University of ColoradoDenver
Program Review
Self Study Preparation --- School of Medicine
The foundation of each program review is an analytical and evaluative self study document, which is prepared by the department under review with the active involvement of faculty and staff.
The main objectives of the self-study are to encourage departments to assess their strengths, weaknesses, overall direction and goals and to determine present and future needs with respect to personnel, programs and resources. The self-study should cover every aspect of the department, including teaching, research, clinical work and university and community service. The self-study should address all levels and types of education --- for example, undergraduate, graduate, professional, online and continuing. Additionally, the self-study should cover: the department’s resources and resource needs; the depth, breadth, stability and diversity of the faculty; and the strengths or weaknesses of departmental faculty development and mentoring programs.
Please use the following guide as your prepare your self-study. We ask that you complete each section (or label the section “Not Applicable”). Include teaching evaluations, faculty bio-sketches or other supporting materials as appendices. Additionally, centers and institutes that are part of the department under review must also be addressed in the self-study. The department is responsible for providing an electronic copy to the SOM Dean’s Office and to the UCD Office of Academic Resources and Services (OARS), plus a sufficient number of printed copies to be distributed to the provost’s office, the dean, the AVC–OARS, the External Review Team and Program Review Panel liaison.
Please note that: (1) The self-study process should involve all faculty members in the department; and (2) Each section of the self-study should include evaluative, as well as descriptive, information.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact one of the Program Review Liaisons from the SOM: Steven Lowenstein, M.D., M.P.H. (at ) or Brenda Bucklin, M.D. (at ). The Office of Institutional Research and the budget office may provide additional assistance in collecting basic information.
1)Introduction, overview and description
a)General department description – organization, purpose, programs
i)Provide anoverview of the department’soutstanding characteristics, role and mission within the university, programs offered, personnel, national reputation, financial status, and success or placement of graduates.
ii)Include a general description of the department (size, structure, sites of practice); note any major changes in size, organization or leadership since the last departmental review.
iii)Faculty data (Please complete Tables 1 and 2).
iv)Comparative data from similar national programs (if available and meaningful).
b)General description of the self-study process
i)Describe how you conducted your self-study
ii)State how faculty input was obtained and incorporated into the self-study
2)Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Plan
a)Provide the department’s current mission statement, vision and strategic plan (or reference the strategic plan).
b)How is the strategic vision consistent with the current UC Denver Strategic Plan?
c)To what extent are stated program goals and objectives being met, and what evidence is provided for these achievements?
3)Progress since last review
a)Describe the department’s progress since the last program review.
b)Describe implementation and outcomes of previous program review recommendations.
4)Educational programs and the educational experience
a)Describe the educational activities of the department, including undergraduate and graduate student, residents and fellowship training. Include a description of major Continuing Medical education (CME), online or distance learning programs. Limit discussion to major courses, training programs and other educational activities in which faculty of the department are leaders or play active roles.
b)Describe areas of special expertise; note courses or training programs that are particularly strong. Also highlight any new education programs developed since the last departmental review (for example: innovative courses or curricula; new evaluation tools; novel teaching methods).
c)Provide trend data, if appropriate (numbers of courses taught, students, residents or fellows enrolled).
d)Comment on the curriculum or training programs with respect to rigor, relevance and consistency with national or other professional standards.
i)Are the courses or educational experiences adequate in depth and breadth for students, residents and other learners?Discuss any gaps or weaknesses.
ii)Are the knowledge and skill goals for students, residents and other learners well-defined? Have these goals changed since the last departmental review? Are educational goals communicated clearly and effectively to students, residents and other learners?
iii)How is the rigor of the curriculum assessed? Are the learning goals referred to above being met?
iv)How is student and resident learning measured?
v)Are faculty members available to properly supervise trainees, and are faculty members available to students and residents for advising and counseling?
e)Analyze student/resident/fellow learning outcomes.
i)Summarize the results of teaching evaluations (for medical students, residents, fellows or graduate students, as applicable).
(a)Include (as an appendix) faculty teaching evaluations for the past two years.
ii)How have the results obtained from measuring learning outcomes been used to revise and strengthen the program(s)?
f)With respect to graduate training programs:
i)How effective is your department in recruiting top residents or graduate student?
ii)Summarize the success of graduates on recent board examinations.
iii)Summarize the results (including any deficiencies) of recent accreditation, GME or Residency Review Committee reports.
iv)How well are graduates in each program finding employment or being accepted into graduate programs in their field of study?
g)Describe the department’s other major accomplishments in education over the past five years. Highlight:
(1)Education training for faculty;
(2)Inter-disciplinary collaborations in education (within or external to the SOM);
(3)Local or national awards or recognition.
