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When undergoing the OBPR External Review Cycle, academic programs will nominate an expert in their field to participate in the OBPR process as an external reviewer. External reviewers are required to conduct a review of the most recent OBPR Self-Study documents and Mid-Cycle Action Plan Progress Report, conduct a virtual or on-site visit of/to ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ for at least two days, and prepare recommendations, as well as commendations and suggestions, considering their review of materials and interviews. 

The department chair, in consultation with program faculty, will submit a minimum of three external reviewer nominees along with the curriculum vitae (CV) to the college dean for consideration. The dean will review the submissions and take one of the following actions: 

1. Select the external reviewer from the list of potential reviewers 
2. Request additional reviewers from the department chair 
3. Recommend another list of potential reviewers to the department chair 

Once the external reviewer is selected by the dean, the department chair will notify OIE via email and submit the reviewer’s CV. 

1. The department chair will contact the reviewer to identify several two-day options for the external review
2. The department chair and OIE will work together to select the visit date 

After the external review is complete, academic programs will develop an Action Plan based on continuous improvement and considerations made through the external review process. The Action Plan serves as a five-year planning document for the program. 

Approximately 2.5 years after the most recent Action Plan was submitted (i.e., at the mid-point of the 5-year OBPR cycle) academic programs will submit a Mid-Cycle Action Plan Progress Report. This will serve as a brief progress report on the most recently submitted action plan. 

External reviewers are expected to have the following credentials:

• highest degree(s) in relevant discipline(s)
• distinguished track record in related research, teaching and service
• experience with program review, institutional effectiveness, assessment and/or accreditation 
• have administrative experience
• have experience at an institution with the same/similar programs as those being evaluated
• be from an institution whose program the university wishes to emulate or with which the program wishes to be compared
• hold the rank of Associate Professor or higher
• have experience outside of Florida
• have no existing conflicts of interest (e.g. concurrent post or prospective candidacy for a post at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ)