Determination of Rankings

To assist the placement of programs into category rankings, departments and colleges will be asked to evaluate each program with regard to four intermediate ratings:

  1. the importance of the program,
  2. the quality of the program,
  3. the opportunity for program growth, and
  4. the opportunity for program improvement.

In each case a rationale is provided by the department and later by the college. Specifically this intermediate rating should address the following questions.

  1. Importance of the program to the department, college and university. Based upon appropriate data, a department will rate their program on whether it is:
    1. critical that the program exists,
    2. important that it exists,
    3. not essential but desirable, or
    4. not essential - eliminate.

Departments also will provide a narrative giving the rationale for the rating.

  1. Quality of the program. The rating categories are: The program is:
    1. of extremely high quality (nationally renowned),
    2. of good quality,
    3. average, or
    4. below average.

Departments also will provide a narrative supporting the rationale for the rating.

  1. Opportunity for growth. The rating categories are:
    1. high growth potential,
    2. medium growth potential, or
    3. low growth potential.

Departments will be expected to provide a rationale, with data, for the rating. It should include a description of the type and amount of growth that is likely to occur and what resources and actions are needed to grow the program. The narrative should explain what advantages will be gained if the program were to grow.

  1. Opportunity for program improvement. The rating categories are: The potential of program improvement in quality is:
    1. high,
    2. medium, or
    3. low.

Departments will be expected to provide a rationale, with data, for the rating. It should include a description of the type and amount of program improvement that is likely to occur, and what resources and actions are needed to improve the program. The narrative should also explain what advantages will be gained if the program were to be improved.

The general process can be seen in the following schematic:

Overview