PROGRAM
PRIORITIZATION
Open Forum
January 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.
Timeframe
21 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
Timeframe
15 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.
Timeframe
Late 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 Criteria
Degrees 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 Criteria
Student 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 Criteria
Instructional 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 Criteria
Percentage 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 Criteria
QUALITATIVE 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