Substantial institutional resources are devoted to academic program review on campus, and it is important for all engaged in this effort to have a clear understanding of why we review programs. In addition, successful integration of program review into the overall planning process of the institution depends on a number of factors. The review process must fit the campus environment; it must be supported by the interest and leadership of key personnel; the review polices must be straightforward and must adhere to principles of good practice.

Following are some of the key reasons for engaging in Program Review at CSU:

External

• The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and the Ohio Board of Regents require member institutions to engage in program review.

Internal

• Reviews provide a time for reflection in which the departments undertaking this exercise have an opportunity to carefully observe how their program works and to prioritize their needs based on their strengths and weaknesses.
• Reviews facilitate connections between the most recent developments in the field and programmatic aspirations, and provide faculty and administrators with a sense of stewardship in capitalizing on emerging opportunities.
• Reviews open up opportunities for exploring connections between existing curricular structures of the major within the department, and other disciplines, as well as with political, ethical and social aspects of liberal learning.
• Reviews become an occasion for collective faculty discussions regarding administrative support, rewards, recognition, scholarship in the field, advising, funds for faculty development, space, etc., that can be used for determining strategic direction.
• Departmental reviews provide a basis for University-wide decisions.
• Reviews provide opportunities for external visibility for the unit undergoing review in that the findings often highlight discipline-specific needs and other differences in governance of departments within sciences, humanities and professional programs. These differences help to sensitize the University community in recognizing and addressing unique departmental needs in constructive ways.