Reviews of existing academic programs ensure that the Berkeley standard of excellence is maintained and that Schools and departments have an opportunity to plan strategically for the future. Program reviews are overseen by the Program Review Oversight Committee (PROC) whose members include faculty, through the participation of five Academic Senate committees and one Senate Liaison, and top campus administrators.  The reviews are coordinated by the office of the Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Facilities (VP-APF).  Reviews take place over an 18 month period, with frequent interaction between PROC, the VP-APF staff and the units under review.  

Academic program reviews are designed to elicit input from faculty, students and staff of the unit under review. Each unit undertakes a self-study, assessing its intellectual agenda, its programmatic goals and resources, and identifying critical challenges and opportunities facing it. The unit is supported in this effort by data provided by the Office of Planning and Analysis. Another key component of the review process is the visit of a carefully selected external review committee, accompanied by the Senate Liaison. The committee writes a report based on its interviews with faculty, students, and staff and relevant review documents provided by the office of the VP-APF. The unit has the opportunity to respond to the committee’s report and to one written by the Senate Liaison. Subsequently, all review documents are submitted to the Academic Senate for the committees’ and DIVCO’s response. Reviews culminate in an outcome letter which delineates action items for units, deans and central administrators, and follow-up is monitored by the office of the Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Facilities. DIVCO and senate reports are distributed to units after the review is completed by the cognizant dean or the VP-APF staff.