Program Review

Purpose

Our college planning and program review efforts exist to help us to better serve our students and community. Through strategic planning, program review, and operational planning efforts, we align college work with our wildly important goals, engage in cycles of informed improvement, and collaborate together to ensure the continued vibrancy and health of our college.

One of MCC’s Core Values is Continuous Improvement. To demonstrate this value, we must engage in cycles that assess where we are, set goals for where we want to be, and take evidence-based action to reach those goals. The 5-year department/program review cycle is an integral part of planning at MCC and is focused on growth and improvement to better serve our students, community, and each other. Individual program reviews will be completed every 5 years, unless a different schedule is adopted to accommodate an external program accreditation cycle.

Academic and Occupational Program Definitions

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) defines an “educational program” as a legally authorized postsecondary program of organized instruction or study that leads to an academic, professional, or vocational degree, or certificate, or other recognized educational credential. The Maricopa Center for Curriculum & Transfer Articulation (CCTA) designates Academic Certificate (AC), Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), Associate in General Studies (AGS), Associate in Business (ABUS), and Bachelor programs as “academic programs” and the Certificate of Completion (CCL) and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) as “occupational programs.”

Programs of study (academic major) should not be confused with the concept of a “Program Page” which represents the website organization of awards into a disciplinary area of study that students can specialize in. At MCC, active programs of study are typically available on the Programs by Name page and/or on the admissions application.

A department may delegate faculty leadership as an Academic or Occupational Program Director to provide stewardship for the programs associated with one or more Program Pages. In some cases an Occupational Program Director may be asked to provide stewardship for a small number of Academic programs of study for related awards (AA, AS, ABUS, or Bachelor) listed on a Program Page, whereas Academic Program Directors do not have responsibility for CCL or AAS programs of study.

Each program of study must have a written statement of the program’s goals and learning domains which is typically found in the Center for Curriculum and Transfer (CCTA) database. The Program’s goals and learning domains must be consistent with and responsive to the demonstrated needs and expectations of the various communities of interest served by the educational program, including, but not limited to: students, graduates, faculty, sponsor administration, employers, transfer partners, key governmental officials, and the public. Program goals and learning domains provide the basis for program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Such goals and learning domains must be compatible with the mission of MCC and the expectations of the communities of interest. Goals and learning domains are based upon the substantiated needs of industry professionals, employers, transfer partners, and the educational needs of the students served by the educational program.

Program Review Training Video

Overview of the Program Review Process

Template

Submission

Please complete your reports (to include review and feedback by the Department Chair) by the end of faculty accountability.

Additional Data Resources

Industry Information and Employment Forecast Web sites

Sample Survey Tools

These surveys were created by the Program Review Committee as examples that could be customized for each program.