University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus Deanship of Academic Affairs Office of Academic Planning Undergraduate Program Review Project Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Summary of First Cycle The Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project began in 2000 with funding by a Title V project. Since its inception, the Project has involved not only the seventy four (74) undergraduate academic programs active during the first cycle, but also nine (9) academic departments that offer service courses also participated. This project was particularly significant due to the fact that a large number of programs had not made revisions in many years. Therefore, program review initiated an in depth reflection process that resulted in new/revised definitions of the mission, vision and intended student learning outcomes statements. These new statements have been the product of consensus among faculty and student representatives. The review process also includes data gathering and information analysis to determine strengths, as well as areas that require improvement. The new/revised definitions of the mission, vision and student learning outcomes, paved the way for the elaboration of proposals for the implementation of the Campus Bachelor s revision, as well as the definition of plans for the evaluation of student learning. The programs final program review report includes nine (9) areas: Mission of the program (includes goals and objectives), teaching curriculum, students (includes the intended student learning outcomes definition), faculty, service to the community, physical facilities and equipment, administration of the program, budget, and planning. In addition, programs generated a development/action plan that summarized the key findings of the evaluation process, stated the actions needed to achieve the stated goals and address problem areas identified. It also contained a timetable for their implementation. Initially, participation in the Program Review Project was voluntary. In 2004 05 the Dean of Academic Affairs institutionalized the evaluation process making it mandatory for all undergraduate programs with a cycle of seven (7) years. In 2006 07, the Board of Trustees of the University of Puerto Rico established a new procedure and guidelines for the periodic evaluation of all academic programs, undergraduate and graduate. This new procedure is stated in Certification 43 (2006 07) which specifies an evaluation cycle of five (5) years and completing the evaluation process in one academic year. As a result, data by program was published since 2006 in a Program Factbook in the OPA Web page (http://opa.uprrp.edu/pls/opaweb/datosporprogramas) and the guidelines for program evaluation were revised. The new materials are being used in the second cycle of undergraduate program revision starting in 2009. In summary, of the seventy four (74) active undergraduate programs during the first cycle, twenty four (24) programs have professional accreditation which encompasses a systematic and periodic program review process and thus they comply with the Campus and Certification 43 program review requirements. Therefore, the remaining fifty (50) undergraduate programs were under the Undergraduate Program Review Project. Of these, 39 (78%) completed the process and 11 (18%) integrated review with the parallel process of curricular revision of the Bachelor degree, thus encompassing the major aspects of program evaluation. See Tables 1 and 2. Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 1
The review process has become an important part of the Campus academic dynamics. Many faculty members have expressed that they see the evaluation process as an empowering instrument that prompts democratic participation and channels the demands and needs of the departments. Valid and reliable statistical information has been provided to the programs, allowing them to integrate it into their academic planning and nourishing the culture of assessment. Furthermore, a Campus process has been institutionalized that promotes intra program interactions; a new sense of shared ownership for program learning objectives is growing among faculty. Undergraduate Academic Programs Tables 1 and 2 show a summary of academic program participation by College/School. It should be noted that some programs with professional accreditation actively participated in the Project, completing all steps. Table 1. Summary of the first cycle of the undergraduate academic program review College Programs Programs that completed the evaluation through the Undergraduate Program Review Project Business Administration 9 Natural Sciences 5 Social Sciences 9 Education 7 Communications 3 General Studies 1 Humanities 5 Total 39 Accredited programs Education 20 Natural Sciences 2 Architecture 1 Social Sciences 1 Total 24 Programs that did not complete the process Business Administration 2 Humanities* 9 Total 11 TOTAL 74 * The College of Humanities pioneered the curricular revision process instead and carried out an alternative evaluation equivalent in most areas. Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 2
Table 2. Summary of the first cycle of the undergraduate academic program review by Academic Program College Programs that completed the evaluation through the Undergraduate Program Review Project Business Administration 9 Statistics Geeneral Program Accounting Office Systems Administration Office Administration Finance Operations Management Marketing Management Human Resources Management Natural Sciences 5 Physics Mathematics General Program Environmental Sciences Biology Social Sciences 9 Anthropology General Program Political Science Cooperativism Economy Geography Psychology Sociology Labor Relations Education 7 Industrial Arts Industrial Vocational Secondary Education Spanish Education Recreation Business Education Secretarial Program Business Education General Family Ecology Extension Communications 3 Information and Journalism Public Relations and Advertising Programs Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 3 39
College Audiovisual Communication General Studies 1 General Studies Bachelor s Degree Humanities 5 Accredited programs English Language and locution in English Comparative Literature Interdisciplinary Studies Drama Education 20 Family Ecology with a concentration in Pre School Education Elementary Education with a concentration in Elementary Education (K 3) Elementary Education with a concentration in Elementary Education (4 6) Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education Elementary Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Spanish Speakers Secondary Education with a concentration in Biology Secondary Education with a concentration in Science Secondary Education with a concentration in Physical Education Secondary Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Spanish Speakers Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies Secondary Education with a concentration in Physics Secondary Education with a concentration in History Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics Secondary Education with a concentration in Chemistry Natural Sciences 2 Chemistry Computer Science Architecture 1 Environmental Design Social Sciences 1 Social Work Programs 24 Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 4
