Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I see an example of a Program Plan?

  • You can view the most recent Program Plans for each department on the Program Records section. Be sure to review a Program Plan written after 2017 to ensure it follows the most recent guidelines. 

• Will the Program Planning process actually be useful, or is it just another exercise to satisfy a system requirement?

  • The Provost very much intends to make the Action Plan a part of both short and long term resource allocation procedures within the Academic Affairs division. Requests for faculty hires, for new curricula, and/or for special resource consideration, that have not been documented in Program Planning, are much less likely to be honored.

• How does the department submit the Program Plan?

  • The completed program plan must be submitted via the Curriculog form routed to the department chair for approval by the college dean. The department chair will need to include in this form 3 names and CV's of qualified external reviewers. 

     
• Why is it called Program Planning?

  • The essential word is "planning" for every component of the process. The Plan, culminating in an Action Plan from the Provost, must give a clear picture of where the program stands and what it realistically expects to accomplish over the next five years - curricular and pedagogical revisions - based on assessment of student learning, faculty hiring, space alterations, change in student mix, enhanced off-campus delivery, changing use of technology, more community ties, develop or use more effectively an advisory board, more alumni contact, etc.

• What is the calendar for completing the process?

  • The timelines for due dates of Program Plans and process for completing the Program Plan is described by the Step-by-Step Process section.

• What is the format required?

  • The Step-by-Step Process clearly describes the format of the Program Plan. View the templates: Non-Accredited Program Plan Template [docx] | Accredited Program Plan Template [docx]

• Where do we get recent data?

  • The Institutional Research provides one snapshot of Required Data Elements (RDE) in pdf format. If the snapshot is not used by the department in a timely manner the department will be required to prepare a snapshot of Required Data Elements upon which the Plan is based. At any point in time, the IR website has the most recent five years of required data. Should the department wish additional data, the Office of Institutional Research may be able either to provide requested data or to aid the department in finding sources.

• If there is more than one program in a department, how many Program Plans are needed?

  • Only one. Resources are typically shared across programs within a department, so that, for instance, most faculty teach in multiple programs. For that reason, departments with multiple programs should integrate planning discussions across programs.

• Who is responsible for leading planning and writing the Program Plan?

  • Leadership for the program plan belongs to the department chair, but the entire program faculty are responsible for its development. 

• What about accredited programs, do they still need a Program Plan?

  • Yes, the Department Chair/School Director or Program Plan Coordinator prepares a table of contents that follows the Interim Guidelines but which refers to pages in the accreditation self-study, where appropriate. Only sections required in the program plan that are not addressed in the self-study need to be written specifically for the University Program Plan.

• What is the role of the liaison from the Program Planning Committee?

  • Members of the Program Planning Committee (PPC) play a logistical support role. They will help departments negotiate changes to procedures as necessary, and in general will report to the Committee whether things are progressing smoothly. The liaison should not be regarded as a working member of the department planning process, but as an informational link to the Committee and as support.

    It can be difficult to see what is unclear to a reader outside of your discipline. The liaison may give the department an outsider's view of drafts of the Program Plan, if the department desires. The liaison does not take responsibility for the plan.

• How does Program Plan relate to Curricular Priorities?

  • The Program Planning Committee (PPC) is being asked by the Curriculum & Research Committee to oversee the long-term commitments made during Priorities, and to see to it that during the Planning processes appropriate degree condensations, evaluations, etc., are carried out.