The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) requires all academic programs at Illinois public institutions to complete a thorough evaluation at least once every eight years, and it requires new programs to undergo evaluation after its first three years. The IBHE Program Review is an essential process for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of academic programs. It involves evaluating program goals, learning outcomes, resources, and overall impact on students.
Program Review Self-Studies are reviewed and approved at multiple levels before they are submitted to IBHE. At each stage, a memo is drafted, approved, and signed to ensure that faculty and administrators agree on the recommendations for the program going forward.
Level 1:
Program
Level 2:
CCC
Level 3:
Dean's Office
Level 4:
Provost's Office
Level 5:
IBHE
The table below provides an overview of the process and the deadlines for submitting materials to the College Curriculum Committee (CCC), the Dean's Office, and the Provost’s Office. The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE), the Associate Provost of Student Success and Undergraduate Education (APSSUE), and the Vice Provost/Director of Graduate Education (VPGE) also participate in the process.
| What | Who | When |
|---|---|---|
| Unit notification of program review timeline for applicable programs; program review data provided | OIRE | By April of the preceding year |
| Informational meetings regarding self-study (optional) | Academic Unit and OIRE | April of preceding year through March |
| Completed self-study sent to CCC | Academic Unit | By March 31 |
| CCC reviews self-study; drafts and signs memo of support / concerns / recommendations; forwards with completed self-student to College Dean | CCC | By April 30 |
| College Dean reviews self-study and CCC memo; drafts and signs memo of support / concerns / recommendations; forwards with completed self-study and CCC memo to Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (oire@uis.edu) | Dean's Office | By May 31 |
| APSSUE/VPGE reviews self-study, CCC memo, and Dean's memo; drafts Program Review Report for IBHE and a Memo of Understanding (MOU); discusses with Provost | Provost's Office | By July 31 |
| MOU review by UEO | Academic Unit | By August 15 |
| MOU signed by UEO, Dean, and Provost | Academic Unit, Dean's Office, and Provost's Office | By August 31 |
| Program Review Report submitted to IBHE | Provost's Office | By Septermber 30 |
Program Review Self-Study Guidelines
- Eight-Year Program Review Self-Study Guidelines
- Three-Year Program Review Self-Study Guidelines
- Minor Program Review Self-Study Guidelines
- Graduate Certificate Review Self-Study Guidelines
- Non-Academic Unit & Center Self-Study Guidelines
Program Review Resources
- Program Review Schedule (A revised schedule will be posted Spring 2026)
- Fall 2024 Program Review CFE Presentation
- Levels of Governance and Administrative Approval Chart