Academic Program Review: Action Planning (Phase 3)

The self-study and peer-review/site visit phases should have provided the program with opportunities to reflect on the strengths of the program and possibilities for its improvement. Now it is time to take some of the lessons learned and transform them into achievable ambitions for your program as expressed in a strategic action plan.

Following the receipt of the finalized reviewer report, departments will develop a strategic action plan that is guided by reviewer recommendations as well as insights gained from completion of the self-study.  The action plan should be mission-driven, strengths-based, and forward-leaning; it should be grounded in a clear sense of shared purpose, addressing concerns but not limited to them, and informed by your aspirations for the program during the next stage in its development.

Once developed, the draft action plan is shared with the Dean, Graduate Education Dean (if applicable), Associate Dean, and Academic Programs and Planning.  An action plan template and an action planning guidance document have been created to support this phase of program review. 

Upon completion of the action plan, the department will work with Academic Programs and Planning to schedule an action plan meeting for the purpose of openly discussing proposed goals, action steps, timeframes, and potential resources required to achieve desired results. This meeting is often held during a regularly scheduled department meeting, as it includes program faculty and staff, the Dean and Associate Dean, the Graduate Education Dean (if applicable), the Executive Director of Academic Programs and Planning, and occasionally other representatives from Academic Programs and Planning or Academic Innovations and Programs. Following the action plan meeting, the department will incorporate additions or revisions to their plan based on the larger group discussion. Once finalized, a copy of the plan will be kept on file with Academic Programs and Planning and added to the college archive on the Program Improvement and Effectiveness site (requires access privileges). Departments will update their strategic action plans on an annual basis.