Academic Review and Planning Advisory Committee (ARPAC)

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Introduction

At their November 1980 meeting, the c called for the regular review of colleges, schools, and academic units. Since 1981, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ has employed procedures to identify academic program strengths and weaknesses, and to provide constructive options for program development and modification.

The ultimate goal of academic program review is to promote and maintain high-quality academic programs that are administered efficiently, consistent with the institution’s role and mission.

For more information regarding academic program review, see:

  • University of Colorado Boulder Academic Program Review Policy

At ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ, academic program review processes are administeredÌýby the Academic Review and Planning Advisory Committee (ARPAC), and supported by the Program Review teamÌýof the Office of Faculty Affairs.

The Program Review Process

At ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ, some 70+ academic units undergo review over a seven-year period, called a review cycle.

To begin, units undergoing a program review complete two reports: the degree program report and the goal setting exercise.Ìý

  • Degree Program Report -Ìýcomprising (1) an ARPAC-provided data table for each degree program within the unit and (2) a unit-provided summary of strengths, challenges, and goals. This report fulfillsÌý.
  • Goal Setting Exercise - a unit-provided statement of vision and purpose, plus a set of short- and long-term goals and a roadmap toward meeting those goals. The goal setting exercise serves as the main driver of the review. Tools, guidelines, and resources are provided by ARPAC staff.

The external review is an assessment of unit strengths and weaknesses by disciplinary experts from outside of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ. External reviewers are asked to:

  • address the unit’s scope, orientation, and standing, including evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the unit’s curricular offerings and research or scholarly/creative work programs;
  • comment on the unit’s planning goals and progress toward meeting the goals; and
  • provide a broad and comparative perspective.

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As area experts, external reviewers are qualified to apply a specific academic discipline’s perspective to strategic questions and to appraise the unit’s relative standing in the field as well as the currency of its research or scholarly/creative work trajectories.

In lieu of the former internal review process, ARPAC has instituted a new discovery process, which was introduced during the 2022 academic review. The ARPAC discovery process aims to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the goal setting exercise report and determine if additional consideration is needed. The ARPAC unit liaison(s) are tasked with examining the unit’s goal setting exercise report closely and documenting a summary of their findings from the discovery process. Units will have the opportunity to respond to the discovery summary report and revise the goal setting exercise as needed.

The Academic Review and Planning Advisory Committee (ARPAC) works on behalf of the provost to make recommendations for unit improvement. In making its recommendations, ARPAC builds on the analysis and evaluation framework established by all reporting up to that point, including reports from the unit, the liaison discovery summary, and external review committee. ARPAC also addresses and critiques follow-ups submitted by the units, deans, and the provost/other central campus leaders after their reviews.Ìý

In the years following a review, unit leads, deans, or the provost/other central campus leaders submit progress reports to the office of the ARPAC chair(s). Four follow-ups are required in total: two from the unit (years 1 and 3), one from the dean (year 2), and one from the provost/other central campus leaders (year 4).ÌýThe reports describe work completed to implement review recommendations, and also serve as an opportunity for respondents to explain challenges that impede further progress. ARPAC replies to the reports, including to ask for clarifications.

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How is ARPAC formed? Who serves on ARPAC?

ARPAC is composed of tenured faculty members representing the range of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ colleges and schools and the University Libraries. The size of the committee varies depending upon the number of units undergoing review in a given cohort. ARPAC members serve three-year terms, and. The senior vice provost for academic planning and assessment and the vice provost for faculty affairs co-chair ARPAC as non-voting members. The vice chancellor for academic resource management; the senior vice chancellor for leadership support and programming; the dean of the graduate school; the dean of undergraduate education; the vice chancellor for enrollment management; and the dean of the institutes also serve as standing, non-voting members. The co-chairs recruit ARPAC members subject to approval by the provost; ARPAC membership is then shared annually with the Boulder Faculty Assembly (BFA) Executive Committee.

ARPACÌýand external review committees are administratively supported and correspond with the campus out of the Office of Faculty Affairs.

As described by campus policy, the provost convenes ARPAC as the program discontinuance committee when required. The group’s expected role and required work as it relates to program discontinuance can be found on the 2005 campus policy for academic program discontinuance.

How are units/programs categorized into their review groups? Which units will undergo review this year?

As much as possible, program reviews are grouped around shared strategic interests and concerns. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ academic units are grouped into seven major aggregations:

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Physical Sciences and Mathematics
  • Engineering andÌýApplied Science
  • Biological andÌýEnvironmental Sciences
  • Social Sciences/Professional Schools (I)
  • Social Sciences/Professional Schools (II)
  • Professional Schools
  • Academic AffairsÌý

The Physical Sciences and Mathematics cohort will be undergoing program review in fall 2026. For more information:

2026 Program Review Guidelines

ARPAC Final Reports

2023 ARPAC Report

Please contactÌýarpac@colorado.edu with any questions regarding the program review process.Ìý