Award Thresholds and Exclusions for Low-Producing Academic Programs
Undergraduate Degree/Major Programs
- The threshold for low-producing status is fewer than 25 degrees awarded in five years.
- Undergraduate degree/major programs are excluded from low-producing status if the program is within five years of first enrolling students or if admission to the program is suspended.
Master’s-Level Degree/Major Programs
- The threshold for low-producing status is fewer than 15 degrees awarded in five years.
- Master’s level degree/major programs are excluded from low-producing status if the program is a non-admitting master's associated with a corresponding Ph.D. program, or if it is within five years of first enrolling students, or if admission to the program is suspended.
Doctoral/Ph.D. Degree/Major Programs
- The threshold for low-producing status is fewer than five degrees awarded in five years.
- Ph.D. degree/major programs are excluded from low-producing status if the program is within five years of first enrolling students or if admission to the program is suspended.
Certificate Programs (Undergraduate, Graduate/Professional, Capstone)
- The threshold for low-producing status is fewer than ten certificates awarded in five years. All certificates that have zero awards over a five-year period will be automatically discontinued without review.
- Certificates are excluded from low-producing status if the program is within five years of first enrolling students or if admission to the program is suspended.
Actions for Low-Producing Programs
Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research (DAPIR) will notify deans' offices annually of any low-producing programs.
The dean’s office is expected to either 1.) offer evidence in support of continuing a low-producing program, e.g., the academic program serves a specialized role in the program array, or 2.) recommend one of the following options:
- Discontinue the program.
- Merge a smaller program into an appropriate larger program.
- Merge several low-producing programs into one more inclusive title.
- Revitalize the program through substantial curricular revision, new opportunities for research/scholarship, renewed recruitment practices and enrollment goals, or other approaches.
For low-producing programs that have substantial reasons for continuation, the dean’s office must prepare a report using the Low-Producing Academic Programs Reporting Form that includes the following:
- Demonstration of student demand/need, even at a low level, for graduates with this specific credential.
- Explanation as to whether the program fills a specific academic niche unique to UW–Madison, or in some way is necessary for the university’s identity, or in some way contributes to the mission of the academic division or university.
- Outline of the cost of the program.
- Need for faculty and staff to continue the investment of time and effort in the program, including time devoted to learning outcomes assessment, review of the program, recruitment of students, curriculum development, advising, Guide and website maintenance, course scheduling, and similar activities.
- Description of the program’s academic unit.
The director of DAPIR and the provost will review reports on the status of low-producing programs. In keeping with UW System policy and requirements, updates will be provided annually to UW System. A summary of this information is also provided to the Board of Regents.
The annual program review report is presented by DAPIR to the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC) for discussion. Any formal actions associated with a program, e.g., change, merger, or discontinuation are considered by governance groups including the University Academic Planning Council.
