Template Nomination Memo

The Program’s faculty prepare the self-study prior to review. This study provides detailed information about the program and includes an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The self-study is the faculty’s opportunity for self-evaluation and reflection both on historical data (the past five years) as well as a strategic path forward (the next five years). Degree programs are encouraged to commit themselves to specific, long-range planning in the self-study. An analysis of each major section of the self-study helps reviewers put the program data into context within the college and larger institution.

A final draft self-study must be submitted to the dean and Provost’s office two months before the on-site visit.

Programs should follow closely the self-study outline provided on the next page. This outline ensures that key elements required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) are addressed. Previous self-study documents, which may be helpful, can be found at http://apr.tamu.edu. Please note that requirements may have changed since previous self-studies were completed. The APR Coordinator may assist in the self-study process, and the Office of Data and Research Services (DARS) will provide data to be utilized in the self-study.

The degree program’s self-study will be your external review team’s primary source of information. In addition to presenting the information requested in tables, charts, and narratives, the degree program should complete each section with an analysis.

Organize the self-study report according to the order of required items as listed.

Sections of the self-study denoted with * are required by the State of Texas ( see “Characteristics of Texas Doctoral Programs” and Texas Administrative Code Rule § 5.52). Some data are provided by Data and Research Services (DARS) whereas the Program will be have the information related to learning outcomes and assessments or degree program evaluation metrics for faculty performance evaluation. Please contact the APR Coordinator if you need guidance in gathering information.

1. External Review Team Charge
2. Executive Summary of the Self-Study Report (1-2 pages)
3. Introduction to degree program
   • Brief degree program history
   • Mission, strategic plan, goals
   • Administrative structure

   • Degree program appendices

     • Facilities (including space and equipment)
     • Finances
   • External program accreditations (if applicable)*
   • Date of last APR External Review*

   • Analysis

     • Describe how the Program’s strategic plan creates a path forward for excellence.
     • Describe the alignment of the degree program’s strategic goals and priorities with college and institutional goals and priorities. Attach the degree program’s current strategic plan or, if unavailable, the strategic plan for the college.
     • Describe how the curriculum is appropriate for the level and type of degree awarded by the program.
     • List and briefly discuss 1-3 improvements made since the previous APR and describe the results of those improvements.

4. Academic Programs and Curricula

   • Programs Offered.
   • Program curricula (including duration and comparisons to peers).
   • Admissions criteria (doctoral students)*.
   • Number of degrees awarded per year (most recent 5 years).
   • Average time to degree (most recent 5 years).
   • Academic enhancement / high-impact opportunities for students.
   • Assessment of student learning outcomes (all degree levels).
   • Analysis: Briefly discuss improvements made based as a result of the department/program’s assessment of student learning outcomes (all degree levels).

5. Faculty Profile

   • Core faculty defined as appropriately credentialed individuals integral to the program, such as those who teach courses, mentor students, or serve on committees

     • Number of core faculty*
     • Core faculty / student ratio*
     • Publications (most recent 5 years)*
     • External grants (most recent 5 years)*
     • Teaching load*

   • Faculty other than core (as defined above)

     • Number
     • Faculty / student ratio
     • Publications
     • External grants
     • Teaching load
   • Faculty diversity*
   • Faculty qualifications (i.e., expected qualifications for faculty hired by the degree program).
   • Analysis: Is the number of full-time faculty members adequate to support the mission of the institution and to ensure the quality and integrity of its academic programs? Using the degree program’s standards (i.e., Departmental/Program Evaluation Metrics for faculty teaching, research, and service as submitted to the provost, as well as other relevant data such as annual reviews and Academic Analytics or other benchmark services), discuss the faculty’s overall performance.

6. Student Profile

   • Doctoral, Masters, and Baccalaureate

     • Enrollment, including % of full-time students*
     • Student diversity / demographics
     • Retention rates
     • Number of degrees per year*
     • Graduation rates*
     • Average time to degree (most recent 5 yeas)*
     • Average institutional financial support provided*
     • % of full-time students with institutional financial support*
     • Student publications / presentations (most recent 5 years)*
     • Employment profile (in field within one year of graduation; most recent 5 years)*
   • Analysis: Discuss the degree program’s contribution to the land grant mission of the university as described in the strategic plan. Discuss the degree program’s progress and efforts related to retention, time to degree, degrees awarded, and placement upon graduation as specified in the institution’s strategic plan.
7. Concluding Observations

8. Appendix

   • Faculty CVs (abbreviated versions are preferred)
   • Institutional Profile (Official documentation will be provided by the Office of the Provost that includes a letter from the President, the SACSCOC institutional summary, and the most recent SACSCOC financial profile).

Data provided will cover the most recent 5-year period, and will include the information summarized below. Note that some reports will vary based on structure of degree program as well as the quality of data available.

