Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President

Academic Program Review

Guidelines for Selection of Outside Reviewers

When a program review involves outside reviewers, it is important to identify and engage these individuals as early in the year as possible.    Outside reviewers’ reports are due in the Academic Affairs Office in early March, so site visits must be conducted in late Fall or early Spring semester. 

The decision regarding whether an outside reviewer will be asked to conduct a site visit or simply to react to written documentation (a “paper review”) will be made by the Dean and the Academic Affairs Office in consultation with the department chair or director (if applicable).

The Dean will provide the Office of Academic Affairs with 3-5 nominations for the outside reviewer(s).

Nominees should meet the following criteria:

A. Required:

• Holds (or has held) the rank of Associate Professor or higher
• Is (or has been) affiliated with an institution outside the State of Florida that offers programs similar to the one(s) being reviewed.
• Has administrative experience
• Has a respected record of scholarly activity in the discipline
• Is currently active in the discipline
• Has no conflict of interest with USF or with the unit(s) housing the program(s) being reviewed

B. Preferred:

• Has experience in a publicly supported university or college
• Has experience in evaluating programs (e.g. as accreditation or program review team member)
• Has a national reputation in the discipline
• Is (or has been) affiliated with a Carnegie-designated “very high research” institution
• Is (or has been) affiliated with an institution that the program being reviewed or its home unit regards as an aspirational peer

Departments and colleges may add criteria or change preferred criteria to required criteria as appropriate.