Learning Resources

The Provost Bookshelf: Start, Stop, or Grow?

A Data-informed Approach To Academic Program Evaluation And Management

By: Robert Gray Atkins, Gray Associates | Nicholas Santilli, Society for College and University Planning

Author, and founder of Gray Associates, Robert Gray Atkins joins us for a conversation about his book Start, Stop, or Grow?: A Data-informed Approach To Academic Program Evaluation And Management.

Abstract: Author, and founder of Gray Associates, Robert Gray Atkins joins us for a conversation about his book Start, Stop, or Grow?: A Data-informed Approach To Academic Program Evaluation And Management. Along with moderator Nick Santilli, Senior Director for Learning Strategy at SCUP, we will explore a mission-driven, data-informed program review process outlining how provosts can lead a robust academic planning process focused on determining which programs to start, stop, or grow.

Planning Types: Academic Planning
Tags: Academic Program Prioritization, Academic Program Review, Determining Academic Program Viability

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From Academic Program Decisions to Results

Building and Managing a Robust Program Portfolio

By: Antoinette Farmer-Thompson, Deputy Vice President, Educational Outreach & Student Services, ASU University; Design Institute Expert in Residence; Former Dean and Senior Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness (Moderator) | William Massy, Professor Emeritus and Former CFO, Stanford University; Former President, The Jackson Hole Higher Education Group, Inc. | Steve Probst, Senior Partner, Gray Associates, Inc. | Nicholas Santilli, Senior Director for Learning Strategy, Society for College and University Planning (SCUP); Professor Emeritus of Psychology, John Carroll University

The decision-making process is only the beginning—how do you build a robust program portfolio in a way that ensures educational quality, financial sustainability, and meets the needs of your students? We will provide real-world examples of ways to effectively build quality online programs and courses that improve student access and retention, including performance metrics and faculty engagement.

This is part three of a three-part program series, “Integrated Planning to Build a Thriving Academic Program Portfolio.”

Abstract: This is part three of a three-part program series, “Integrated Planning to Build a Thriving Academic Program Portfolio.” These discussions will help you build a strategic and sustainable program portfolio that is mission-centered, data-informed, student-centered, and focused on growth opportunities.

Planning Types: Academic Planning
Tags: Academic Program Prioritization, Academic Program Review, Data, Decision Making, Determining Academic Program Viability, New Program or Department, Online Learning

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Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Instructional Economics

Making Finance-Informed Academic Decisions

By: William Massy, Professor Emeritus and Former CFO, Stanford University; Former President, The Jackson Hole Higher Education Group, Inc. (Moderator) | Antoinette Farmer-Thompson, Deputy Vice President, Educational Outreach & Student Services, ASU University; Design Institute Expert in Residence; Former Dean and Senior Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness | Nicholas Santilli, Senior Director for Learning Strategy, Society for College and University Planning (SCUP); Professor Emeritus of Psychology, John Carroll University | Steve Probst, Senior Partner, Gray Associates, Inc.

All program decisions have financial consequences—and some may surprise you. We will share a methodology for analyzing instructional economics and strategies for incorporating this data into the program decision-making process for long-term financial health.

This is part two of a three-part program series, “Integrated Planning to Build a Thriving Academic Program Portfolio.”

Abstract: All program decisions have financial consequences—and some may surprise you. We will share a methodology for analyzing instructional economics and strategies for incorporating this data into the program decision-making process for long-term financial health. Understanding the economics of your programs and courses can help you focus resources on the programs and courses most critical to your mission and free up funds for strategic growth.

Planning Types: Academic Planning
Tags: Academic Program Prioritization, Academic Program Review, Data, Decision Making, Determining Academic Program Viability, Planning Processes

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Academic Program Portfolio Planning

Preparing to Thrive

By: Steve Probst, Senior Partner, Gray Associates, Inc. (Moderator) | William Massy, Professor Emeritus and Former CFO, Stanford University; Former President, The Jackson Hole Higher Education Group, Inc. | Antoinette Farmer-Thompson, Deputy Vice President, Educational Outreach & Student Services, ASU University; Design Institute Expert in Residence; Former Dean and Senior Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness | Nicholas Santilli, Senior Director for Learning Strategy, Society for College and University Planning (SCUP); Professor Emeritus of Psychology, John Carroll University

In a competitive landscape, it is more important than ever to ensure the programs you offer align with demand in the market. We will discuss the data you need, and where to find it to evaluate market demand for academic programs, including critical data on student demand that is often overlooked.

