Visit Guidelines for External Reviewers

The external reviewer must be prepared to review the self-study documents, visit UNF for at least two days, and prepare recommendations, as well as commendations and suggestions, in light of his/her interviews and self-study document reviews.

For IRS purposes, all travel arrangements must be made by the external reviewer. The department will share a list of hotels that provide UNF rates. The reviewer will then let the hotel know that he/she is conducting UNF business and ask for the UNF rate. The reviewer will also make all other travel arrangements including, if appropriate, air travel. UNF will reimburse the reviewer when the final report is submitted and travel expenses are invoiced. The department will assist the reviewer with the reimbursement process.

Office of Institutional Effectiveness will release the self-study materials to the external reviewer at least two weeks in advance of the visit. In preparation for the visit, a conference call between the Program Review Committee and the external reviewer will be scheduled. The purpose of the call is to provide the reviewer with an opportunity to ask any questions and request additional information. Additionally, the call provides an opportunity for the reviewer to provide feedback on the draft visit itinerary and request additional meetings as deemed appropriate.

The last meeting during the two-day visit will be a preliminary assessment of the academic program. The meeting will be attended by the Program Review Committee, the dean, department chair, and program leader. The reviewer will be asked to submit a written report within 10 business days after the visit.

A report template that is in alignment with the self-study report will be provided to the reviewer. The reviewer will be asked to offer an assessment of each item, considering when appropriate, his/her knowledge of other public institutions. While a few items solicit an open-ended response, most ask the reviewer to rate a particular characteristic of the program under review as exemplary, appropriate, or needing improvement. At the end of each section, the reviewer is provided space to elaborate on any items in that section identified as exemplary or needing improvement. Additional comments are optional. The reviewer may offer recommendations for improvement on the topics covered in each section at the end of the respective section and/or may provide all recommendations for program improvement at the end of the document.