Academic Program Reviews

The Academic Program Review (APR) process supports UC Berkeley's efforts to sustain excellence in each scholarly discipline, as well as in pedagogy and research, and to build a strong and inclusive academic community, in line with campus priorities.

The process is overseen by the Program Review Oversight Committee (PROC), a joint Academic Senate-Administration committee, the process is designed to be forward looking and is an essential element in Berkeley’s institutional accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). 

  • What are academic programs at UC Berkeley?  These are units that hold faculty FTE and have undergraduate and/or graduate educational programs.  They include professional schools, departments within colleges, and augmented graduate groups.  We currently have 67 academic programs at UC Berkeley that are reviewed through this process.
  • How often is an academic program reviewed: APRs at UC Berkeley are regularly scheduled on a 10-year cycle and are not a sign of any problem with the unit. They are purposefully designed to be forward-looking and strategic.
  • What is the timeframe for an APR? Each program review can take up to 2.5 years, from kick-off to outcome. The mid-point of this timeframe is the external review site visit. We conduct 5-7 APR site visits in a given academic year.

The Division of Academic Planning provides advice, analytical and logistical support to academic units throughout the process.