The program review process at Portland State University is designed to enhance planning within and among academic units to effectively use campus resources and advance university priorities.

Review process articulates and measures objectives

Program review combines assessment, enrollment management, external and professional accreditation review, and strategic budget decision making and planning. The following principles guide the process.

• Articulate goals and objectives in academic units in relation to university's priorities.
• Institute a regular process of internal and external review of qualitative and quantitative information about program activities.
• Demonstrate achievements.
• Measure outcomes for program improvement.

Common criteria for program review are derived from existing documents related to university priorities and performance.

Accreditation requirements set review schedule

Most academic units already engage in regular program review in conjunction with professional accreditation. The PSU review process builds on existing accreditation requirements as much as possible, with particular attention to the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Offices of the deans and the provost use the accreditation schedule as a major marker in a summative self-study and review process.

Coordinating self-study and program review with accreditation requirements makes sense if only for the reduced workload for an accreditation visit. Annual reviews allow academic units to track progress as it happens. Most of the necessary information is readily available to satisfy accreditation requirements.