Student Data

• Student enrollment by degree program (by semester and academic year)
• Student demographics (gender, ethnicity, domestic vs international) by level (by semester and academic year)
• Average SAT/GRE scores and GPA for enrolled students by level; also compared to the average for the affiliated academic college (by semester and academic year)
• Degrees awarded by degree program (DARS will attempt to pull by semester and academic year)
• Number of applied/admitted/enrolled students for degree program by degree program and by level (fall semesters only)
• Average time to degree by degree program (by academic year)
• Average retention rates by degree program (by academic year)
• First time in college by Texas high school

Faculty Data

• Average annual faculty salary by rank (by academic year converted to nine- month salaries); this will include full-time faculty only and will be divided among tenured/tenure-track individuals and non-tenure-track individuals
• Average faculty salary by rank relative to TAMU, and relative to peer institutions comparable degree programs; this will include full-time faculty only
• Faculty demographics (gender, ethnicity, age) by rank (divided by full time and part-time)
• Teaching load per faculty rank by level (by academic year)
• Faculty to student ratio; also compared to other degree programs within the affiliated academic college (fall semesters only, using STAR-Semester Teaching Analysis Report created by DARS)

Other Data

• Semester credit hours taken by major (regardless of degree program) by level (by semester and academic year).
• Semester credit hours taught in degree program courses (regardless of major of student taking the course) by level (by semester and academic year).
• Courses taken by major
• History of courses taught
• Outside-degree program students by gender and level
• Outside-degree program students summary by gender and level

External reviewers arrive in College Station on Sunday afternoon and depart Wednesday afternoon. The site visit consists of Entry/Exit Interviews with the APR Administrative Team, various meetings with the dean of the college (or designee), DH/PC, faculty members, and students, and tours of degree program facilities. Below is a sample itinerary. This is a suggested itinerary and is flexible with the exception of the breakfasts that are scheduled by the APR Coordinator.

Sample Itinerary

Transportation

The degree program is responsible for arranging all transportation for the external review team. Transportation should be arranged at least two months prior to the review to help defray costs. Arrival time should be scheduled for reviewers to attend a welcome dinner Sunday evening and depart after lunch on Wednesday. Degree programs should book flights using standard administrative business practice. Reviewers are at liberty to schedule their own flights as long as they travel economy class and do not exceed $600. Reimbursement will be provided after receipt of the external review team’s final report. Arrangement of one rental car for the review team is allowed if needed. The degree program is also responsible for escorting the external review team to and from Easterwood Airport.

Meals

The degree program is responsible for arranging lunches, dinners, and the reception for the external review team. Meals should be arranged approximately one month prior to the visit. Meals should not be extravagant and should be fiscally responsible. Any expenses for alcohol will be covered by the degree program. See “Sample Itinerary” for more specifics regarding meal arrangements and note the different options to be utilized for lunches. The APR Coordinator is responsible for arranging breakfasts.

Lodging

Lodging is arranged by the APR Coordinator.

The Provost’s Office will subsidize some of the expenses incurred by the degree program. The APR Coordinator will request a 02 account during the month of August prior to the APR cycle. Funds will be transferred into the account to be used by the degree program at their discretion.

Expenses covered by the degree program

	Estimated Expense
Self Study Report Copying, binding, mailing costs, however, it is recommended this document be shared electronically	$100
Airfare	$600 per reviewer
Rental Car Expenses for one rental car for the use of the team if necessary	$135
Welcome Dinner Welcome Dinner with review team, DH/PC and degree program representatives/committee (size of delegation to join review team is at DH/PC's discretion)	$250
Degree Program Reception	$400
Meals During Review Lunches and Dinners	$200

Expenses paid by the Provost's Office

To be paid/reimbursed once the external review team's final report is received in the Provost's Office

ERT Professional Fee	$1500 per reviewer
ERT Reimbursements Any expenses incurred by the ERT member such as parking, mileage, rental car (if needed) from IAH or Austin to College Station, and meals during travel. NO ALCOHOL

Lodging and breakfast will be coordinated and paid by the Provost's Office.

Once the external review team completes the site visit, and based on state reporting requirements, the Chair has 21 days to transmit the final report to the Provost and Executive Vice President.

The Response Document

The APR Coordinator will forward the external review team’s final report to the degree program, the college, and other relevant parties upon receipt. The degree program has 30 days to provide a draft written response on the external review team’s report to the dean. During this time, the DH/PC will share the response with the faculty and provide the opportunity for input and discussion. The degree program will then submit the report to the college dean. The college will then have 30 days to submit the final degree program response to the APR Coordinator.
The degree program must address all recommendations identified in the external review team’s report. If the external review team has made a recommendation with which the degree program disagrees, that too should be addressed in the response.
Note that the response must be a stand-alone document such that individuals could read the response without having seen the self-study or the external review team’s final report. Therefore, the recommendations shall be extracted verbatim and copied into the response. For example:

1. Recommendation: XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Degree program response: xxxxxxxxxx.
Action item: xxxxxxx. (Including, as appropriate, implementation, action plan and timing).

Post-Review Meeting and Reporting

The goal of the post-review process is continuing institutional improvement as a result of the APR. Post- review consists of a post-review meeting, submission of an institutional response, and submission of both 1-year and 5-year status reports.

