Program Review

The University of Texas Rio Grande (UTRGV) values and actively seeks opportunities to weave excellence throughout the fabric of the university and into the core of everything that it does. As part of this commitment to excellence, UTRGV engages in periodic review of each of its academic units and academic programs. The University supports the Academic Program Review (APR) process through the Office of Curriculum and Institutional Assessment and is overseen by the Vice Provost for Curriculum and Institutional Assessment and the Director of Institutional Assessment and Program Review. 

APRs are designed to evaluate the quality, productivity, and role of each academic unit and academic program in the fulfillment of the University's mission and strategic priorities. APRs are also conducted to fulfill requirements of The University of Texas System and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). APRs provide a means of: 

1. monitoring the status, progress, and effectiveness of degree programs.  
2. identifying programmatic strengths and weaknesses. 
3. pinpointing programmatic needs, trajectories, and priorities.
4. identifying emerging professional, regulatory, and disciplinary directions; and  
5. stimulating reflection, goal setting, and planning.  

Academic Unit

Effective academic year 2023-2024, APRs at UTRGV will be conducted at the academic unit level with all programs in the unit going through review concurrently. Programs will not submit stand-alone self-studies except for those degree programs that report directly to the college/school.

Academic unit refers to the following:

1. a department residing within a college/school.
2. a school residing within a college.
3. a degree program that reports directly to the college/school.

Academic Program

All academic programs offered by the academic unit will undergo review in the same year.

Academic program refers to:

1. bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional programs in the official UTRGV program inventory approved by THECB.
2. graduate stand-alone certificates approved by THECB.

Process: The process provides the general guidelines for various aspects of Academic Program Review at UTRGV.  Academic Program Review: Guidelines and Procedures

Self-study Requirements: The content to be included in the APR self-study is described in this detailed step-by-step document.