Academic Program Review
APR Home | Instructions | Roles | Schedule | Narrative Outline
Roles and Responsibilities
The APR process requires collaboration among the various units and offices of the university and individuals from the community. The planning of successful reviews involves shared responsibilities and includes all major stakeholders. The implementation of the findings of the process becomes a matter of mutual accountability.
Division of Academic Affairs
Provost or Provost's Designee
- Sets the APR schedule.
- Approves changes to the Academic Program Review guidelines.
- Determines if an external accreditation will substitute for a JMU Degree Granting and Academic Support APR.
- Approves the academic unit's formal plan for integrating the APR results.
- Meets with the ERT during the on-site review if necessary.
- Oversees the APR process through the Academic Program Review Coordinator and with the cooperation of the colleges and academic programs.
- Convenes a Provost Internal Review Team to review an academic program's initialInternal Self-Study.
- Determines the scope of the External Program Review.
- After determining the scope of the external team review, may consult with the appropriate program heads to provide final approval to persons nominated to serve on the External Review Team (ERT).
- Reviews the Academic Program Review Checklist for accreditation reviews.
- After the scope of the external team review is determined, consults with the appropriate program heads to provide final approval to persons nominated to serve on the ERT.
- May assist the dean of a college in the preparation of a response to the recommendations of the report written by an external accrediting agency.
- Attends the exit interview conducted by the External Review Team.
- Provides confirmation of new program approval and placement on the APR schedule.
Coordinator of Academic Program Review
- Maintains APR schedule and notifies departments and academic unit heads of upcoming program reviews.
- Monitors progress of the APR and enforces deadlines from the Internal Self-Study Report through entry into the Planning Base.
- Provides orientation and consultation to the self-study teams, both internal and external, involved in the APR.
- Develops a schedule for the visit of the ERT with the executive secretary in academic affairs and chair of the Internal Self-Study committee.
- Informs ERT with regard to all logistical details.
- Contacts the JMU external team chair person and program coordinator to review questions and concerns.
- Attends meetings of the ERT as needed.
Executive Secretary in the Office of Academic Affairs
- Publishes official schedule of APRs.
- Receives all reports (i.e., Internal Self-Study Report, Four Year Interim Report, External Review Team Report) to distribute for the Office of the Provost.
- Disseminates the Internal Self-Study Report for the provost's office.
- Provides the schedule for the ERT visit and coordinates non-program personnel to be interviewed.
- Receives the plan to integrate responses from the APR Internal Self-Study committee for review by the provost's office.
- Makes copies of the self-study materials and distributes them to the ERT and other appropriate offices at least one month prior to the visit.
- Contacts ERT to make arrangements related to travel and lodging.
- Schedules meeting rooms and meals for all personnel involved in the external team on-site visit.
- Organizes transportation for the ERT to and from the campus.
- Handles payments and expenses for ERT upon receipt of their report.
- Prepares copies of the final report of the ERT and distributes them to the appropriate offices and persons.
- Verifies that the formal plan for integrating recommendations has been entered into the Planning Database.
- Works with Carrier Library to archive the program self-study and the External Team Report.
- Maintains electronic library for APR reports and related documents.
- Coordinates correspondence related to all APR activities.
Colleges
Dean
- Manages and monitors APR schedule for units within the college
- Participates in the planning and implementation of internal self-studies.
- Approves the selection of the APR Internal Self-Study committee.
- Nominates, in consultation with the AUH, the membership of the ERT.
- Identifies questions and focus areas to be addressed in the internal self-study in conjunction with the academic unit head.
- Reviews and approves the Internal Self-Study Report that is submitted to the Office of the Vice Provost.
- Develops, with the academic unit head and program faculty, a formal plan that describes the implementation of the APR recommendations.
- Verifies progress in meeting recommendations derived from the APR process through documentation in the Planning Database and annual reports.
Academic Unit Head
- Names the chairperson and members for the APR Internal Self-Study Committee.
- Nominates, in consultation with the dean and program faculty, the membership of the ERT.
- Initiates first contact with ERT nominees after final approval to determine their availability.
- Coordinates the preparation of the Internal Self-Study Report.
- Develops, with the dean and program faculty, a formal plan that describes the implementation of the APR recommendations.
- Incorporates the plan through the Planning Database.
- Communicates progress regarding these recommendations to the dean as part of annual reports.
Administrative Program Head for Administrative Areas
- Names the chairperson and members for the APR Internal Self-Study Committee.
- Nominates, in consultation with the appropriate division head and program staff, the membership of the ERT.
- Initiates first contact with ERT nominees after final approval to determine their availability.
- Coordinates the preparation of the Internal Self-Study Report.
- Approves and forwards the self-study to the provost's office.
- If applicable, reviews and approves the APR Internal Self-Study committee's response to the external team report. Submits the response to the provost's office through the appropriate division head.
- Develops, with appropriate administrators and program staff, a formal plan for integrating the results of the APR.
- Incorporates the plan through the Planning Database.
- Communicates progress regarding these recommendations to the appropriate administrator as part of annual reports.
