What is Program Life Cycle?

stan chung 2014

Program Life Cycle is

...a way of considering the life “process” by which an institution’s academic or education plan is realized.

Why not keep using the term “Academic Plan?”

Many plans are realized and completed as documents. Documents possess strengths and challenges.

Perhaps planning documents are not the best way to consider the human and system activities enacted by educational institutions.

Program Lifecycle Advantages

Program Prioritization is a less preferred term for it is a often a negative experience.

Lifecycle is an integrated and continuous process of systematizing the genesis of new programs, improving core programs, and retiring programs.

Advantages

Program Lifecycle is informed by the concept that there is an appropriate beginning, middle, and end for all programs and services.

Advantages

Program Lifecycle is not a replacement for an Academic Plan but an expression of the processes, systems, policies, relationships, milestones, and timelines that embody the Academic Plan.

Three Activities of Program Lifecycle

Activity 1 Program Development

Activity 2 Program Quality

Activity 3 Program Sustainability

Activity 1 Program Development

Some Questions1. How do we develop new programs?2. How do we prioritize their development?3. Do we create “signature programs?”4. Have we mapped the process for new program development?

Activity 2 Program Quality

Sample Questions:1. How do define program quality?2. How do we measure quality?3. How do we support and share curriculum excellence?4. How is teaching quality, defined, measured and supported?

Activity 3 Program Sustainability

Sample Questions1. How do we cost our programs?2. Who is involved in program costing?3. How do account for variations in program funding?4. Have we mapped the process for program review?

Crosscutting Questions

1. When we consider retiring programs, do we also consider investing in new programs?2. Do departments feel engaged in the program quality process?3. Do our values inform our decision-making about programs?

Challenging Questions

1. What percentage of programs should be retired annually?2. What percentage of programs should be reviewed annually?3. Is there a system for rapidly developing new programs?

Governance

1. Who governs the process for the making changes to transfer, entrance requirements, and curriculum?2. Who governs the financial sustainability of a program?3. Who implements the changes made to a program?

Program Lifecycle

1. Builds processes and systems recognizing that an institution must invest in the entire life cycle of a program2. Invites thinking about the agility, responsiveness, and transparency around the life cycle governance3. Remains focussed on hope and engagement.

Conclusion

1. Program Lifecycle, SEM, Faculty Development, and Lean processes work very well together2. Program Lifecycle integrates the participation of the entire campus.3. Program Lifecycle requires a focus on systems, relationships, and accountability.

Ratios

1. Develop 2-5% new programs annually2. Review 5-10% of core programs on a priority basis annually3. Retire 2-5% of programs annually.Create a human and renewal process to redevelop programs suggested for retirement.4. Empower core program renewal

Thank you.

stan chungstanchung@gmail.com