External Reviews

External Reviews

Office of Continuous Improvement and Accreditation

Guiding Principles

• UT Tyler is committed to self-assessment and to external reviews as an integral part of strategic planning, institutional effectiveness and to ensure continuing quality enhancement toward fulfillment of the UT Tyler mission.
• Participation in the review process emphasizes self-assessment and demonstrates a concern about quality, an ability to be self-critical and a willingness to act upon identified concerns.
• External reviewers are selected with particular reference to their records of experience and thoughts relative to broad issues of higher education within their respective disciplines. The external review is considered to be an appropriate assessment effort in the systematic evaluation of performance and accountability.

The external review process includes:

• Completion of a comprehensive self-study.
• A pre-visit review of the self-study report and support documentation by the external reviewer(s).
• A campus visit that includes meetings with all stakeholders. (The external review may be completed as a desk audit for online-only master's degree programs).
• A preliminary exit report shared at the conclusion of the site visit/desk audit.
• An external review report that includes all required review criteria and is provided in a timely manner.
• Integration of the external program review reports and subsequent action plans into the annual assessment plan.

Graduate Program External Reviews

Graduate programs are reviewed on a decennial scheduled determined with the Texas Higher 
Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and in compliance with the Texas State Code. The Graduate Program External Review is an essential function of the institution’s quality review process and provides perspectives not available on campus. The results of the external program reviews are included with other assessment and evaluation information in determining the quality of instruction, curricular relevance, program efficiency and program impact. Additionally, the self-assessment and systematic program review information contribute to planning for continuous improvement of student learning and program quality. 

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board UT Tyler Graduate Program External Review Schedule

UT Tyler Graduate Program External Review Handbook 2024-2025

UT Tyler Graduate Program External Reviewer Handbook 2024-2025

Academic and Student Support Services External Reviews

Information and resources for reviews of non-academic departments and units are located in the UT Tyler Academic and Student Support: External Review Handbook.

External reviews of selected UT Tyler Academic and Student Support Services Units are conducted on a 7-10 year cycle. Performance indicators included in the self-study and external review reports are based on recognized criteria by the appropriate professional organizations and/or the current Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education.  External reviewers are selected based on appropriate professional experience and expertise within the respective professional area.