Graduate
Program Review
Joint review process
Approximately five years after implementation of a new academic degree program, UW-Madison and UW System Administration jointly undertake a review of the program. The joint review completes the new program approval process, and the institutional purpose of the review is to determine if the program should continue. The joint review is initiated by the Provost, at the request of UW System, and is coordinated by the Office of Academic Planning and Analysis (APA).
The joint review begins with a request from the Provost to the program for the completion of a self-study. The self-study should follow the guidelines mandated by UW System.
The Graduate School approaches the joint review process with the same expectations as for the ten-year program review. Consequently, the following documentation should accompany the self-study if it is not included as part of the self-study.
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Guide for graduate study: copy of department's printed material for graduate students including guidelines for graduate study, assessment forms, process for selection of TAs, plus any additional information not included in guidelines (e.g., grievance procedures, process for selection of faculty mentors and committees, required course work, typical student program, preliminary examination process, defense process, and other applicable department material).
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Placement record: graduate student placement after graduation, if not already in self-study.
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Statistics related to the graduate program: e.g., enrollment figures, support rates, degree production, completion rates, etc. (if not provided by department, this information is available from Graduate Program Profiles); faculty and staff composition; credits generated; and extramural awards (this information can be found in the Department Planning Profiles and provided by the college or school dean).
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Program web page
The self-study and the accompanying materials are compiled by the program, considered and approved by the school/college Academic Planning Council (APC), and sent by the school/college dean to the Provost and the Dean of the Graduate School with a clear recommendation to continue the program. If at any stage in the review process the decision is made to not continue the program, the review process may be truncated and procedures followed for discontinuing a program.
The Provost/APA staff send the self-study out for external review and convene the internal review committee. If members of the original implementation review committee are available, they will be asked to serve. If not, the joint review committee shall consist of four members: a member of the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC) who represents and is appointed by the Provost; a member of the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee (GFEC) who represents and is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School; a representative of UW System Administration; and a representative of the graduate program. The UAPC member chairs the review committee. The Provost may appoint additional committee members if deemed necessary.
The GFEC reviews the self-study and the report of the review committee. If the GFEC makes the recommendation to continue the program, the Dean of the Graduate School forwards this recommendation to the Provost. The UAPC then reviews the recommendations of the School/College, external reviewers, the review committee, and the GFEC, and forwards a recommendation to the Provost.
The Provost, acting on the advice of the joint review committee, GFEC, and UAPC, makes a recommendation to UW System Administration to continue the program. The Senior Vice President will make a decision based on this recommendation and notice will follow.
Other resources for joint review:
Contact for Office of Academic Planning and Analysis (APA), Office of the Provost
Joint Review Process, Office of the Provost
Guidelines on Joint Review Process, UW System
New Program Implementation and Joint Review Flowchart, UW System
Program Planning and Review Information (includes joint review schedule), UW System