FAQ

How many external reviewers will be selected to review our program and how are they selected?

The Vice Provost for Academic Planning or an assigned delegate assembles the committee with input from the department/school, the cognizant Dean, and the Program Review Oversight Committee (PROC). The number of extramural reviewers is dependent on the size of the unit, with a three-person minimum. More reviewers may be added depending on the range and number of subfields in the program.

May the department/school see the charge letter to the External Review Committee?

Yes, with the understanding that questions in the letter are posed to the External Review Committee (ERC) to elicit thoughtful, outside perspectives based on their professional experience and best practices at their home institution. The questions are not prescriptive, nor should they be construed to mean that PROC or the dean disapproves of the unit’s current practices.

What expenses are incurred by the unit under review?

The unit is responsible for the cost of printing and binding the self-studies, lunch and snacks on the full-day visit of the external review committee, and significant cost overruns, if any, for the dinner on that day or the previous day. 

How many copies of the self-study are we required to provide?

In addition to an electronic copy, we require about 20 bound copies depending on the number of extramural reviewers. The bound copies should be double-sided and the coversheet should be 65-pound card stock. 

If I have questions about the data provided or feel that there need to be factual corrections made to the summary, what do I do?

There is time for Chairs to comment on the OPA summary once it is received. OPA works diligently to accommodate any factual corrections needed. It is best, however, to send comments within 2-3 weeks of receipt of the report.  It should be understood that the data analyst cannot revise data reported from a central source.  Units can cite these or any other data in their self-study.

How long does it take to produce a data summary report? 

Depending on the number of departments under review, it typically takes four to six weeks for OPA to complete the summary of central data once it begins. OPA can make data available to the unit prior to the completion of the full report.

Who receives the OPA data summary report?

The completed summary of central data is provided to the unit and to all internal and external reviewers. Units should not reproduce the data summary as an appendix to their self-study; data summaries, along with the unit's self-study and the charge letter to the External Review Committee, are provided separately by the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Planning.