This is part one of a three-part program series, “Integrated Planning to Build a Thriving Academic Program Portfolio.”

Abstract: This is part one of a three-part program series, “Integrated Planning to Build a Thriving Academic Program Portfolio.” These discussions will help you build a strategic and sustainable program portfolio that is mission-centered, data-informed, student-centered, and focused on growth opportunities.

Planning Types: Academic Planning
Tags: Academic Program Prioritization, Assessment / Analytics, Data

Member Price:
Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Reduce Curriculum Costs While Increasing Student Enrollment

Optimizing Academic Balance Analyses Let Kentucky Institutions Stay Competitive

By: Kenneth L. Hoyt

Results of the study supplied evidence needed to support tough institutional decisions. The 13 Kentucky colleges and universities that participated in the research now have critically important data to use in making choices about how they best serve their students, maximize scarce resources, and sustain financial stability.

From Volume 48 Number 3 | April–June 2020

Abstract: An Optimizing Academic Balance (OAB) analysis provides colleges and universities with effective tools to use in making strategic academic decisions needed to stay competitive in the context of institutional mission, program quality, market potential, cost, and revenue. The Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities recently completed a three-year statewide OAB project with the participation of 13 higher education institutions. The results supported the colleges and universities in making tough decisions.

A Follow-Up

An introduction to the Optimizing Academic Balance process and early results of the research were published in the 2015 Planning for Higher Education article, “Reshaping Your Curriculum to Grow the Bottom Line,”. The current article, with final research data, represents the study’s wrap-up report.

Planning Types: Resource Planning, Academic Planning
Tags: Academic Program Prioritization, Benchmarking, Cost of Higher Ed, Data, Decision Making

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Conference Presentations

Published
July 14, 2019

2019 Annual Conference | July 2019

Data-Informed Faculty Staffing and Budgeting by Programs

By: Thomas Eleuterio, Ti Yan

Abstract: Institutions usually spend more on providing courses for some academic programs than others. Stakeholders need to decide where and how to allocate resources to support instruction. This session introduces recent best practices using the Delaware Cost Study data to facilitate 1) the identification of under-resourced academic programs and 2) decision making in faculty budgeting and staffing. You will leave this session ready to re-evaluate the metrics you use to support instructional budgeting decisions so you can identify under-resourced programs and accurately understand faculty hiring needs.

Planning Types: Academic Planning, Resource Planning
Tags: Academic Program Prioritization, Budget / Finance, Budget Planning, Faculty, Resource Allocation, SCUP 2019 Annual Conference, Teaching and Learning

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Free

Non-Member Price:
Free

Visualization of Academic Efficiency and Productivity

By: Carl N. Drummond

The author describes a method to display a variety of quantitative information in a compact, easy-to-understand way, providing an analytical tool useful in analyzing and comparing the relative strengths and weaknesses of an academic unit over time or in comparison with others.

From Volume 34 Number 3 | April–June 2006

Abstract: A simple and readily understandable visual display of quantitative measures of academic efficiency and productivity is demonstrated in this article. This graphical construction facilitates annual comparisons of unit efficiency and productivity as well as an analysis of temporal changes in unit activity. By establishing a common framework upon which a data-driven conversation regarding unit activity is constructed, this method produces a single graphical representation of the activities of any academic unit. As such, this technique assists academic decision makers with goal setting, resource allocation and reallocation, and the program prioritization process.

Institutions Mentioned: Indiana University-Purdue University
Planning Types: Academic Planning
Tags: Academic Program Prioritization, Data, Resource Allocation

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Academic Design

Sharing Lessons Learned

By: William Ammentorp and Bill Warner

This book describes the design process used in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to evaluate academic programs and priorities based on the unique needs of individual institutions. The conclusion offers information on how to prepare your academic design plan.

Abstract: Academic Design describes the design process used in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to evaluate academic programs and priorities based on the unique needs of individual institutions. The four main sections include landscape analysis, program analysis, program design and improvement, and learning paradigms. The conclusion offers information on how to prepare your academic design plan. If you need to understand the elements of an institutional (or large departmental) strategic planning process, this is the book for you. The authors have distilled significant lessons learned from their experiences with a number of mostly smaller colleges and universities, but the principles and processes apply in a wide variety of institutional arenas.

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