Review of Programs and Centers

The ASR documents and serves as a tool to guide program-level assessment of student learning outcomes and decision-making for continuous program improvement. In alignment with each program’s assessment plan, each year, evidence of student learning related to the student learning outcomes are added to the document, ultimately providing a 4-year longitudinal record of assessment data and decisions and actions following from analysis and discussion of the data. The document also serves as a tool for monitoring and reflecting on impacts of actions taken in previous years to inform decisions about future action.

Each department/center’s Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation (AAE) assessment partner (DOCX) provides consultative review and support at annual meetings.

Academic degree programs, stand-alone certificates and cocurricular programs are required to submit Annual ASR.

Report documents, previous reports and alumni outcomes are available through the Assessment Data and Reports page.

Use the Assessment Document Submission Form.

The ASR is due each year by April 1. Programs may submit earlier.

This is the point in a program’s assessment cycle when the UAP reviews the program’s Assessment Summary Report documenting their implementation of their Assessment Plan over the past 4-5 years (varies by program’s cycle length) along with the Assessment Plan that the program intends to use in future years. The purpose of this review is to provide consultative feedback and support from colleagues across campus.

The year of each program’s next UAP review is listed in the University Assessment Panel Review Schedule.

Your department/center’s Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation (AAE) assessment partner (DOCX) reviews the ASR and shares consultative feedback during the spring prior to the academic year that UAP review is scheduled. This provides opportunity to make revisions prior to the consultative review provided by University Assessment Panel members.

All degree programs and stand-alone certificates as well as cocurricular programs undergo UAP Review according to their individual assessment cycle. You can find the date of the next one on our University Assessment Panel Review Schedule page.

Previous ASR documents, consultative feedback received from Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation (AAE) and UAP and alumni outcomes are available through our website on the Assessment Data and Reports page.

Use the Assessment Document Submission Form.

These documents are due on April 1 of the academic year prior to UAP Review. For example, programs with UAP Review scheduled during 2027-2028 would submit their ASR and Assessment Plan by April 1, 2027.

This is the point in a program’s review cycle when the college reviews the program documenting their cumulative progress over the past 4-5 years (varies by program’s cycle length). The purpose of this review is to evaluate the program.

Program Review is a 2-part process. Programs should follow their college's part 1 of the process and their timeline. Part 2 is the University Program Review Summary Report (download the University Program Review Summary Report template (DOCX)). This final report is submitted to AAE for review by the Provost and APC, with the final document going to the Board of Trustees and Illinois Board of Higher Education.

All degree programs and designated centers with CIP codes undergo Program Review according to their individual assessment cycle. You can find the date of the next one on our Program Review Schedule page.

Report documents, previous reports and alumni outcomes are available through the Assessment Data and Reports page. In addition, access the Program Review Common Data resources (NIU A-ID login required).

Each year, programs up for review will receive a submission link via email.

Program Review is a 2-part process. Programs should follow their college's part 1 of the process and their timeline/due dates. Part 2 is a summary (download the University Program Review Summary Report Template (DOCX)). This final report is submitted to Accreditation, Assessment and Evaluation (AAE) for review by the Provost by March 15^th.