adpcl
Association of Departments and Programs of Comparative Literature

Program Reviews

Periodically, many universities request an external review of a department, program, or other academic unit. Sometimes this process occurs as part of a regular cycle in which all academic units are reviewed.  Some reviews are conducted to help decide what to do in times of trouble; in the other direction, units in a strong position might request an external review to obtain external validation that can help persuade local administrators to make an additional investment.

External review teams often consist of two or three faculty members from well-regarded institutions, who are sent written materials about the unit being reviewed and then come to campus for a visit.  Afterwards, the team submits a written report with recommendations -- which may, or may not, be followed in whatever local decision-making process is to occur.

Even if program reviews are undertaken internally, without visits from external reviewers, sometimes a dean or another administrator will seek advice from administrators elsewhere.

The ADPCL is ready to assist in such situations. We believe that if a Comparative Literature unit is being reviewed, it is in the interests of the unit, and everyone else concerned, for the reviewers (a) to be knowledgeable about the discipline of Comparative Literature and to have a professional identity within the discipline; and (b) to have had administrative experience, in order to be prepared to participate in the administrative discourse about performance indicators, student credit hours, faculty productivity, etc., that customarily surrounds such reviews.

The ADPCL has supplied members of review teams in the past and, if requested, will endeavor to do so again. If your unit is being reviewed, and if external consultants are being selected, you may wish to inform your dean (or whoever is conducting the review) that he/she can contact the ADPCL for suggested names of reviewers.