May 4, 2016

Drexel is beginning a new cycle of Program Alignment and Review [PAR] and the Libraries is a source of information for multiple aspects of the reviews.

The Libraries offers to identify scholarly works produced by faculty in each program. Librarians are able to provide comparative metrics, such as citation counts and impact factor, for publications by Drexel faculty as well as faculty at peer and benchmark institutions. Using InCites, we help to identify research subjects that are areas of excellence for the program. The example provided is a graph of publications over the last five years for five U.S. research universities that compares the amount of output from each institution, Drexel liaison librarians assist in further uncovering and analyzing available data about faculty publications by a specific department.

Furthermore, we identify resources that support the curriculum, and help PAR groups to understand new sources and types of information such as data repositories and streaming media. We also research and project costs to add information resources needed to reach ambitions for a program.

Library staff in the Archives are also helpful to uncover documentation about programs under review. Photographs, letters, annual reports, and yearbooks are among sources of rich information that help PAR groups gain insights and describe the history of their program.

For members of the campus community who would like more information about how the Libraries can assist you in the PAR process, contact your liaison librarian.