Program Assessment and Review Council (PARC)

CHARGE

The Program Assessment and Review Council shall serve as the primary advisory body to the Academic Senate and University administration on matters relating to the assessment and periodic review of graduate and undergraduate academic programs and the planning associated with those programs, including the University's Strategic Planning Process.

The Program Assessment and Review Council is subordinate to the Academic Senate, and, as such, all policies and regulations recommended by the Program Assessment and Review Council shall be presented to the Academic Senate for approval, except for those matters specifically delegated to the Council itself.

The Program Assessment and Review Council shall:

1. Develop and implement the University's policy on the periodic review of academic programs;
2. Recommend policies for the campus on matters related to assessment of University and especially academic programs;
3. Provide advice to University administration on accountability reporting;
4. Periodically report on graduate accountability ;
5. Review and make recommendations to the Academic Senate regarding proposed changes in the Academic Master Plan;
6. Provide regular faculty input on the Strategic Planning Process under University Policy Statement 01-08, Policy on Strategic Planning, and any other campus-wide planning processes that that may occur.

Upon request of the Academic Senate or University Administration, the Council shall nominate members to serve on committees that require the particular expertise of its membership.

Membership

1. Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (or designee)
2. Vice President for Administration and Finance (or designee)
3. Vice President for Student Services (or designee)
4. Program Review and Assessment Coordinator
5. Four (4) tenured or tenure track faculty members from the College of Liberal Arts, two (2) from each of the other Colleges and one (1) from the University Library
6. One (1) lecturer who shall serve for a period of one year
7. One (1) tenured or tenure track student services professional, academic-related
8. One (1) member from the Academic Senate elected by the Academic Senate, who should also be an elected member of the Council if possible ; if an individual with dual membership is not available, the Senator becomes a non-voting member
9. One (1) Department Chair, either an elected member of the Council or a Department Chair appointed by the Senate upon recommendation of the Nominating Committee as a non-voting member if an elected member is not available
10. Two (2) student members, selected by the Associated Students, Inc.

Steering Committee

The Council shall establish a Steering Committee composed of the elected officers of the Council, the Program Review and Assessment Coordinator, and the designee of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Steering Committee shall be responsible for the planning and scheduling of meetings, agenda setting, and transmittal of items to the Academic Senate. The Steering Committee shall also make appointments to Council subcommittees and ad hoc committees, including program review subcommittees, subject to provisions of the policy on program review.

Subcommittees

The Steering Committee may appoint such subcommittees and ad hoc committees it deems necessary to fulfill its charge.

The Council shall select a Council Liaison who will attend Academic Senate meetings and report back to the Council. The Council liaison should be an Academic Senator if possible; if not, the Council shall appoint a member who will become a non-voting member of the Senate.

The Chair of the Program Assessment and Review Council is an ex officio voting member of the Campus Planning Committee and the Resource Planning Process Task Force.