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ADHE Program Review Requirements and Procedures

Academic Program Review at Arkansas State University is conducted in alignment with Arkansas Code §6-61-214, which mandates that the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board (AHECB) regularly review existing academic programs offered by public institutions in the state. These reviews are administered by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) to ensure program quality, viability, and alignment with statewide educational goals.

Overview of State Requirements

Review Cycle and Applicability

  • All academic programs—active and inactive—must undergo external review every 7 to 10 years.
  • Programs that are not program-specific accredited are reviewed by external consultants selected by the institution.
  • Accredited/licensed/state-certified programs follow the review schedule of their accrediting body but must still submit their self-study, evaluation, and institutional response to ADHE.

See: Program Site Visit Schedule for a list of when the non-program-specific accredited/licensed/state-certified programs are scheduled to next have an expert consultant visit the A-State campus.

Purpose of Program Review

  • Evaluate program effectiveness and alignment with institutional goals.
  • Identify areas for improvement and strategic development.
  • Inform decisions related to program continuation, modification, or closure.

Required Documentation

  • A comprehensive self-study report prepared by the institution.
  • A written evaluation from two external reviewers.
  • An institutional response to the reviewers’ findings.
  • All documents must be submitted to ADHE within six weeks of receiving the evaluation.

Reviewer Expectations

  • Institutions must select two out-of-state reviewers with disciplinary expertise.
  • At least one reviewer must conduct a site visit and meet with faculty, students, and administrators.
  • For Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs:
    • One reviewer must be a local industry expert.
    • One must be an out-of-state faculty consultant.

Institutional Response and Follow-Up

  • Institutions may respond to ADHE recommendations in writing or request a meeting.
  • ADHE may require progress reports one, three, or five years after the initial review, depending on the nature of the recommendations.

Consultant Selection, Remuneration, and Reimbursement Procedures

To ensure a smooth and compliant review process, departments must follow these procedures when selecting and compensating external consultants:

Consultant Requirements:

  • ADHE requires two out-of-state consultants per program.
  • Only one is required to conduct an on-campus site visit.
  • The Office of Academic Affairs will work with departments to select appropriate consultants and to decide if more than one consultant should conduct a site visit.

Payment Process:

  • Consultants must submit a completed Procurement Vendor Packet (including IRS W-9) and a signed contract.
  • Payment is processed via requisition after the ADHE External Reviewers Report (with CVs for each consultant) is received.

Stipends:

  • Negotiated by the Office of Academic Affairs.
  • Lead consultants (who travel) receive higher stipends than reader consultants.
  • Stipends may vary based on the number of programs reviewed.

Travel and Lodging:

  • Use Hilton Garden Inn for lodging; reservations should be direct-billed to the department.
  • Consultants pay for travel upfront and are reimbursed by the department via requisition.
  • Mileage reimbursed at the university’s standard rate.
  • Itemized meal receipts are required; alcoholic beverages and non-consultant meals are not reimbursed.
  • Only consultant meals will be paid for by department/college (no spouses or children).
  • Additional meals will need to be covered by the department/college.

Budget Transfers:

  • The department/college will send an itemized list with copies of all receipts to Office of Academic Affairs once all expenses have been paid.
  • Office of Academic Affairs will then do one budget transfer to the department/college to cover all expenses.
  • The department will provide Office of Academic Affairs with the FOAP or multiple FOAPs (supplies or travel) if necessary for Office of Academic Affairs to do the transfer.
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