The most wonderful time of the year is here – a time for friends, family, and being thankful. This is the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up on some good reading. We picked out ten articles on academic program evaluation that you don’t want to miss.
What Is an Academic Program Evaluation Process?
By Robert Atkins
An academic program evaluation process is data-informed, transparent, collaborative, and intensive when done correctly. Having a strong analytical foundation and a clear, inclusive process for program evaluation leads to better decisions, strengthens relationships across the campus, and is consistent with the principles of shared governance.
Why Do You Need a Program Evaluation System (PES)?
By Robert Atkins
A sound Program Evaluation System (PES) marshals the data, software, people, and decision-making processes that enable fast, well-informed, and broadly supported program decisions. Several of the largest and most successful participants in higher education now use a Program Evaluation System (PES) to guide their program decisions.
The Multiple Dimensions of Program Evaluation
By Mary Ann Romans
When planning your academic program portfolio, labor data is indeed important, but your market data should not only include labor market demand. A successful academic program evaluation is not based on one dimension of data. The fallacy of that has gotten many schools into trouble.
BLS Labor Market Forecasts: A Weak Foundation for Academic Program Evaluation
By Robert Atkins
When evaluating current and new academic programs, community colleges usually focus on the needs of employers, in particular local employers. and fuels local economic growth.
Determining Market Saturation for Academic Programs
By Robert Atkins
Higher education is becoming more competitive, but there are still many opportunities for growth – if you know how to look for them. One secret is distinguishing between competition, which is ubiquitous, and market saturation, which is rare.
How to Manage Curricular Efficiency
By Robert Atkins
In an excerpt from Start, Stop, or Grow, Robert Atkins discusses curricular efficiency, which measures, manages, and improves the units of education that can be delivered for a given amount of instructional cost and quality, and the importance of the cost per student credit hour (SCH).
The Arts are Performing Well
By Monica Bilson
Spring enrollment for visual and performing arts made a comeback this year, but the recovery and growth for bachelor’s and master’s programs look different. Here are the top ten programs for each.
How Higher Education Institutions Are Using Creative AI
By Mary Ann Romans
We’ve seen an explosion of AI-related courses and programs across higher education, mainly within engineering and computer science departments, but AI isn’t just for “left-brainers.” Artists, musicians, and other “right-brain” aficionados are using AI to enhance the creative process and even generate new creative works. While creative AI still has a long way to go, it’s clear that AI technology will have to be considered in the workforce and in educating students.
Cellular Agriculture Programs: When “Tastes Like Chicken” Takes on New Meaning
By Mary Ann Romans
If you have reached a certain age or are younger but with mad trivia skills, you may remember a famous fast food commercial featuring a feisty grandmother-type demanding “Where’s the beef?”
Is the Secret to Growing College Enrollment a New Flag Football Team?
By Ned Caron
Adding a new sport could help institution’s boost enrollment in specific programs. The academic programs that benefit from athletic enrollment vary by sport, so the right sport may be able to increase enrollment in a specific program or discipline. We took a deeper look, first at major sports in Division 1, then at “Other Sports.”
