Academic Program Review

When students graduate, it is important they have a degree that prepares them for employment in their chosen field. The Council’s academic program review process ensures that degrees awarded from Kentucky’s public universities and KCTCS help students compete in a global economy.

KRS 164.020(16) grants CPE the authority to conduct statewide program reviews. CPE’s policy was updated in July 2021 to outline a three-pronged approach consisting of institutional program review efforts, statewide data analysis, and a focus on implementing the statewide postsecondary strategic agenda.

Annual Reports

Reports are due annually on July 15th.

State Universities

Universities will submit reports that:

Summarize the institutional program review process for the previous academic year;
Highlight the programmatic decisions made during the previous academic year; and
Discuss plans for institutional program review for the upcoming year.

KCTCS

The KCTCS System Office will submit a report that:

Provides recommendations (grow, sustain, fix, or sunset) for each reviewed program;
Describes the strengths and/or opportunities of the program compared to the other similar programs offered across the KCTCS institutions;
Describes the weakness and/or threats of program compared to the other similar programs offered across the KCTCS institutions;
Describes the variations (e.g., similarities and/or differences in strengths/opportunities and weaknesses/threats) across institutions offering each program; and
Summarizes any program improvement plans.

Policies and Forms

Statewide Data Analysis

The analysis will assist in the continuous improvement and efficiency of Kentucky’s academic portfolio.

State Universities

CPE staff will analyze data across universities to determine if any programs meet all of the following criteria:

Multiple programs in the same CIP code;
Low and declining enrollment;
Low new student demand;
Low market demand; and
Low or negative contribution margins.

KCTCS

For KCTCS programs undergoing the program review process, CPE will analyze enrollment trends, degree/credential production trends, and market data through Gray Associates to identify any programs with:

Low enrollment, defined as 10 or fewer students;
Declining enrollment for the previous four years;
Declining number of degrees or credentials conferred for the previous four years;
Low regional student demand, defined as 40th percentile or lower according to Gray Associates data; and
Low regional market demand defined as 40th percentile or lower according to Gray Associates data;

Statewide Strategic Agenda

In concordance with Kentucky’s strategic agenda, CPE staff will facilitate statewide discussion and initiatives to:

Understand existing policies and practices at institutions related to the priority;
Identify obstacles to full implementation of initiatives related to the priority;
Provide professional development opportunities related to the priority; and
Evaluate campus plans to create, implement, or expand initiatives related to the priority.

For more information about academic program review, contact Sheila Brothers at sheila.brothers@ky.gov.

To view a catalog of all of Kentucky's academic programs, view the Academic Program Inventory.

Last Updated: 3/26/2024