Department/Program Review

All degree and certificate programs at Stony Brook University must prepare a self-study that includes an assessment of student learning outcomes and participate in an external review process known as Department/Program Review. This process takes place every seven years (or an external accreditation cycle of no more than ten years). 

For more information on the self-study requirements, selection of external reviewers, and University support provided to participating departments, see the policy and process documents developed by the Ad Hoc Committee to Establish a Program Review Process.

Department/Program Review Policy

Department/Program Review Process

Department/Program Review Self-Study Template

Department/Program Review Reports Archive (Login Required)

Department/Program Review - Participating Cohorts

• Cohort 1 (2023-24)

  Eight departments/programs will begin the self-study process in 2023: 

  • Applied Health Informatics
  • Applied Mathematics & Statistics
  • Biochemistry & Cell Biology
  • Biomedical Informatics
  • Economics
  • English
  • Marine Sciences
  • Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies
• Cohort 2 (2024-25)

  Seven departments/programs will begin the self-study process in 2024: 

  • Coaching
  • Ecology & Evolution
  • Higher Education Administration
  • Music
  • Psychology
  • Technology Systems Management
  • Undergraduate Biology

Department/Program Review Implementation Timeline

*OEE: Office of Educational Effectiveness
*IRPE: Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness

Program Review FAQs

• What are the requirements to serve as an External Reviewer?
  External Reviewers must not have conflicts of interest that could bias the review.  Otherwise, identification of potential reviewers is at the descretion of the department/program. It is recommended that the external reviewer have expertise in the discipline under review, and we encourage you to select reviewers from comparable institutions/programs. This may include institutions that are affiliated with the AAU, are R1, or have comparable U.S. News & World Report or Academic Analytics rankings.
• Can we provide External Reviewers with a more substantial honorarium for their time?
  The Office of the Provost will provide External Reviewers with a $1,000 honorarium, although the School/College or Department/Program can provide supplemental funding, if necessary.
• Does my Department/Program need to follow the Self-Study template and formatting exactly? Can we organize the document differently or include supplemental information?
  The Self-Study template is provided as a starting point, with the baseline requirements to include in the final report. Departments/programs are welcome to rearrange the template format, add supplemental information, or reorganize the information to best tell your story and provide external reviewers with the necessary information to conduct a thorough site visit. 

Department Mission Statements

Some SBU departments have mission statements that articulate how their  area supports the institutional mission, school/college mission, and programs offered. A selection of departmental mission statements is available here.