Adding or Deleting Programs (Majors): SWOT Analysis

1. BACKGROUND

• Why is the program being considered / proposed? What are its academic antecedents?
• How does / will the program help advance the mission of the College, the goals of the Strategic Plan?
• What are the expectations from this program?

2. ENROLLMENTS IN THE PROGRAM

• What is the expected enrollment in this program?
• How may credit hours will this program generate? How many degrees, certificates?
• How will this program affect enrollments for related programs at Siena?
• What quality students are expected to enroll in this program? What has been the quality of students who have typically been attracted to related programs in the past?

3. EXTERNAL FACTORS: OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS

• What has been the demand for this program: in terms of national, regional, or local trends?
• Are other schools like Siena experiencing the same kinds of demand for this program?
• To what extend does this program help Siena differentiate itself from its competitors? Or be in step with its competitors?
• What external environmental factors opportunities / threats can this program take advantage of?
• Are there opportunities for the program to expand and grow?
• Are there opportunities for collaboration with other programs? With other institutions?
• What is the relationship between the program and emerging trends in distance learning?

4. INTERNAL IMPACT: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

• What are the strengths of this program?
• How will this program enhance Siena's academic quality / academic reputation?
• Will this program serve the College in ways that no other program does?
• What proportion of the enrollments in the courses in this program are in support of other majors, minors, the core curriculum, or other programs?
• What programs would suffer, or possibly fail, if these courses were not offered?
• Are there other internal claims on the program that should be noted: for e.g., has this program pioneered new approaches to teaching and learning that could serve as a model for emulation?
• What is the degree to which the program can cultivate relationships that benefit the institution? For e.g., articulation agreements with community colleges, technical schools, graduate programs at other universities; relationships with corporations that can lead to consulting arrangements, research contracts, etc.; economic development relationships with communities that are job creating and otherwise mutually beneficial, joint ventures or projects between the program and other entities that are beneficial to the College, etc.

5. QUALITY OF PROGRAM: Analyzed by the Board of Instruction

A. Inputs and Processes

• Quality of faculty and staff involved: provide information on credentials, skills, intellectual engagement with the discipline, etc.
• What is the degree to which this program will take advantage of advancements in technology to enhance learning and reinforce technology-related skills in students?

B. Outputs

• What are the (learning goals) of the program? (E.g., state the core learning outcomes, discipline-specific outcomes)
• How will students be assessed with respect to these goals?
• Will every student have the opportunity to receive the instruction and reinforcement necessary to meet these goals?
• Is there a capstone or a comprehensive assessment at the end of the program?
• Are there any accrediting standards that this program should address? If so, has the program met them?

6. REVENUES AND COSTS

A. Revenues

• Enrollments: How much revenue will the program generate from net tuition? (Estimate)
• Research grants: does the program have the potential to generate any research funds for itself such as equipment grants.
• Other sources: does the program generate revenues from fees, (admission fees, lab fees, user fees, etc.) etc?
• Potential revenue: Are there conditions of anticipated gifts, bequests, or endowments that require maintaining the program.

B. Costs

• How may faculty and staff will be assigned to this program?
• Direct costs: cost of instruction (including reduced faculty workload, use of adjuncts, etc), support staff and services, materials, lab supplies, etc.
• Indirect cost: overhead costs
• Has the program demonstrated “efficiencies” or made efforts to increase its services or quality of its program with existing resources through creative ways?

7. PHYSICAL AND TECHNOLOGY RELATED NEEDS

• What physical resources (labs, classroom and office spaces, etc.) does / will the program take / need at this point? To bring it to an even higher standard?
• What other resources will be committed?
• Can the College accommodate the physical needs of the program?
• What kind of technology-related resources does this program require to be effective?
• Can the College support that level of need?
• Are there other capital needs for the program (e.g., lab equipment)?

8. POTENTIAL SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM

• Is there faculty support for this program from all related departments?
• Are faculty members willing to participate in ways to make this program a success?
• Have adequate resources been allocated for the planning and implementation of the program?\
• Is there administrative support (department heads, deans, VPAA)?

9. FUTURE POTENTIAL OF THE PROGRAM

• Can / will enrollments in this program increase over time? Would that be desirable?
• Is there potential for growth in internal demand for this program because of expected growth in other areas?
• What additional investments in the program will be required to bring the program up to an even higher level (in size, scope, and / or quality)?
• Will the program require additional space in the future?

10. CONCLUSIONS