Constructively evaluating, providing feedback during an academic program review: Opinion

In a recent editorial for the Chronicle of Higher Ed, Dana S Dunn provides advice on how to provide useful feedback that could “disturb the peace” of an academic department during a program review. Dunn writes that the first step is to write a persuasive report that focuses on observations and recommendations, touches on key concerns, and suggests solutions to uncomfortable realities. A variety of complications can arise during the review process, Dunn notes, such as feeling hamstrung by department demands, needing to work with a hostile or clueless member of a department, managing a generational divide, or uncovering a toxic department environment. Dunn offers recommendations on how to address these issues in a manner that effectively helps a department to refocus and improve itself.