(4)Recruitment of faculty with special interests or talents in education
h)State how the department has addressed the specific challenges and recommendations brought up during the last review.
i)Resources
i)Assess the adequacy of key resources to support teaching. Consider faculty breadth and depth, space, support staff, equipment, operating funds, and library or computing resources.
j)Weaknesses and Challenges
i)List courses or training programs that need revision or improvement.
ii)Describe your department’s major faculty recruitment needs (with respect to education).
iii)Summarize any other challenges, problems, gaps or deficiencies in your department’s overall teaching program.
k)Plans
i)Describe the department’s specific plans to strengthen its educational programs. Refer to the challenges, weaknesses, gaps and deficiencies listed above. Outline plans for program improvement:
(1)Focusing on the short-term (1-2 years); and
(2)Long-term (the next 3-5 years)
5)RESEARCH AND CREATIVE WORK
a)Describe the funded research activities of the department. Highlight unique aspects of the research programs, including areas of special focus and expertise.
b)Use Table 3 to summarize grant funding over the past 5 years for all faculty with primary appointments in your department.
c)List the department's major accomplishments in research, scholarship and creative work over the past five years. Highlight:
(1)New research program developed since the last departmental review;
(2)Grant funding – emphasize trends since last review;
(3)Other noteworthy achievements, such as discoveries, publications, awards and national or international acclaim;
(4)Areas of inter-disciplinary research collaboration, both within and external to the School of Medicine and University;
(5)Recruitment of faculty with strong research portfolios or unique talents;
d)State how the division has addressed the specific challenges and recommendations brought up during the last review.
e)Resources
i)Assess the adequacy of key resources to support research. Consider faculty breadth and depth, space, support staff, grant-writing assistance, equipment (including common facilities), operating funds, and library or computing resources.
ii)Discuss support (for example, grant-writing assistance, research support, training, start-up funds) available to junior faculty to help them build their research programs.
f)Weaknesses and Challenges
i)Describe major gaps or deficiencies in the department’s research programs.
ii)Describe your department’s major faculty recruitment needs (with respect to research).
iii)With respect to the research development of junior faculty, what improvements and resources are needed?
iv)Summarize any other problems, gaps or deficiencies in the department’s research programs.
g)Plans
i)Describe the department’s specific plans to strengthen its research programs. Refer to the challenges, weaknesses, gaps and deficiencies listed above. Outline plans for program improvement:
(1)Focusing on the short-term (1-2 years); and
(2)Long-term (the next 3-5 years).
6)CLINICAL PROGRAMS
a)Describe the clinical activities of the department. Include data regarding the size of the clinical practice and different sites of practice. List the major clinical programs and areas of expertise.
b)Summarize the growth in clinical activities since the last departmental review. List achievements, such as innovative programs, discoveries, referrals, improved outcomes, awards, or regional or national acclaim.
c)Describe trends in clinical activity since last departmental review. Include quantitative data (e.g., census or enrollment data, contracts, referrals, patient satisfaction, clinical income).
d)Highlight faculty with special training, unique expertise or regional or national acclaim.
e)List areas of inter-disciplinary clinical collaboration, both within and external to the School of Medicine and University.
f)State how the department has addressed the specific challenges and recommendations brought up during the last review.
g)Resources
i)Assess the adequacy of key resources to support clinical programs. Consider resources such as faculty breadth and depth, space, support staff, equipment and facilities, hospital support and other resources.
h)Weaknesses and challenges
i)Describe your department’s major faculty recruitment needs (with respect to clinical service).
ii)Summarize any other problems, gaps or deficiencies in clinical programs
i)Plans
i)Describe the department’s specific plans to strengthen its clinical programs. Refer to the challenges, weaknesses, gaps and deficiencies listed above. Outline plans for program improvement:
(1)Focusing on the short-term (1-2 years); and
(2)Long-term (the next 3-5 years)
7)DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
a)Provide data, if available, regarding the gender and ethnic diversity of the faculty.
b)Provide data, if available, regarding the gender and ethnic diversity of graduate trainees.
c)Highlight special achievements of the department or faculty in outreach or community service.
d)Describe efforts the department has made to recruit and retain women and under-represented minorities. State whether, and how, the department is complying with campus policies governing faculty searches and diversity, including diversity training for search committee members.
e)To what extent are issues related to diversity and health disparities addressed in courses in the curriculum?
