The Institutional Planning and Effectiveness Committee (IPEC) updated Faculty Senate on their conclusion of the Academic Program Prioritization (APP) process.
The APP began as Idaho’s State Board of Education required all public universities to evaluate their programs. The process was also meant to meet the university’s goals of addressing the budget crisis.
The taskforce has gone through stages of evaluating programs across the university using both quantitative and qualitative information to rank programs. Programs that fell in the bottom fifth quintile were assessed for program changes after consulting deans and program directors.
The task force then made final recommendations to President C. Scott Green on three programs.
Two programs were asked to reduce costs and pursue restructuring or mergers. A third program was recommended for closure.
Based on the taskforce’s recommendations, Green has communicated his decisions to the three programs. The programs have an opportunity to meet with Green and appeal his decisions.
Programs are currently remaining unnamed until final decisions are made.
Other programs that fell in the fifth quintile and self-identified plans for changes were recommended by the task force to move forward with these proposed actions.
Some fifth quintile programs have already closed or merged. Ten certificates and degree programs have closed, eight closing voluntarily. Five program mergers have occurred, in attempts to improve enrollment.
And 17 additional programs that justified their positions will be under ongoing monitoring to watch for improvement.
Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @haadiyatariq