Academic Program and Discipline Review (APDR)
Academic Program and Discipline Review (APDR) is a systematic, comprehensive evaluation of academic programs and disciplines led by the faculty with administrative support. The purpose of the APDR process is to evaluate the effectiveness and progress of academic programs and disciplines and to identify the future direction, needs, and priorities of those programs and disciplines. The goal of APDR is to establish an agreed-upon action plan for further development of the academic program and discipline. A systematic APDR process ensures excellence in program and discipline quality. It is supported by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).
In Spring 2022 and Summer 2022, the Office of Strategic Insights (OSI) listened to feedback from Administrative Council members and faculty teams regarding planning and assessment efforts at NOVA. We thank everyone who was engaged in discussions and provided valuable insights to improve planning and assessment at NOVA. All degree programs at NOVA (along with their related certificates and career studies certificates), as well as “stand-alone” certificates, career studies certificates, and disciplines, are to be reviewed according to a periodic schedule. Office of Strategic Insights, in consultation with the Pathway Deans, coordinates the schedule of reviews and notifies programs and disciplines when they are scheduled for review. The Program Review Evaluation occurs as follows:
- Degree programs, certificates, career studies certificates and disciplines are evaluated every three years.
- Programs accredited or approved by external agencies (e.g., nursing) are reviewed on their professional accreditation cycle.
Administrative support for APDR is provided by the Office of Strategic Insights (OSI) and other appropriate College units. If you have any questions, please contact James Williams, Ph.D., Director of Continuous Improvement, at jlwilliams@nvcc.edu.
Please see the table below for the 3-year rotating cycle of program and discipline reviews.
3-year rotating cycle of program and discipline reviews |
2023-24 - Programs |
| Information Systems Technology, AAS Cloud Computing Specialization, A.A.S. Application Programming, CSC Cloud Computing, CSC Database Specialist, CSC IT Technical Support, CSC Mobile Application Development, CSC Network Administration, CSC Network Engineering Specialist, CSC Web Design and Development, CSC |
| Accounting, AAS Accounting, CSC Bookkeeping Certificate Accounting Information Security w/Data Analytics CSC |
| Contract Management, AAS |
| Graphic Design, AAS Interactive Design Specialization, AAS |
| Science, AS Mathematics Specialization, AS |
| Interior Design, AAS |
| Marketing: Digital Marketing, CSC |
| Marketing: Promotion and Public Relations, CSC |
| Geographic Information System, CSC |
2023-24 - Disciplines |
| Chemistry (CHM) |
| Economics (ECO) |
| Physics (PHY) |
2024-25 - Programs |
| Business Administration, AS |
| Engineering, AS Engineering Technology, AAS Data Center Operations Specialization, AAS Engineering Technology Technician, CSC Data Center Operations, CSC |
| Administration of Justice, AAS Homeland Security Specialization, AAS Administration of Justice Certificate General Forensic Investigation, CSC Advanced Forensic Investigation, CSC National Security, CSC |
| Social Sciences: Deaf Studies Specialization, AS |
| Construction.Management Technology, AAS Construction Supervision, CSC Site Development, CSC |
| American Sign Language to English Interpretation, AAS American Sign Language, CSC |
| Horticulture Technology, AAS Landscape Design Specialization, AAS |
| Driver Education Instructor, CSC |
| Public History and Historic Preservation, CSC |
| Music Recording Technology, Certificate |
| Photography and Media, AAS |
| Cinema, AFA |
| Visual Arts, A.F.A. |
| Social Science, AS |
| Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Counselor, Certificate |
2024-25 - Disciplines |
| Environmental Science (ENV) |
| Geology (GOL) |
| Humanities |
| Sociology (SOC) |
2025-26 - Programs |
| Information Technology, AS |
| Cybersecurity, AAS Cybersecurity, CSC |
| Business Management, AAS Business Information Technology CSC Entrepreneurship, CSC Leadership Development, CSC |
| General Studies, AS |
| Architecture Technology, AAS Computer Aided Drafting and Design, CSC |
| Biology, AS |
| Biotechnology, AAS Biotechnology Lab Technician, CSC |
| Criminology and Criminal Justice, AS |
| Liberal Arts, AA |
| Liberal Arts, International Studies Specialization, AA |
| Liberal Arts, Art History Specialization, AA |
| Liberal Arts, English Specialization, AA |
| Liberal Arts Theatre: CSC |
| Liberal Arts, Communication Studies, A.A. |
| Health Sciences, AS |
| Psychology, AS |
| Radiography, AAS |
| Technical and Professional Writing, CSC |
| Music, AFA |
| Information Systems Technology: Data Analytics, CSC |
| Social Sciences: Geospatial Specialization, AS |
| Social Sciences, Political Science Specialization, AS |
| Education, AS Education: Teaching Professional, CSC |
| Uniform Certificate of General Studies |
| Welding - Basic Techniques CSC |
| Personal Training, CSC |
| Computer Science, AS |
2025-26 - Disciplines |
| History (HIST) |
| Geography (GEO) |
| Philosophy (PHI) |
| Religion (REL) |
| World Languages (ARA, CHI, FRE, GER, JPN, LAT, RUS SPA) |
| English as a Second Language |