8)RESOURCES AND FINANCES
a)List the various sources of financial support for the department. Provide a pie chart showing percentages of revenues from clinical earnings, research grants, contracts, state funds and other sources.
b)Provide a summary of the department’s revenues and expenses over the past 5 years.
i)Explain any favorable or unfavorable trends;
ii)Describe key financial challenges;
iii)Outline the department’s plans to maintain or improve its financial strength.
c)Provide a summary of average salaries (by rank) in the department. Assess whether salaries in the department are competitive when compared with AAMC averages or other benchmarks.
d)How adequate are the program’s resources – physical, financial and other resources?
e)How adequate are the support resources (e.g., professional and support staff, library, media, operating expenses, space, technology) to achieve the goals of the program?
9)DEPARTMENTAL GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
a)Describe the governance structure of the department (vice-chairs, division or program heads, executive committees, other decision-making bodies).
b)How frequently does the department meet? For what purposes?
c)State how faculty members and staff are involved in fiscal, personnel and academic decisions.
d)Does the department have sufficient numbers of administrative staff to support its educational, research and service missions?
10)FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
a)Describe the department’s system of mentoring for junior faculty. What programs exist for professional and career development of faculty?
b)Do all faculty receive regular performance feedback from the department chair (or division head)? Do all faculty members participate in annual reviews? Are Professional Plans revised annually?
c)Do all Assistant Professors receive a comprehensive mid-course (year 3-4) review? Who performs these reviews?
d)Identify barriers to academic success, especially for junior faculty.
e)Describe any problems with faculty retention over the past five years.
11)SUMMARY (Address each of the following)
a)Summarize your department’s development and progress since the last departmental review. Briefly summarize the department’s strengths, weaknesses and challenges.
b)Summarize important trends and key emerging opportunities.
c)How would you rank your department (compared with departments in other U.S. medical schools)?
d)Recommendations for Program Improvement
i)What improvements should faculty, professional staff and administrators undertake to enhance the academic and service programs of the department?
ii)What steps are most critical to take your department to the next higher level?
e)Please list specific questions or issues that you would like the external reviewers to address during their visit.
f)Please include a final paragraph (or two) describing the department’s vision for the future.
Table I: DATA SUMMARY
Department of:______Date: ______
I.Number of regularfaculty (excluding PRA’s) with primary appointments ( .50 FTE):
Based primarily at:University: ____
NJH: ____
DHMC: ____
VAMC: ____
TCH: ____
TOTAL: ______
II.Classified or unclassified/exempt administrative (FTE): ______
III.Research Associates and PRA’s (FTE):______
IV.Clinical Faculty (volunteer or paid <.5 FTE)______
V.Income during most recent fiscal year: Total $______Fiscal Year ______
State support: $ ______
Grants/Contracts ______
UPI ______
Gifts ______
Other ______
1
Table II: Faculty Summary
Notes:
Include data for all faculty who have primary appointments in your department, whether funded by the University of Colorado or by affiliated institutions. Do not include residents or fellows.
Number of FacultyRank
/ FT1 / CL2 / Total / TenuredProfessor
Associate Professor
Assistant Professor
Instructor3
Research Professor
Assoc Research Profess
Assist Research Profess
Research Instructor4
Research Associates5
TOTAL
- FT = Full-time; include faculty who are at or above .5 FTE
- CL = Volunteer and paid (<.50 FTE) clinical faculty
- Include Instructors and Senior Instructors
- Include Research Instructors and Senior Research Instructors
- Include Professional Research Associates (PRA’s), Senior PRA’s, Research Associates and SeniorResearch Associates
Table III. Grants
Notes:
1.List grants obtained in the past 5 years by each faculty member who has a primary appointment in your department.
2.Include all sources of research funding.
3.Organize table by faculty rank; within each rank, organize by faculty member (alphabetical order) and grant start date.
INVESTIGATOR / P.I. or Co-investigator1 / Agency and Project Title / % salary support2 / Start date / End date / $ Direct / $ Indirect / 5-year Dollar TOTALEXAMPLE
Smith / PI / NIH/R01 Host cell protease and HIV-GP160 in AIDS / .15 / 04/99 / 03/02 / 139,148 / 70,965 / 210,113- Use the following codes for grants:
- PI = Principal Investigator
- CO-Inv = Co-investigator on grant to this department
- CO-Inv-O = Co-investigator on grant to another department
- CO-Inv-C = Co-investigator on grant to a Center
- Average % salary support over term of grant
1