1 Orientation
Each spring, a new cohort of programs is enrolled in the Program Review Course.
In March, the Associate Director, Academic Planning and Continuous Quality Improvement, reaches out to deans and program chairs to remind them of the programs within their Faculty/School that are scheduled for external program review. They are also invited to join a cohort of programs as part of a 14-month Program Review Course.
Each department then forms a program review team of three to five faculty members who have primary responsibility over the review. Once teams are established, the Associate Director registers them in the Program Review Course that is set-up in the university’s learning management system (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard) where they have access to resources including templates, timelines, recommended submission dates, info sessions, and workshops.
In May, the cohort of program review teams attend a half-day Program Review Orientation where they engage in an interactive session facilitated by representatives from the offices of quality assurance and institutional research, and teaching and learning centre. The Orientation is designed to be hands-on, collaborative, and educative in order to set programs up for a successful review. In addition, participants have opportunities to ask questions and share their prior experiences. Alumni who have completed the course are also invited to share their experiences.
Instructions for Program Review Teams
Timeline: April – May
Recommended Submission Dates: April and May
In preparation for the Orientation, please take some time to complete the following activities:
- Email the Associate Director with a list of the following people in April:
- Program review team members
- Program review team lead
- Your team will the be registered in the Program Review Course in Moodle.
- You will be invited to attend the Orientation session in May.
- Accept the calendar invitation to attend the Orientation session or designate someone to attend in your absence.
- Read Module 1 in the Program Review Handbook.
Orientation Agenda
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:30am | Welcome and introductions; Why program review matters |
| 9:30 – 9:45am | Overview of research-informed approach to program review and participant survey |
| 9:45 – 10:15am | Overview of TRU’s Program Review Course and Learning Modules |
| 10:15 – 10:45 am | Guest speaker: Institutional Data – Student Enrolment and Achievement |
| 10:45 – 11:15am | Guest speaker: Institutional Data – Student Pathways |
| 11:15am – 12:00pm | Guest speaker: Reconciliation, Indigenization, and Decolonization |
| 12:00 – 12:30pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 – 1:30pm | Program Review Alumni Panel |
| 1:30 – 2:50pm | Activity: Program Review Timeline (PDF)1 |
| 2:50 – 2:00pm | Closing remarks and next steps |
Note: To learn more about our experiences delivering the Orientation, which evolves each iteration, please reach out to us (see Authors for our contact information).
Presenters
Office of Quality Assurance
- Associate Vice President Academic
- Associate Director, Academic Planning and Continuous Quality Improvement
- Curriculum Governance Officer
Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching:
- Director
- Educational Developer, Indigenous Teaching and Learning
Integrated Planning and Effectiveness
- Director
- Manager, Integrated Planning and Effectiveness
- Senior Institutional Research and Planning Analyst
Faculty
- Program review alumni (i.e., faculty members and program chairs from previous program review cohorts)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the Orientation, faculty will be able to:
- describe the key components of a high-quality self-study
- identify appropriate data collection methods to assist with their self-study
- engage colleagues in developing learning outcomes and mapping the curriculum of their programs
- identify the key personnel at the university who can provide support with elements of their self-study
- articulate the reporting schedule
1 Modified from Hoare, A., Dishke Hondzel, C., Hoessler, C., & Petri. D. (2021, May 13). 2021 Program review orientation [Workshop]. Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC.
