External review adds an outside perspective to the recommendations in the self-study report. External reviewers are curriculum experts who are specially qualified to evaluate the quality and currency of curricular content, to appraise the ability of the program faculty to deliver the curriculum effectively, and to assess how well the program meets students’ needs and prepares them, as appropriate, for advanced study and/or careers using their degrees.

Selection of External Reviewers

The external review is typically conducted by a team of at least two members, representing both a CSU and a non-CSU perspective. Appropriate external reviewers are individuals who are familiar with similar programs and who have a breadth of experience and a national perspective. Ideally, they are people who have achieved some distinction in the discipline, who are involved in their professional associations, and who have a record of scholarship. Preferably, they are also individuals who have served previously as external reviewers. The non-CSU person may come from anywhere in the United States. The steps involved in the selection of external reviewers include the following:

• During the self-study process, a pool of potential external reviewers is identified by the program faculty and college dean and their names and addresses forwarded to the AVP for Academic Program Development. The pool should include at least five potential reviewers from within the CSU and at least five from outside the CSU.

• The AVP for Academic Program Development solicits vitae from the potential external reviewers.

• After all vitae of interested potential reviewers have been collected, the program head, in consultation with other program faculty, reviews the vitae and forwards to the college dean those that are to be considered in the final selection of reviewers. The program communicates in writing to the dean its preferences, priorities, and any special needs it wishes considered.

• The dean reviews materials on the pool of potential reviewers and forwards his/her recommendation for selection, including priorities, to the AVP for Academic Program Development, who consults with the Vice President for Academic Affairs to determine the final team of reviewers.

The Site Visit

The faculty coordinator works with the external reviewers, AVP for Academic Program Development, college dean, and program head to determine the final schedule for the days of the external review and coordinate the logistics of the site visit. The Office of Academic Affairs sends each external reviewer a complete copy of the program’s self-study report, the program review handbook, information on travel and lodging arrangements, a campus map, the itinerary for the two-day visit, and the vitae of the other external review team member(s). If additional information is requested by the evaluators, the Office of Academic Affairs attempts to provide it.

The external reviewers normally spend two days on campus, meeting with college and university administrators, faculty, students, and staff. A typical schedule for external review is as follows:

Format and Guidelines for Preparing the External Review Report

Within a month of the site visit, the external reviewers provide a written report of their evaluation to the AVP for Academic Program Development. The format for preparing the external review report follows that of the self-study report outlined in Chapter 3. The steps involved in preparing the external review report include the following:

• Time is made available, on the last day of the site visit, for the reviewers to plan the substance of their report. During the exit meetings with program faculty and with administrators, reviewers share their findings orally and have the opportunity to clarify further any issues that would help them in evaluating the program.

• Reviewers are asked to address each recommendation in the program's self-study report. In addition, reviewers may offer other recommendations based on their review and assessment of the self-study, discussions with administrators, faculty, students, and staff. A summary listing of the evaluators' recommendations is to be included in the external review report.

• The external reviewers' report is sent to the AVP for Academic Program Development, who distributes it to the program head and dean for responses. Additional copies are held until the time scheduled for review by APRC.

Responses to the External Review Report by the Dean and Program Head

Upon receipt of the external review report from the AVP for Academic Program Development, the college dean and program head each prepare a response to the external reviewers' report and forward it to the AVP for Academic Program Development, to be included in the APRC review. The responses should address each of the recommendations in the external reviewers' report and comment on any differences from the recommendations in the self-study report.

As a result of the site visit and discussions of the program faculty subsequent to their preparation of the self-study report, modifications to the original program recommendations may be appropriate. Any changes or additions to earlier recommendations should be commented upon in the program's response to the external reviewers' report.

The college dean's response may address any issues in the self-study report as well as the external reviewers' report. In addition, the dean may wish to address any college issues related to the program that were not addressed directly by the program in its self-study.

Travel Arrangements and Reimbursement Procedures

Travel arrangements and reimbursement procedures for the reviewers are handled by the Office of Academic Affairs and the faculty coordinator. The steps involved include:

• The faculty coordinator contacts the potential reviewers to determine a mutually acceptable review schedule.

• The Office of Academic Affairs contacts the reviewers and arranges sending airline tickets to those who are arriving by air. Lodging for the reviewers is also arranged by the Office of Academic Affairs. Information on travel, lodging, parking, etc. is included with the self-study and other materials sent to the reviewers approximately three weeks before the scheduled site visit.

• While the reviewers are on campus, the faculty coordinator delivers reimbursement forms for the reviewers to sign before they leave. These are then turned over to the Office of Academic Affairs for processing. Receipts for incidental expenses are to be mailed to the Office of Academic Affairs.

• Upon receipt of the external reviewers' report, the Office of Academic Affairs mails checks for the honoraria and incidental expenses incurred as part of the review process to the external reviewers.