Program and Discipline Fiscal Sustainability Review Process
See a description of the Program & Discipline Fiscal Sustainability Review Process for Cost Savings in Biennium 2027-2029
- Broad Review of All Programs & Disciplines
- Review all programs and disciplines using institutional data.
- Comprehensive Self-Study of Select Programs & Disciplines
- Programs/disciplines provide self-studies and identify cost saving measures.
- Recommendations & Decisions
- Recommendations and decisions are made to continue, reduce specific costs, merge areas, or discontinue programs/disciplines.
- Appeal
- Programs/disciplines resulting in actions based on decisions in the previous phase have an opportunity to appeal with the President’s Cabinet.
- Final Decisions
- Appeals are granted, where approved, and decisions are finalized. Plans are made for implementing cost-cutting measures.
Overview
The information here is to provide an overview of the Program/Discipline Fiscal Sustainability Review Process and to outline the process, the timeline, and provide a FAQs and a Question/Inquiry form for support and transparency.
Understanding that significant cost reductions to academic programs and disciplines (e.g., redesigns, mergers, closures, etc.) take time to implement, a Program/Discipline Financial Sustainability Review process will be enacted in winter and spring terms (2025) to result in savings in the second year of the upcoming biennium (FY26) and for the 2027-2029 biennium. In addition to this process, the college is already in a budget development process for the next biennium.
The process we will use to review program and discipline fiscal sustainability to identify cost savings is outlined below:
Broad Review of All Programs and Disciplines
- Academic Affairs administration, in conjunction with SPIP, will complete a broad review of all programs and disciplines utilizing institutional data and metrics that will be made available in early January.
- Academic Affairs leadership (VPAA with Academic & Career Pathways Senior Leaders) in cooperation with SPIP will identify programs/disciplines for further review.
Comprehensive Self-Study Review of Select Programs/Disciplines
- For programs and disciplines identified for further review, faculty with support from Program Deans will complete self-studies, focusing on plans for reducing costs and increasing enrollment.
- Academic Affairs Leadership in collaboration in collaboration with the AVP of Enrollment & Strategy, SPIP, and Finance will review program self-studies. The VPAA and AVP of Academic & Career Pathways will provide recommendations to the President.
Decision Making/Recommendations
- Recommendations may include:
- Continuing at the current level of activity;
- Continuing with specific actions for cost savings;
- Developing cooperative programs (merging programs to reduce costs);
- Discontinuing programs/disciplines.
- The President, in consultation with Cabinet, will make decisions based on recommendations provided by Academic Affairs Leadership.
Appeal Process
- An appeal process will be provided for programs and disciplines recommended for significant changes and/or discontinuance.
- Programs/Disciplines can submit appeals to the Cabinet within 10 business days of notification of the decision.
Final Decisions
- The President’s Cabinet will finalize decisions based on comprehensive reviews and appeal outcomes.
Accountability Measures for Academic Affairs Leadership
In an effort to be more clear and transparent, the Academic Affairs Leadership is committed to the following accountability measures throughout this process:
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1. Clear Documentation
- We will maintain detailed records throughout the process. This includes feedback collected, responses to feedback, scoring rubrics, and rationale for decisions made.
- We will update this webpage with additional information and documentation at each phase of the process.
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2. Regular Progress Updates
- We will schedule regular updates (e.g., at least one update per phase of the project) to share progress with faculty, staff, and others.
- We will use these updates to highlight milestones reached, challenges encountered, and next steps.
- Progress throughout the process will be tracked and recorded on this webpage and linked to the Fiscal Sustainability website.
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3. Feedback/Inquiry Mechanisms
- We will implement channels for faculty, staff, and managers to gather information and provide feedback on the process, both during and after the program self-studies.
- A Questions/Inquiry form will be provided with each communication. We will provide a response directly to each submitter if an email is provided with the question.
- Time with leaders will be offered to impacted programs/disciplines at the end of the comprehensive deep review and post-appeal, and by request at any phase/time of the process.
Updates
Updates and Latest News Section
This is where we will put new messages, comms, updates.
Summary of Program/Discipline Cost Reduction Phases and Timeline
Summary of Program/Discipline Cost Reduction Phases & Timeline
A left to right timeline diagram with 6 phases or milestones along the timeline, each labeled with a date or date range and description. The first label is President’s Fiscal Framework Announced on 11.19.24. The second label is PHASE 1: Broad Review from Jan-Feb 2025. The third label is PHASE 2: Comprehensive Self-Study Review from March-Mid April 2025. The fourth label is PHASE 3: Recommendations/Decisions Mid-Late April 2025. The fifth label is PHASE 4: Appeal Process from Late April-May 2025. The sixth label is PHASE 5: Final Decisions June 2025.
Phase 1: Broad Review (January – February 2025)
Key Actions:
- Compile data for the initial broad review and communicate the process to Academic Affairs program/discipline employees.
- Prepare evaluation materials, including instructions and training resources for Pathway and Program Deans.
- Conduct a norming session with Pathway and Program Dean evaluators to align understanding of evaluation criteria.
- Evaluate data, compiling scored rubrics and qualitative feedback.
- Hold Pathway-specific meetings with evaluators to identify programs for comprehensive in-depth review.
- Document final decisions and rationales regarding programs to be reviewed further.
- Notify all programs of the outcomes of the broad review: (1) identified for self-study, and (2) not identified, but encouraged to identify cost savings.
Phase 2: Comprehensive Self-Study Review (March – mid-April 2025)
Key Actions:
- Develop training and support materials for programs undergoing self-studies.
- Provide guidance on self-study expectations, including scheduled help sessions.
- Review self-studies, scoring them according to established evaluation framework.
- Hold Pathway-specific meetings with evaluators to discuss evaluations and identify program/discipline-specific recommendations.
- Document decisions and rationale following the review meetings, compiling recommendations for the President.
Phase 3: Decision Making/Recommendations (mid-late April 2025)
Key Actions:
- Finalize recommendations based on comprehensive self-study reviews and present them to the President.
- Prepare communications and notifications regarding decisions, ensuring stakeholders are informed of the outcomes.
- Notify programs of decisions made.
Phase 4: Appeal Process (Late April – May 2025)
Key Actions:
- Offer help sessions and meetings for programs/disciplines to discuss decisions and potential appeals.
- Facilitate the appeals process, collecting submissions and sharing them with the Cabinet for review.
- Cabinet reviews appeals.
Phase 5: Final Decisions (June 2025)
Key Actions:
- Cabinet finalizes decisions regarding appeals.
- Prepare communication materials to share outcomes with the individual programs/disciplines, PCC community, and the Board.
- Notify programs of final decisions.
- Conduct follow-up meetings with affected faculty/staff to discuss outcomes and next steps (including teach out plans, as necessary).
- Compile results of the entire process, including documentation of timelines and rationales for decisions.
FAQs
- FAQs for the Program/Discipline Fiscal Sustainability Process
- Question/Inquiry Form for the Program/Discipline Fiscal Sustainability Process
- If you have a question or inquiry about the process, please fill out the form and we will do our best to provide a response within 48-72 business hours.