External Review Process for Non-Doctoral Programs

External review of a new program proposal by a recognized expert in the field is required by NYSED for certain types of proposals, including:

• All graduate programs
• Applications that require a master plan amendment
• Applications for registration of a program in a new or emerging field

Prior approval of proposed external reviewers by NYSED is required for new professional licensure programs. This approval is coordinated by the Office of the Vice Provost.

Additional information is available on NYSED’s External Review guidance page.

If an external review is required, a review by at least two external reviewers must occur once the proposal is complete but before review by ICC or Graduate Council. The external reviewers must be nationally recognized field experts, typically from outside of New York State, who are selected by RIT (in consultation with NYSED if applicable) as follows:

• As early as possible in the process, send the Office of the Vice Provost a description of the proposed program along with the names, rationale, and CVs of at least two recognized experts in the field who meet the following external reviewer criteria:
  • The proposed external reviewers must be recognized experts in the field of the program, as demonstrated by appropriate educational credentials, professional experience and academic teaching and/or administrative experience in similar programs.
  • NYSED guidelines imply that the reviewer will have a national focus and a strong background in the American Higher Education System. It would be preferable to have reviewers who are able to speak to similar programs offered in the United States.
  • The proposed external reviewers must not have a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest with the institution or program under review. There is a conflict of interest/appearance of a conflict of interest when the proposed reviewer:
    • is a present or former employee, student, member of the governing board, owner or shareholder of, or consultant to the institution that is seeking approval for the proposed program or for new degree authority, including those persons who may have consulted on, or helped to develop, the application
    • is a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of any of the individuals listed above
    • has expressed an opinion for or against the proposed program
    • is seeking or being sought for employment or other relationship with the institution submitting the application
    • has now, or has had in the past, a relationship with the institution submitting the application that might compromise objectivity
    • has a competitive relationship with the institution that might compromise objectivity
• The Office of the Vice Provost will vet the potential reviewers and seek approval from NYSED, if applicable. 
• If NYSED finds that the external reviewer chosen by RIT has a conflict of interest, it will terminate review of the application and notify the institution that the application is incomplete and will be closed.

The NYSED external review report form varies based on the type of program that is being reviewed:

• Teacher Education Certification Programs
• Educational Leadership Certification Programs
• Other non-doctoral programs

Allow at least four weeks for the external review report form to be prepared by the reviewer.

Each reviewer must complete and sign a Conflict of Interest statement.

The evaluator report(s), along with the institution’s response and final proposal, will serve as the basis for NYSED to make a determination regarding program registration. External reviewer reports must include the following:

• Completed, signed Conflict of Interest statement for each reviewer. 
• Completed NYSED Report Form. A single team report by the external reviewers is preferred.

The institution is required to submit its response report, fully addressing any concerns that were raised by the reviewers (e.g., if the program was found to lack sufficient core faculty, the institution would need to appoint appropriate additional faculty, provide Curricula Vitae for the additional faculty, and solicit the reviewers’ comments on the adequacy of the new faculty coverage). If applicable, the institutional response must explain how the program proposal was modified in response to the reviewer’s comments.

• See a sample Institutional Response that was prepared by RIT. 

The external review report and institutional response become part of the proposal package that is reviewed by ICC/Graduate Council and Faculty Senate