standard: Allocated faculty FTE = Generated FTE

Unit of Analysis:Department

Initial Program Screening CriteriaInstructional Cost: Cost per SCH

Direct Instructional expenditures per SCH.

Instructional Cost: Cost per Student.Direct instructional cost per FTE student.

Comparative Standard: National average per the Delaware Study of

Instructional Costs

Unit of Analysis:4 Digit CIP Code

Initial Program Screening Criteria

Number of Faculty: Faculty headcount per program.

This is a count of faculty by program, and will be provided by the academic units directly.

Comparative Standard: WCU Median

Unit of Analysis:Department / Program

Initial Program Screening CriteriaPercentage of courses taught by faculty type:

Tenured / tenure track faculty

Fixed term faculty

Part-time faculty

Comparative Standard: WCU Average

Unit of Analysis:Department

Initial Program Screening CriteriaQUALITATIVE STATEMENT

no more than 600 words, including the following three items:

1. Brief context for the last five years of program data;

2. Specific ways the program relates to WCU’s 2020 strategic plan;

3. Program distinction in the region and the state (you may include discussions of community

engagement / service, student quality outcomes, faculty contributions

to the program in scholarship and creative works, uniqueness in the state, accreditation, awards,

revenue, grants or other program income generation.

PPTF Process of Review

• Each Task Force member will read each program report, assigning program a category

• Categorization based on:–Sample reports as pilot data–Common lists of expectations per category.

• Task Force will meet 14-15 March to create a final assessment for Phase 1.

Questions for you• What additional items might we ask for in

qualitative statements?

• How can we better communicate with the campus community? When would forums be useful?

• What else do we need to know to make the process more transparent or useful?

Program Prioritization Webpage:http://www.wcu.edu/31453.asp

Feedback: http://www.wcu.edu/31490.asp