Ongoing Program Planning and Review
In 2022-2023, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) gathered representatives from each institution of higher education in the State of West Virginia to develop revised processes aligned with the HEPC’s Series 10 Policy Regarding Program Review and Planning. This policy encourages universities to analyze their programs more frequently and creates more opportunities for timely responses according to resource allocation and trends.
As guided by Series 10, Shepherd University ensures that the quality of its academic programs through a larger-scale program review process, designed to be executed simultaneously (at least every five years) for all academic programs, to allow better alignment of planning and budgeting. In addition, yearly assessments (conducted at the beginning and end of each academic year) are designed to provide focused information about academic programs for consideration by the Office of the Provost and by the HEPC.
Academic Prioritization (Fall 2023)
At the direction of the Shepherd University Board of Governors in Summer 2023, the Office of the Provost conducted a campuswide Academic Prioritization initiative in Fall 2023. All programs were examined simultaneously, using a common set of academic and fiscal data elements for each program.
After careful examination of the preliminary data, distribution of reports to academic units and requests for responses, and many discussions with faculty, chairs/directors, and deans, the Office of the Provost informed the University of the results of the prioritization evaluation and provided recommendations to the President and Board of Governors. After further discussions, the Board of Governors approved a final set of recommendations and directed the Office of the Provost to implement those recommendations.
The full Academic Affairs report and recommendations may be found here: Academic Prioritization: Academic Affairs Recommendations – Revised October 22, 2023.
A summary of the recommendation may be found here: Academic Prioritization Program reduction and/or consolidation summary – Revised October 31, 2023.