Founded in 1886 College of Professional Studies and Advancement• Allied health• Applied behavioral sciences• Human services• Business and Management
National College of Education• School of Teacher Preparation• School of Advanced Professional
Programs
Campus Locations:Illinois:
Chicago, Elgin, Lisle, Skokie, and Wheeling
Wisconsin: Milwaukee and Beloit
Florida: Tampa
Enrollment: 7000
Gender: F=80% M=20%
Diversity: 44% Minority
Age: 35
NLU Mission & Values
• Mission Statement: National Louis University provides access to quality higher education that nurtures opportunity for students through innovative teaching, scholarship, community engagement, and service excellence.
• Values: Excellence, Respect, Access, Collaboration, Passion, Inquiry, Innovation, Engagement
NLU Serves
• Working adults that have attended multiple institutions
• Historically underserved populations• Immigrants and first generation English
speakers.
The 30 Page Report
• Culture of Quality• Financial Viability• Innovative Teaching and Scholarship• Community Engagement • Service and Operational Excellence
How did we know it wasn’t working?
Prior to 2012 • There were a few or no students enrolled in several programs.
• There were programs that were not aligned with the University mission and vision.
• The University did not have the resources to invest in the programs to gain an appropriate and sustainable market share.
• Overall Debt Concerns
Academic Portfolio Prioritization
Eliminated 12 programs Reengineered 37
Maintained 12
The University used an engaging transparent process that involved stakeholders from throughout the institution with the end result of reducing overall budgets by 15% and re-positioning the institution to support strategic priorities that would advance growth and improve customer service in the process.
High level academic visionWe will position NLU for a vibrant sustainable future where…….
Excellence permeates our work and we have the evidence to prove it.
Students are engaged in learning that connects conceptual learning and practice. They are exposed to real life situations. Programs are relevant and market driven.
The NLU experience advances student professional identity, enhances career goal achievement and instills a commitment to lead and to serve
We didn’t want to reinvent the wheel
• Culture of Quality• Financial Viability• Innovative Teaching and Scholarship• Community Engagement • Service and Operational Excellence
We wanted to:
• Use data to help programs understand their programs.
• Use data across programs to understand how their program fit within the University portfolio of programs.
• Use data for improvement, not elimination.
• Incorporate University assessment
2013-2014 Created a new process
• We Defined Program Review Criteria • Worked with Colleges to select preferred metrics• We Created a Rubric for review• We decided to use existing reports as evidence instead of
completing ANOTHER report.(Reports completed for the state, for external accreditors etc.)
• New process = Four annual updates. • Fifth year = Review = Trend analysis over time. Approvals at
and by University Curriculum Council, Provost and College Dean.
2014-2015 Implement the process
• Bad Timing…• Senate had their 3 - year committee
commitment end. • New term began and we had almost all new
faculty members.
Why Are We Being Rated?
• What does Needs Improvement mean?
• What is Acceptable?
• What is Effective?
• What is Distinctive?
The Data
From:Faculty PrepareProgram Review
College Committees Review Programs
Reviewed by the Dean
Review by the UCC
Accepted by Faculty Senate
Reviewed by the Provost
To:
5-Year Review Process
Stage 1 Program Faculty Prepare
for Program Review
Stage 2 College Leadership Team
Discussion: Alignment and Resources
Stage 3 Review and Acceptance by
UCC and Provost
“Health” refocused the purpose from elimination to support
Areas Of:Concern
CompetenceExcellence
% in each category all programs to compare years with the goal of continuous improvement.
How did we SIMPLIFY?
• All data provided to programs through a Share Point site.
• A Web form was created to enter data• Annual update report was designed to be
completed at program faculty meetings.• Programs can use their existing college
reports. • We reduced the approval process
How did we improve?
• Programs receive data on an annual basis• Programs review university assessment data• Programs can set goals as they relate to their
place within the university portfolio• Results of the Areas inform the budget cycle,
programs most in need can receive funds. • All goals linked to the Mission• Accountability on goals and the opportunity to
share best practices