Academic 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:
- monitoring the status, progress, and effectiveness of degree programs.
- identifying programmatic strengths and weaknesses.
- pinpointing programmatic needs, trajectories, and priorities.
- identifying emerging professional, regulatory, and disciplinary directions; and
- stimulating reflection, goal setting, and planning.
Overview of the Review Process:
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:
- a department residing within a college/school.
- a school residing within a college.
- 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:
- bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional programs in the official UTRGV program inventory approved by THECB.
- graduate stand-alone certificates approved by THECB.
Review Schedule
UTRGV degree programs will be reviewed at least every ten years to remain in compliance with the THECB Graduate Program Review Schedule. The THECB must approve the 10-year review cycle in advance of its implementation. THECB allows alterations to the schedule, but any changes require prior approval. Review site visits will only be scheduled during fall and spring semesters. Programs that undergo external review for programmatic licensure or accreditation may use their accreditation self-studies in lieu of the review process outlined in these guidelines. To do this, review schedules will be synchronized with the accreditation reviews of the professional association/organization.
See the Following Resources for Additional Information on Program Review
Process: The process provides the general guidelines for various aspects of Academic Program Review at UTRGV.
Schedule: This document indicates when departments and their programs are scheduled to participate in a site visit. Departments will be contacted at least one year in advance of their site visit to initiate the self-study process.
Self-study Requirements: The content to be included in the APR self-study is described in this detailed step-by-step document.