
A periodic review of each University of Oregon (UO) degree program is essential to maintaining excellence and continuous improvement of our academic programs. In 2022, the University of Oregon launched a revised Decennial Program Review process - a streamlined, mission driven approach that is integrated with UO Annual Assessment in a new Program Assessment framework.
Goals:
The goal of Program Assessment is to help programs and departments reflect on performance and promote continuous improvement particularly in areas on student learning and achievement and with a focus on closing equity gaps where they exist.
As part of this framework, Decennial Program Review focuses on central institutional values and priorities, and drives program improvement. It is a 10-year review process that results in the creation of unit goals, objectives and an implementation plan - with a requirement that at least one goal be focused on student achievement, particularly closing equity gaps where they exist. This and other teaching and learning goals are integrated into Annual Assessment, allowing units to track progress towards their goals overtime.
The links to student success, diversity, and equitable practices are particularly centered in the program review process and are grounded in data, including new student equity dashboards that allow units to identify course level equity gaps and set meaningful goals. Our approach will ensure that the University of Oregon continues to excel as a world-class research, teaching and learning institution while continuously working towards equitable student achievement.
Highlights:
- A renewed focus on the institutional mission and rationale for curriculum.
- Alignment with the University’s vision for the next generation of student success- identifying student achievement equity gaps and creating goals and plans for improvement.
- Development of measurable goals that will be part of annual assessment, or tracked internally at the college and school level, bringing a continuous improvement approach to the program review.
- A focus on equity in assigning, supporting and recognizing service within a program/department.
Deliverables:
- Self-Study Report
- External or Internal Review Report
- Goal Setting and Implementation Plan Report
Program Review Process
There are three types of program review, and each undergoes a slightly different program review process. The type of program review in which your unit will engage can be found in the Decennial Program Review Schedule.
Program Review Type | Eligibility | Type of Reviewers | Report type | PROGRAM REVIEW Timeline |
---|---|---|---|---|
Program Review with External Reviewers | Departments and programs that grant major degrees and the majority of the degrees do not undergo the same specialized professional accreditation | Reviewers selected from external institutions | Self-study report |
10-year cycle with updates on student learning and achievement goals in annual assessment |
Program Review with Internal Reviewers | Departments and programs that do not have major degrees and the majority of the degrees do not undergo specialized professional accreditation | Reviewers selected internally from the University of Oregon | Self-study report |
10-year cycle with updates on student learning and achievement goals in annual assessment |
Program Review with Specialized Accreditation |
Departments and programs that grant degrees of which the majority undergo the same specialized professional accreditation | Specialized accreditation review committee | Modified self-study report with UO supplemental information | Specialized accreditation cycle with updates on student learning and achievement goals in annual assessment |

Program Review Schedule
See the full timeline of when all units will undergo a decennial program review. The schedule includes the type of review and links to the units' SharePoint folders.
► Check out the Program Review Schedule
► Learn how to access your SharePoint folder
Program Review Timeline
Units undergoing program review with internal or external reviewers will follow the 23-month timeline outlined below. There are three phases of the process:
- Phase 1: Self-Study Report (Blue)
- Phase 2: External/Internal Review Report (White)
- Phase 3: Goal Setting and Implementation Plan Report (Green)
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JAN
Unit receives program review notification letter
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FEB
Unit attends Decennial Program Review workshop
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Feb 28
Standard data sets are available in unit SharePoint folders
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MAR 19
Unit submits survey to request library data
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MAR 19
Unit submits External/Internal Review Committee (ERC/IRC) Member Identification Qualtrics Survey.
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Mar - Dec
ERC/IRC members are selected, visit dates are scheduled, a visit schedule is created.
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Jun 1
Library data sets are uploaded to unit SharePoint
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DEC 5
Self-Study Report is submitted to unit dean for review
Self-Study Informational Form Qualtrics Survey is completed
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DEC 15
Self-Study Report uploaded to unit SharePoint by the dean or designee
Self-Study Informational Form uploaded to unit SharePoint by the OtP
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FEB - May
ERC/IRC site visits
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4 WEEKS AFTER ERC/IRC SITE VISIT
ERC/IRC draft report uploaded to unit SharePoint
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2 WEEKS AFTER RECEIPT OF ERC/IRC REPORT
Unit completes ERC/IRC report corrections of fact
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2 WEEKS AFTER CORRECTIONS OF FACT
Office of the Provost finalizes ERC/IRC report
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Upon Completion of Final ERC/IRC Report
Unit dean or designee meets with the Office of the Provost to discuss unit goals
Unit dean or designee works with unit heads to develop the Goal Setting and Implementation Plan
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Nov 1
Draft Goal Setting and Implementation Plan uploaded to the unit SharePoint folder by dean or designee
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DEC 15
Goal Setting and Implementation Plan finalized by OtP in consultation with unit dean and/or designee
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Following Decennial Program Review
Student learning goals, student achievement goals, and program learning outcomes are pre-populated in unit annual assessment templates for the following year.
Other goals are integrated into the school or college strategic plan or other internal accountability process.
Forms and Guidance Documents
There are two cohorts actively engaged in Decennial Program Review at all times. The Office of the Provost is committed to continuous improvement of our process, including updates to forms and guidance documents as we receive feedback. Thus each active cohort has a unique set of forms and guidance documents included in this section. The cohort name is differentiated by the two calendar years in which the review occurs. To identify which years your unit is scheduled refer to the Decennial Program Review Schedule.
Forms and Guidance Documents 2022-2023 Cohort:
► Self-Study Outline 2022-2023
► Self-Study Informational Form 2022-2023
► External Review Committee (ERC) Member Selection Guidance Document 2022-2023
► External Review Committee Member Identification Qualtrics Survey 2022-2023
► External Review Committee (ERC) Visit and Report Guidance 2022-2023
► Internal Review Committee (IRC) Visit and Report Guidance 2022-2023
► Goal Setting and Implementation Plan Guidance 2022-2023
Forms and Guidance Documents 2023-2024 Cohort:
►Decennial Program Review Workshop Slide Deck 2023-2024
► Roles and Responsibilities Guidance 2023-2024
► Self-Study Outline 2023-2024
► Self-Study Informational Form 2023-2024
► External Review Committee (ERC) Member Selection Guidance 2023-2024
► Internal Review Committee (IRC) Member Selection Guidance 2023-2024
► External/Internal Review Committee (ERC/IRC) Member Identification Qualtrics Survey 2023-2024
► Survey to Request Library Data 2023-2024
► External Review Committee (ERC) Visit and Report Guidance 2023-2024
► Internal Review Committee (IRC) Visit and Report Guidance 2023-2024
► Goal Setting and Implementation Plan Guidance 2023-2024