Criteria

The determination of criteria to be used in prioritizing programs is based upon a review of the literature, investigation of the process at other institutions, and much discussion. The following criteria will be used to guide the prioritization of academic programs:

  • current and future student demand;
  • the quality of the program in terms of the students it attracts, the faculty and their teaching performance, the rigor of the program, and the quality of the research and creative activity of the faculty;
  • the diversity of the students and faculty;
  • the success of the program as determined by program completion and the preparation of those students for postgraduation success;
  • the importance of the program to the university mission and to student and faculty recruitment; and
  • Financial considerations including program costs, and revenue from tuition, gifts and grants.

Once the criteria were defined, appropriate data were identified. Several data sources to support each criterion are listed in a table and can be accessed from the Office of Institutional Research website.

The following Data Collection Templates are available to help collect and organize data:

  1. Undergraduate Programs (majors or stand-alone minors)
  2. Graduate Programs
  3. University Program (UP) Activity

The templates are Excel spreadsheets which can be downloaded by clicking a link above or in the right-hand navigation of this page. Further direction for use is provided within the templates.

A qualitative narrative discussion may be added to the hard data provided in the data tables. This is the opportunity for departments/units/councils to provide additional information regarding their programs. The prioritization document must be based on accurate, hard data, but at the discretion of the department/unit/council, an explanation may accompany the data. There is a clear invitation for narrative associated with the section Quality of program: Other and again in the discussion of the importance of the program to various constituent groups.