BOARD OF TRUSTEES Meeting Notice - Nebraska State College ...

Academic and Personnel Committee
Gary Bieganski, Chair
Roger Breed
2.4.-1
September 9, 2011
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ACTION: Approve Wayne State Special Education Program Review Follow-Up Report
Recommendation and Forward to the Nebraska Coordinating Commission
for Postsecondary Education as Follows:
Priority: Educational Excellence Throughout the System
Goal: 4. Strengthen academic programs
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PROGRAM REVIEW PROCESS
Each academic major is analyzed using criteria and productivity thresholds established by the
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (NCCPE). Each review
includes a recommendation to either continue the program, take steps to initiate a process to
eliminate the program, perform an in-depth review, or take other action.
The review includes consideration of the annual number of graduates in the major and in the
department of the major. The average of the prior five years is reported for the number of
graduates in the major. Production threshold requirements are met if the average number of
graduates per year is seven (7) for the baccalaureate degree, five (5) for the masters, and four
(4) for the specialist degree.
The review also includes consideration of student credit hours, headcount enrollment and
related data annually generated in the department. Student credit hour production per FTE
faculty assigned to the department is reported as a mean of the prior five-year period with 300
SCH/FTE required annually at the baccalaureate level and above.
A program meets productivity requirements if the number of graduates and the number of credit
hours generated per faculty FTE meet the thresholds outlined above.
Also considered is whether the existing instructional program is consistent with the institution's
role and mission and the Comprehensive Statewide Plan of the NCCPE. In addition, the review
considers whether there are sufficient institutional resources to support the program, whether
those resources are utilized efficiently, and whether there is evidence of quality in the program.
Attached is a copy of Board Policy 4200 relating to the process for reviewing existing programs.
Following that is a summary of the program data and recommendation for the Special Education
program reviewed in 2011.
The NSCS System Office recommends approval for the continuation of the BA and BS in
Special Education (undergraduate) and the elimination of the MSE in Special Education
(graduate) programs.