As a part of its institutional effectiveness process, the College engages in a comprehensive review of each educational program on a five-year cycle. WCCS follows the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees Policy 703.01, which requires that an institution evaluate each of its educational programs at least every five years. 

The Program Review Report Template is shared with educational programs undergoing review by the office of Institutional Effectiveness at the start of the program review period. Programs are provided pertinent program data by the office of Institutional Research to complete this report.

Program reviews have become a significant facet of the planning process and have been instrumental in improving the quality of our programs and expanding student learning. The comprehensive evaluation of each program includes mission and goals, student and program demographics, curriculum analysis, assessment of weaknesses and strengths, and a student learning outcomes assessment. Also included are faculty evaluations, faculty development and governance, student support services, student policies and recruitment, learning resources, and physical and financial resources. A summary of Perkins performance indicators is included, as well as program improvements and changes implemented since the last review.

A critical component of the program review process includes an assessment to determine the extent to which educational programs have been successful in achieving their student learning outcomes and making program improvements over a five-year period. The process also includes an external review team composed of peer faculty, and business and industry partners. The review team provides a written feedback report of findings after reading the program’s self-review report, reviewing program resources, instructional methodologies and conducting interviews with faculty and students to verify and validate information provided.

The office of Institutional Effectiveness discusses the recommendations of the external review committee with each educational program. Critical to the process is the integration of identified areas needing improvement into the program’s assessment plan for the subsequent year to ensure closing the assessment loop. The college's program review process and its strategic planning process places particular emphasis on assessing the quantity and quality of student learning that takes place within each educational program.