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Academic Program and Discipline Review
Announcement for Academic Program and Discipline Review (APDR)
In Spring 2022 and Summer 2022, Office of Strategic Insights (OSI) listened to feedbacks from Administrative Council members and faculty teams regarding planning and assessment efforts at NOVA. We thank everyone who was engaged in discussions and providing valuable insights to improve planning and assessment at NOVA.
Academic programs and disciplines that are currently engaged in Academic Program and Discipline Review (APDR)* will provide their progress and let OSI know their decision to finish the current review or start a new review in the next Fall semester, Fall 2023. Going forward, academic programs and disciplines will report every three years.
| Update | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Academic Programs and Disciplines currently in the pipeline (see table below) | Continue reporting |
| Year 1: Academic Programs and Disciplines to be Reviewed in 2023-24 | To be announced |
| Year 2: Academic Programs and Disciplines to be Reviewed in 2024-25 | To be announced |
| Year 3: Academic Programs and Disciplines to be Reviewed in 2025-26 | To be announced |
| Revised Template | To be announced |
| Detailed Schedule | To be announced |
| Academic Program and Discipline Review Training Schedule | To be announced |
| Academic Programs and Disciplines | Kick-off |
|---|---|
| Accounting, A.A.S. | Restarted Fall 2020 |
| Engineering, A.A. | Fall 2019 |
| Liberal Arts: Communication Studies Specialization, A.A. | Fall 2020 |
| Science: Mathematics Specialization, A.S. | Fall 2021 |
| Interior Design, A.A.S. | Restarted Fall 2021 |
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Anita Dubey.
Academic Program and Discipline Review (APDR)
Academic Program and Discipline Review (APDR) is a systematic, comprehensive evaluation of academic programs and disciplines, led by the faculty with administrative support. The purpose of the APDR process is to evaluate the effectiveness and progress of academic programs and disciplines and to identify the future direction, needs, and priorities of those programs and disciplines. The goal of APDR is to establish an agreed-upon action plan for further development of the academic program and discipline. A systematic APDR process ensures excellence in program and discipline’s quality and is supported by the Southern Association of College and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).
All degree programs at NOVA (along with their related certificates and career studies certificate), as well as “stand-alone” certificates, career studies certificates, and disciplines, are to be reviewed according to a periodic schedule. Office of Strategic Insights, in consultation with the Pathway Provosts and Pathway Deans, coordinates the schedule of reviews and notifies programs when they are scheduled for review. The Program Review Evaluation occurs as follows:
- Degree programs, certificates, and career studies certificates are evaluated every three years.
- Disciplines are evaluated every three years.
- Programs accredited or approved by external agencies (e.g., nursing) are reviewed on their professional accreditation cycle.
NOVA’s APDR process is outcomes-based, data-driven, user-friendly, and comprehensive. An electronic template is provided to the faculty teams with data on key components of the program or discipline, including the program or discipline’s ’s enrollment, viability, student success, student learning, labor market analysis, etc. Faculty teams provide evidence-based analysis which leads to action plans to improve the program or discipline.
Administrative support for APDR is provided by the Office of Strategic Insights (OSI) and other appropriate College units.