Student Affairs Program Review
One Year Prior to Review Start Date
August (12 months before Program Review begins):
- SARA notifies AVC and department of upcoming program review.
- AVC/Department Director/Review Team reviews the Program Review Handbook provided by SARA.
- AVC/Department Director reviews CAS standards and any other standards related to their unit that may be considered for the program review
October (10 months before Program Review):
- SARA will schedule a planning meeting with AVC and Department Director. The purpose of this meeting is to provide resources and a detailed overview of the program review process and expectations.
*Note that it is encouraged that the Department Director invite departmental staff to this meeting.
December (8 months before Program Review):
- SARA will schedule a check-in meeting with the AVC and Department Director. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss which standards will be used for the program review and to answer any questions about the program review or program review process. The department director is welcome to invite other staff members to this meeting.
May (3 months before Program Review):
- SARA will schedule an orientation overview meeting with the entire unit and AVC. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a brief review of the program review process and expectations. This meeting will allow for any final questions before beginning the self-study
- Unit/Department/AVC appoints self-study team by the end of May.
June (2 months before Program Review):
- Department Director and AVC identify potential site review team names for the external review.
July (1 month before Program Review):
- Submit potential site review team names to Divisional Director of Student Affairs Research & Assessment
Self-study team begins the self-study report.
Department Director/AVC finalize site review team and schedule site review visit in coordination with AVC and Executive Assistant to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.
For help with understanding the process in paying for your external reviewers, please read and follow the guidelines within the resource, Paying for External Reviewers, which can be found within the appendices of the UNC Charlotte Division of Student Affairs Program Review Handbook and is available for download within the ‘Program Review’ section of the SARA website.
Student Affairs Research & Assessment (SARA) schedules a check-in with the self-study team, Department Director and AVC regarding the self-study progress.
SARA schedules a second check-in with the Self-study team, Department Director and AVC regarding the self-study progress.
November: Self-Study Report Submission
Self-study team submits completed self-study report to AVC and Student Affairs Divisional Director of Research and Assessment.
SARA and AVC reviews self-study and provide feedback to the Self-study team and department director.
Self-study team and Department Director makes any revisions to self-study report using feedback from SARA and/or AVC.
Department Director submits self-study report to site review team (6 weeks in advance of visit).
Department Director and AVC finalizes site visit arrangements.
February: External Reviewers Visit
External Reviewers complete their site visit.
March & April: External Review Report
External Reviewers submit their written report to the Department Director and AVC.
SARA schedules a check-in with the Department Director and AVC to discuss the site review team final report and to prepare for writing the action plan. The department director is welcome to invite other staff members to this meeting.
In response to the External Reviewers, Department Director and self-study team draft an action plan.
SARA schedules the final program review meeting with the Department Director and AVC. The department director is welcome to invite other staff members to this meeting.
August (Year 2): Action Plan
Department implements action plan.
December (Year 2): Action Plan Follow-Up
SARA schedules a mid-year check-in with the Department Director and AVC to discuss progress of implementation of the action plan. The department director is welcome to invite other staff members to this meeting.
May (Year 2): One-Year Progress Report Check-In
SARA schedules end of year check-in with the Department Director and AVC to prepare for the one-year progress report. The department director is welcome to invite other staff members to this meeting.
August-September
Department Director submits a one-year progress report to AVC/Divisional Director of Research & Assessment. SARA schedules a final meeting to discuss the overall program review process and one-year progress report with SARA, Department Director and AVC.
The Division of Student Affairs places a high priority on assessment that leads to service and program improvements for our students and ensures that we are meaningfully contributing to their success. The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) has developed a widely accepted set of professional standards for student affairs programs. The CAS standards may act as benchmarks against which departments assess their operations and performance.
Note: SARA acknowledges that there are professional standards designed for specific areas that may be a better fit than CAS and using those standards will result in a more meaningful program review for the department. Departments that choose to use different professional standards may do so with the approval of their AVC and SARA.
CAS Basics
The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) develops and promulgates standards that enhance the quality of a students total learning experience in higher education. CAS is a consortium of associations in higher education whose representatives achieve consensus on the nature and application of standards that guide the work of practitioners. CAS derives its authority from the prestige and traditional influence of its member associations and from the consensus of those members in establishing requirements for high-quality practice.
CAS Learning and Development Outcomes
Learning outcomes continue to serve as a way to satisfy the increasing demands for accountability in higher education. These statements, meant to identify the aspects of learning experienced by students through engaging with programs, disciplines, or other learning opportunities, are typically paired with assessment techniques in order to effectively measure their magnitude.
CAS Learning & Development Outcomes
CAS National Website
Learn more about the national organization of CAS, the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.