Academic Program Review Overview 

Weatherford College values and actively seeks opportunities to weave excellence throughout the fabric of the college and into the core of everything we do as an institution of higher learning. As part of this commitment to excellence, WC engages in periodic review of each of its academic departments and academic programs. The College supports the Academic Program Review process through the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and is overseen by the Executive Vice President of Academic Services and the Institutional Assessment Committee.  

APRs are designed to evaluate the quality, productivity, and role of each academic department and academic program in the fulfillment of the College's mission and strategic priorities. APRs are also conducted to fulfill requirements of  Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). APRs provide a means of:  

  1. monitoring the status, progress, and effectiveness of degree programs. 
  2. considering enrollment projections and marketing initiatives.  
  3. identifying programmatic strengths and weaknesses.  
  4. pinpointing programmatic needs, emerging trends, and priorities.
  5.  identifying emerging professional, regulatory, and disciplinary directions; and  
  6. stimulating reflection, goal setting, and planning.    

The Review Process 

Academic Department 

Effective academic year 2024-2025, APRs at Weatherford College will be conducted at the academic department level with all programs in the area going through review on a five-year cycle. 

Academic Department refers to the following:   

  1. a department residing within a division of the college.   
  2. a degree program that reports directly to a division.
  3. a certificate (credit or workforce) program that reports directly to a division. 

    A current list of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board certificate and degree inventory may be found at this link. 

Academic Program 

All academic programs offered by the academic department will undergo review in the same year for the purposes of efficiency for similar programs.   

Academic program refers to:  

  1. associate or bachelor’s programs in the official WC program inventory approved by THECB.   
  2. certificate stand-alone credit and workforce programs approved by THECB.
  3. Workforce programs between 80-144 credit hours reported for performance funding purposes with THECB.  

 Review Schedule  

WC programs will be reviewed at least every five years to remain in compliance with the THECB. Programs that undergo external review for programmatic licensure or accreditation may use their accreditation self-studies data as part of the review process outlined in these guidelines. Review schedules will be synchronized with the accreditation reviews of the professional association/organization. 

Resources for Additional Information on Program Review  

Process: The process provides the general guidelines and content to be included in the APR in this detailed step-by-step process document for aspects of Academic Program Review at WC.  

Program Review Guidelines and Process

Schedule: This document indicates when departments and their programs are scheduled to participate in program review. Following the implementation year, departments will be contacted at the beginning of the academic year to initiate the program review, self-study process.  

Program Review