3.4       OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND POLICIES

3.4.1    PROGRAM EVALUATION PANEL

Program evaluation guidelines specify that all major programs be considered for review at least once every five years, and be formally evaluated at least once every seven years, by a Program Evaluation Panel (PEP).  The system was established by the Dean of the College.  Each PEP consists of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Executive Director of Institutional Research and Planning, and three faculty members.  The faculty members for each Panel are selected from a pool of nine (three from each academic division) who are appointed for staggered three-year terms by the Dean in consultation with the Faculty Affairs Committee.  Using core data provided by the Director of Institutional Research, the chair of the appropriate department prepares a comprehensive program report which addresses the curriculum, faculty, academic standards and outcomes, and program demand and trends, and which provides an overall evaluation of the program.  Recommendations to abolish programs (degrees, majors, minors, concentrations) originating from within the College administration should utilize PEP to review the matter.

One or two off-campus evaluators for each program under review visit the College, where they interview students, faculty, and administrators.

Based upon the department chair's program report, the off-campus evaluators' reports, and interviews with the chair and/or coordinator, the PEP evaluates the program to determine program strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for improvement.  The chairs respond to the PEP evaluation, indicating plans for addressing the recommendations.  The chair's plans are reviewed by the PEP and appropriate action is taken by the Dean of the College (which will include appropriate recommendations to the Faculty or to Faculty bodies).

3.4.2    ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Every faculty member and every student should be familiar with the brochure Academic Integrity at Roanoke College.  The brochure describes the Academic Integrity system at Roanoke College, defines the violations and penalties, describes the constitution and procedures of the Academic Integrity Council, and clarifies the responsibility of faculty members for enforcing the system.  In addition, there are examples of various violations of academic integrity, which faculty members should make sure their students understand.

Each course syllabus must contain a statement that addresses the importance of academic integrity.  Any specific expectations for integrity in the particular course should be emphasized.  Every faculty member is responsible for upholding the principle of academic integrity at the College (see Section 2.8.1.5).