SUNY Oswego is committed to ensuring that our academic programs remain strong, relevant, and responsive to the evolving needs of our students and our region, as well as to the rapidly changing landscape of higher education.
The Academic Program Performance Initiative (APPI) is a framework designed to support those efforts. By providing a consistent, transparent, and data-informed approach to evaluating academic programs on an annual basis, APPI will help the university strengthen academic planning, promote continuous improvement, and ensure that resources are invested where they will have the greatest impact on student success.
APPI is a component of SUNY Oswego's broader strategy to strengthen enrollment, improve student retention, enhance academic quality, and position the university for long-term fiscal sustainability. Continuous improvement is an essential responsibility for institutions of higher education and an important component of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation process. It promotes thoughtful planning while preserving the university's longstanding commitment to academic excellence and shared governance.
This page explains why APPI is being implemented, how it works and what department chairs, directors and faculty members can expect during the review process.
About APPI
The Academic Program Performance Initiative is designed to support continuous improvement and informed academic planning. It is:
- A framework for continuous improvement.
- A consistent and transparent review process.
- An evidence-based planning tool.
- A balanced evaluation that weighs both quantitative data and strategic priorities.
- One component of the university's long-term academic planning process.
- An academic quality and fiscal stewardship tool.
Why SUNY Oswego Is Implementing APPI
Colleges and universities nationwide are increasingly using evidence-based program reviews to strengthen their academic portfolios and respond to changing demographics, shifting student demand and workforce needs. SUNY Oswego's APPI aligns with these national best practices while recognizing our unique mission as a comprehensive public university.
The framework is designed to:
- Support continuous improvement and academic quality.
- Strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
- Identify opportunities for strategic investment.
- Align academic offerings with student demand and workforce needs.
- Improve transparency and accountability.
- Promote responsible stewardship of the university's resources.
How APPI Works
Every undergraduate and graduate academic program will be evaluated annually using two equally weighted indices.
Performance Indicators
The productivity index evaluates measurable indicators of program performance, including:
- student enrollment trends;
- degree completion trends;
- student success outcomes;
- instructional contribution to the university, including General Education and service teaching; and
- instructional costs and resource utilization.
The SUNY Oswego APPI Tableau Dashboard provides access to program-level data aligned with the productivity index.
Strategic Need Indicators
The strategic need index considers broader measures of institutional value, including:
- alignment with SUNY Oswego's Strategic Plan and Vision 4040;
- workforce and employer demand;
- distinctiveness within SUNY and the region;
- contribution to access and opportunity; and
- post-graduation outcomes.
Department chairs, deans and provost inform the strategic need index scores through a collaborative review.
Taken together, these indices offer a balanced assessment of program performance and strategic importance.
The Review Process
After each review, programs will be placed in one of four categories:
Grow and Amplify
High-performing programs demonstrating strong enrollment, student success, and strategic value.
Strengthen and Elevate
Programs performing well that may benefit from targeted improvements or operational efficiencies.
Redesign and Reposition
Programs facing emerging challenges that would benefit from focused planning, innovation, or redesign.
Connect and Integrate
Programs requiring more extensive review and consideration through the university's established academic planning and shared governance processes.
Resources
- APPI Tableau Dashboard
- Full APPI Document
- Template A – Program Productivity Brief
- Template B – Program Action Memo
- Vision 4040
- Transforming Lives, Igniting Possibilities Strategic Plan 2025-2030
- Hanover Research: Academic Portfolio Optimization
- McAllister & Quinn: Research Capacity Benchmarking Analysis
- APPI Document Directory
Commitment to Shared Governance
SUNY Oswego remains firmly committed to shared governance throughout the APPI process. APPI does not replace existing academic governance processes. Academic decisions will continue to follow established university procedures and involve deans, department chairs, and academic administrators. APPI is intended to inform those discussions by providing consistent institutional data and a common framework for evaluating academic programs.
Questions About APPI?
Review answers to common questions about the evaluation process, program data, annual reviews, and potential outcomes.