PROGRAM DISCONTINUANCE REVIEW PROCEDURE

	PROGRAM DISCONTINUANCE REVIEW PROCEDURE	No. 1-14a	Rev.
		Date 7-8-93

I. OVERVIEW

This policy defines the role of the faculty and the Faculty Senate when a program has been recommended for discontinuance or when modifications have been recommended which would adversely or critically affect a program or academic unit.

A. Program or organization unit modification may be initiated by the State Board of Regents, the president, the provost or a vice president, a dean, a department chair, a program director or a group or member of the faculty.

B. Any deliberation related to program or organizational unit modification should involve the following groups or individuals: (a) the faculty of the affected program or academic unit, (b) the chair of the affected unit, (c) an academic dean, (d) the provost, (e) the president and (f) the Faculty Senate.

C. Prior to the institution making a final decision which would severely or adversely affect a program or unit, including modification or discontinuance, the program review procedure described in this policy shall be initiated. The Program Review Committee, as described below, shall conduct the review.

D. The Program Review Committee is to act in an advisory role and its recommendation is to be seen as vital input to the process of program/unit review with the president's decision to be taken as final.

E. Academic programs/units do not have legal rights.

F. Any institutional decision for program or unit modification must be approved by the president.

G. The State Board of Regents must act on any program discontinuation which falls within the purview of the Regents' policies and procedures.

II. REVIEW PROCESS

A. Initiation of Process

This review will occur at the request of any person in an adversely or critically affected academic program/unit. The chair of the Faculty Senate shall establish a date for this review and send written notification of this to the affected program/unit.

B. Program Review Committee Composition

1. The Program Review Committee shall consist of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate and only those additional faculty members selected by the Committee as to ensure voting representation from each organizational unit. The Program Review Committee will be called by the chair of the Faculty Senate. The Committee will then elect its own chair. The chair and vice chair of the Faculty Senate shall serve on the Committee as ex-officio members without vote. The Committee shall consult with the president and provost during the course of its deliberations.

2. Any member of the Program Review Committee who is from an affected entity is ineligible to vote on that case. Only one vote from each organizational unit will be allowed.

3. In the event that any member of the Executive Committee is unable to participate on the Program Review Committee for any reason, a substitute member from the absentee's respective organizational unit shall be selected by the Executive Committee.

C. Review Procedure

1. Participants

a. Persons selected by the affected program/organizational unit who are members of that program/organizational unit.

b. The Program Review Committee.

c. Appropriate resource persons invited by the Committee chair.

2. Members of the affected program/organizational unit will respond to proposed changes.

3. Information pertaining to the case will be sought from appropriate sources.

4. Questions and clarification will be pursued until the Program Review Committee feels satisfactorily informed about the case.

5. Deliberation will occur in closed session by the Program Review Committee with a Committee vote being taken by secret ballot.

6. A recommendation will be made by the Committee based on a majority vote.

7. The Program Review Committee recommendation will be forwarded to the president of the University for his/her consideration.

8. A copy of the Committee recommendations will be forwarded to the affected program/unit.

9. The University president will then prepare a final decision with copies to be sent to the affected program/unit and the Program Review Committee.

D. Timing and Duration

1. The review action is to be a one-time event per case.

2. If academic/unit program review ensues as a result of the strategic planning process (PPM 1-14), adequate time should be allowed for the review and response by the Program Review Committee before a final institutional decision is made which would adversely or critically affect an academic unit or program.

3. The Committee review will be initiated within 15 (fifteen) calendar days after the Faculty Senate chair receives notification of a tentative strategic planning decision for program/unit modification or discontinuance.

4. The review will be conducted as expeditiously as possible so as to not encumber the institutional planning process, interfere with time constraints imposed by external agencies or unduly delay any affected faculty in their adjustments to the proposed changes. Normally, the review process should be conducted and a recommendation forwarded within 15 (fifteen) calendar days from the initiation of the review. The University president's final decision should be completed as expeditiously as possible.