College Programs that did not complete the process 11 Business Administration 2 Computerized Information Systems Economics Humanities* 9 Modern Languages French Art History Music History of Europe History of the Americas Hispanic Studies Philosophy Art TOTAL 74 Programs * The College of Humanities pioneered the curricular revision process instead and carried out an alternative evaluation equivalent in most areas. Academic Departments that Only Offer Service Courses The following academic departments that only offer service courses also carried out an evaluation following the guidelines of the Undergraduate Program Review Project: Table 3. Academic departments of that only offer service courses that participated in the Project College Academic Departments Business Administration 2 Business Communications in Spanish Business English General Studies 6 Physical Sciences Biological Sciences Social Sciences Humanities English Spanish Adult Education Experimental 1 Project Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 5
College TOTAL 9 Academic Departments Second Cycle Schedule The second program review cycle, starting in 2009, comprises a five year period that culminates in 2013 14 with 70 programs. It now follows directives established by Board of Trustees Certification 43 (2006 07). Revised guides and forms have been adjusted to the new process. Table 4. Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project - Second cycle schedule 2009 2010 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Bachelor of Office Systems Administration COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES Bachelor of Science General Bachelor of Computer Science COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Political Science Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Geography Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Social Work COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Family Ecology with a concentration in Pre School Education Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a concentration in Elementary Education (K 3) Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a concentration in Elementary Education (4 6) Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a concentration in Special Education Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Spanish Speakers Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Biology Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Science Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Physical Education Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Spanish Speakers Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Physics Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in History Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 6
Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Chemistry COLLEGE OF GENERAL STUDIES Bachelor of Arts in General Studies TOTAL 21 2010-2011 COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Economics (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Statistics (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Management (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration General (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Information Systems (BBA) COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Anthropology Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Economics Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Social Sciences General Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Psychology Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Labor Relations Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Sociology COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Family Ecology with a concentration in Agricultural Extension Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Art Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Technology Education Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Family Ecology Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Business Education General Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Business Education Secretarial Program Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Occupational Education Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Spanish Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Music Bachelor of Arts in Education with a concentration in Recreation Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Theatre Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 7
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication with a concentration in Audiovisual Communication Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising Bachelor of Arts in Public Communication with a concentration in Information and Journalism TOTAL 29 COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES 2011-2012 Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Arts, emphasis areas: General, Photography, Engraving, Drawing, Sculpture, and Painting Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Art History Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Drama Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Hispanic Studies Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Interdisciplinary Studies Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Philosophy Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in European History Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in History of the Americas Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in English Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Linguistics and Communication Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Modern Languages Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Comparative Literature Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Music TOTAL 13 2012-2013 COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES Bachelor of Environmental Design Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Biology Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Environmental Sciences Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Physics Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Mathematics Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Chemistry COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics TOTAL 7 Undergraduate Academic Program Review Project Page 8