THE POST-REVIEW MEETING

The post-review meeting is held within 90 days after the site visit. This meeting is led by the DH/PC and attended by the APR Administrative Team and the college dean (or designee). With prior approval, the DH/PC may invite other degree program or college personnel as appropriate. The post-review meeting provides the DH/PC the opportunity to present and discuss the Degree Program Response and the proposed actions based on the external review. The APR Administrative Team, college dean, and DH/PC will subsequently reach consensus on what actions are to be taken.

Final Report

Institutional Response

The outcomes of the Post-Review meeting, as well as the degree program response, will be outlined in the Institutional Response. The Institutional Response includes actions to be taken and discussion of any resources necessary for implementing the plan. The Provost’s Office will submit the Institutional Response to the THECB as required.

1 Year Status Report

Approximately one year after the site visit, the degree program submits to the Provost, through the dean, a 1-Year Status Report addressing actions taken as discussed in the Post-Review meeting and the Executive Summary. The Provost forwards the 1-year status report to the external review team for their information.

5 Year Status Report

Approximately five years after the site visit, the degree program sends to the Provost, through the dean, a status report on actions taken and results of changes implemented as a result of APR as outlined in the Institutional Response.

2019	2012	AGEC	Agricultural Economics
2017	2010	ALEC	Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communication
2018	2011	ANSC	Animal Science
	2015	BAEN	Biological & Agricultural Engineering
2021	2014	BCBP	Biochemistry & Biophysics
	2015	ENTO	Entomology
	2015	ESSM	Ecosystem Science and Management
	2004	FRSC	Forest Science
2020	2013	HORT	Horticultural Sciences
	2017	MGsc	Master of Geoscience
	2016	NFSC	Nutrition and Food Science
2018	2011	PLPM	Plant Pathology and Microbiology
	2003	POSC	Poultry Science
	2013	RPTS	Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Science
	2016	SCSC	Soil and Crop Sciences
	2017	WFSC	Wildlife and Fisheries Science

2019

OBIO

Oral Biology

2020	2013	EAHR	Education Administration and Human Resource Development
2019	2011	EPSY	Educational Psychology
	2015	HLKN	Health and Kinesiology
2018	2010	TLAC	Teaching, Learning, and Culture

2018	2011	AERO	Aerospace Engineering
	2015	BMEN	Biomedical Engineering
2018	2010	CHEN	Chemical Engineering
2019	2012	CVEN	Civil Engineering
2017	2012	CSCE	Computer Science and Engineering
	2016	ECEN	Electrical and Computer Engineering
	2016	IDIS	Industrial Distribution
2021	2014	ISEN	Industrial and Systems Engineering
	2019	ITDE	Iterdisciplinary Engineering
2020	2013	MEEN	Mechanical Engineering
	2015	NUEN	Nuclear Engineering
	2018	OCEN	Ocean Engineering
2021	2014	PETE	Petroleum Engineering

2017	2009	ATMO	Atmospheric Science
2019	2012	GEOG	Geography
2017	2009	GEOL, GEOP	Geology and Geophysics
	2016	OCNG	Oceanography
	2015	ENVP	Environmental Programs

2021	2013	ANTH	Anthropology
	2015	COMM	Communication
	2016	ECON	Economics
	2016	ENGL	English
2017	2010	HISP	Hispanic Studies
	2010	HIST	History
	2019	INTS	International Studies
	2014	PERF	Performance Studies
2017	2008	PHIL	Philosophy
	2015	POLS	Political Science
	2010	PSYC	Psychology
	2014	SOCI	Sociology
	2016	WGST	Women's and Gender Studies

	2020	EDHP	Education for Healthcare Professional
			Medical Science

2015	2008	BIOL	Biology
2020	2012	CHEM	Chemistry
	2009	MATH	Mathematics
	2016	PHYS	Physics
	2015	STAT	Statistics

	2018	BIMS	Biomedical Science
2019	2012	BIMS	Biomedical Science (Graduate)
2020	2013	STJR	Science and Technology Journalism
	2001	VIBS	Veterinary Integrative Biomedical Science
		VLCS	Veterinary Large Animal Clinical Science
	2009	VPAT	Veterinary Pathobiology
		VTPP	Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacy
	2019	VPHE	Veterinary Public Health Epidemiology
		VSCS	Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Science

2017

2008

INTA

International Affairs

	2012	AGRI	Agribusiness
	2017	BIOT	Biotechnology
		-	Engineering Systems Management
		ENST	Environmental Studies
	2010	FSTC	Food Science and Technology
2021	2014	GENE	Genetics
	2016	MARB	Marine Biology
2018	2012	MSEN	Materials Science and Engineering
2021	2014	MEPS	Molecular and Environmental Plant Science
	2017	NRSC	Neuroscience
	2000	NUTR	Nutrition
		SPSC	Spatial Sciences
	2015	TOXI	Toxicology
		-	University Studies
2020	2012	WMHS	Water Management and Hydrological Science

2018

HRSA

Health Services Research

	2017	MARB	Marine Biology
	2015	MARM	Marine Resource Management
	2019	MARA	Maritime Administration
	2018	MAST	Maritime Studies
	2021	MART	Maritime Transportation