Executive Policy 5.202 Executive Policy 5.202

Review of Academic Programs

Executive Policy Chapter EP5.202, Review of Academic Programs
Executive Policy EP 5.202
Effective Date: August 2026
Prior Dates Amended: June 1987, June 1983, May 2017
Responsible Office: Vice President for Academic Strategy
Governing Board of Regents Policy 5.201
Review Date: August 2029

1. To direct implementation of Regents Policy 5.201, Section III.C. Review of Programs.


2. To provide for the systematic review and evaluation of all academic programs at the University of Hawai‘i.


3. Objectives of policy
   
   1. To facilitate an evidence-based process of periodic review of all academic programs by faculty, disciplinary experts and administration. This process is designed to reveal strengths and challenges, and ensure program effectiveness with respect to student success, the academic discipline, university policy, and external accreditation standards. The review is intended to examine the extent to which academic programs are meeting their stated objectives and whether these objectives are still relevant in relation to the campus, unit and university missions.
   
   
   2. To establish guidelines and procedures for the preparation and processing of reviews of academic programs.
   
   
   3. To assure the administration and Board of Regents that appropriate follow-up activities are undertaken in response to concerns addressed by the review and that the program review is integrated into the planning and budgetary process of the campus.

1. Academic Program: A structured set of courses and requirements, formally approved by the university at either the system or campus level, which culminates in the awarding of a degree or credit-bearing certificate.


2. Stop-Out: The action of pausing the admission of students while a program is being reevaluated.


3. New Program: A program that is pending an initial program review after its approval by the Board of Regents, President, or President’s designee.

1. Review guidelines and schedule
   
   1. The Chancellors of the four-year institutions and the Vice President for Community Colleges shall develop implementation procedures and schedules appropriate for their campuses.
   
   
   2. All academic programs are subject to review at a minimum of every seventh year for four-year institutions and every fifth year at the community colleges.
   
   
   3. Completed program reviews are archived at each campus and shall be furnished to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy (OVPAS) upon request.


2. Program review includes:
   
   1. A self-study that
      
      1. Is aligned to accreditation standards.
      
      
      2. Addresses at a minimum the guidelines in Appendix A.
      
      
      3. Includes a quantitative profile of program activity (Appendix B) that is used for analysis.
      
      
      4. Involves, as appropriate, students and faculty in the self-study process.
   
   
   2. Review of the self-study by well-qualified internal and/or external reviewers.
   
   
   3. Results that are discussed with administration and result in the preparation of an action plan.
   
   
   4. Results that are integrated in the campus planning and budget process.
   
   
   5. Regular follow-up of results, as needed.


3. Self-study documents that are completed as part of an accreditation review conducted by a federally-recognized accrediting body (including professional accreditation organizations) may be submitted in lieu of the program self-study detailed above.


4. If a program review identifies a need for more thorough examination of specific issues or areas of concern, the appropriate administrative office (dean/chair/director, etc.) will create a plan for addressing the recommendations and submit that plan to the Chief Academic Officer. The unit will develop a mechanism to periodically revisit the program plans to ensure that adequate progress is made on each of the identified areas of concern.


5. The Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy collaborates with the Chief Academic Officers to generate a list of the program reviews completed each academic year and submits a report of this activity annually to the Board of Regents.


6. A review of a program may be undertaken at any time as deemed necessary by the faculty or administration. The Chancellor may, if they determine it appropriate, approve a “stop-out” on admission of new students to a program undergoing a review outside the standard cycle. Such a program shall be identified as “stopped-out” in appropriate publications and web pages. Students already admitted to a program at the time of the stop-out shall be provided with the set of courses required to complete their credential.

The Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy will annually report stop-outs to the Board of Regents. The campuses assume responsibility for informing students, including new applicants, of stop-out actions; and they shall notify partner UH campuses with whom they have articulation agreements related to the program. University admissions documents will be adjusted in as timely a fashion as possible. Stopped-out programs will be retained in the University of Hawai‘i’s official curricula listing, with appropriate notation.


7. A new program approved by the Board of Regents must undergo a program review in alignment with the procedure outlined in EP 5.201 for new programs.

The Chancellors establish a schedule and internal procedures for carrying out the reviews of academic programs.

Chancellors are authorized to approve a “stop-out” of admission to a program.

Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy
Telephone: (808) 956-6897
Email: ovpas@hawaii.edu

None

Appendix A
Appendix B

    President