Sample External Reviewer Engagement Letter

July 1, 2008 for Fall
October 31, 2008 for Spring

Professor I. M. Distinguished
Aspirational Department
Reputable University

Dear Professor Distinguished:

Thank you for agreeing to evaluate our ____________ program(s). Your assessment of our accomplishments, challenges, and aspirations will be invaluable to us in our effort to improve the quality of our program offerings.

As the external reviewer for the program(s) in _________ at Florida State University, you will be asked to perform the following tasks:

Review the program's self-study documents prepared for the program review;
Conduct an in-depth review of the _______ degree program(s), on site, from ____ to ______, 200_. A standard sample schedule, which includes topics of discussion, is attached. The specific schedule for your visit will be set by the department chair; and
Develop a report assessing the quality of the program, including recommendations that will be used by the program as benchmarks for improvement over the next five years. You will submit your report to the Office of the Provost (mvanos@fsu.edu) within two weeks after the date of your site visit to Florida State University. A sample format for your report is attached.

Your role as external reviewer is critically important to our review of the _______ program(s) and will be used in all subsequent phases of the Quality Enhancement Review process.

We are able to offer you a consultant honorarium of $1,500 for your services plus reimbursement of travel expenses at State of Florida rates. (See http://www.vpfa.fsu.edu/policies/controller/2d-2.html for more information.) Ms/r. ________ at the college/department office (phone and email of your staff) will contact you about travel arrangements and will handle your payment and reimbursement. If these arrangements are satisfactory to you, please sign below and return the original to my office as soon as possible. Upon receipt of the signed agreement, the University will create a purchase order, which will serve as the contract for your services.

We appreciate the time and effort you are investing in improving the _______ program(s) at Florida State University. We trust that your visit will be professionally gratifying to you.

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Lawrence G. Abele
Provost and Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs

Signature of Reviewer

Date

cc: Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost
     Vice President for Planning and Programs
     Dean of College
     Department Chair
     Ms/r. College Administrative Assistant
     Provost's Office, Accounting Representative
     Provost's Office, Staff Assistant

Enclosures (included only for the addressee and department chair):
External Reviewer Sample Schedule
External Reviewer Suggested Report Format

Note: Please return a signed copy of this agreement to the Provost's Office as soon as possible.

				Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Quality Enhancement Reviews



	QER General Information Purpose and Overview Process Guidelines Seven-Year Cycle Schedule Contact List Due Dates and Deadlines QER Schedule—Fall 2008 (Excel download) QER Schedule—Spring 2009 (Excel download) External Reviewer Information Role and Qualifications Steps in Identifying and Engaging External Reviewers Sample Engagement Letter Sample Site Visit Schedule Sample External Reviewer's Report format Self-Study Questions and Documentation CURRENT Self-Study Questions* PROPOSED Self-Study Questions* Supporting Documentation: Sources Unit Accomplishment Summary Instructions Unit Accomplishment Summary Spreadsheets (Excel download) Faculty SUSSAI Scores Spreadsheet (Excel download) Faculty SUSSAI Scores SAMPLE Spreadsheet (Excel download) Graduate Policy Committee (GPC) Review Process Florida Board of Governor's Process Frequently Asked Questions QER Guidelines and Procedures Manual (PDF download) *Self-Study Questions: Fall 2008 reviews may either use the current or proposed self-study questions. Spring 2009 reviews must use the proposed self-study questions.			Sample External Reviewer Engagement Letter July 1, 2008 for Fall October 31, 2008 for Spring Professor I. M. Distinguished Aspirational Department Reputable University Dear Professor Distinguished: Thank you for agreeing to evaluate our ____________ program(s). Your assessment of our accomplishments, challenges, and aspirations will be invaluable to us in our effort to improve the quality of our program offerings. As the external reviewer for the program(s) in _________ at Florida State University, you will be asked to perform the following tasks: Review the program's self-study documents prepared for the program review; Conduct an in-depth review of the _______ degree program(s), on site, from ____ to ______, 200_. A standard sample schedule, which includes topics of discussion, is attached. The specific schedule for your visit will be set by the department chair; and Develop a report assessing the quality of the program, including recommendations that will be used by the program as benchmarks for improvement over the next five years. You will submit your report to the Office of the Provost (mvanos@fsu.edu) within two weeks after the date of your site visit to Florida State University. A sample format for your report is attached. Your role as external reviewer is critically important to our review of the _______ program(s) and will be used in all subsequent phases of the Quality Enhancement Review process. We are able to offer you a consultant honorarium of $1,500 for your services plus reimbursement of travel expenses at State of Florida rates. (See http://www.vpfa.fsu.edu/policies/controller/2d-2.html for more information.) Ms/r. ________ at the college/department office (phone and email of your staff) will contact you about travel arrangements and will handle your payment and reimbursement. If these arrangements are satisfactory to you, please sign below and return the original to my office as soon as possible. Upon receipt of the signed agreement, the University will create a purchase order, which will serve as the contract for your services. We appreciate the time and effort you are investing in improving the _______ program(s) at Florida State University. We trust that your visit will be professionally gratifying to you. We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Lawrence G. Abele Provost and Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs Signature of Reviewer Date cc: Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost Vice President for Planning and Programs Dean of College Department Chair Ms/r. College Administrative Assistant Provost's Office, Accounting Representative Provost's Office, Staff Assistant Enclosures (included only for the addressee and department chair): External Reviewer Sample Schedule External Reviewer Suggested Report Format Note: Please return a signed copy of this agreement to the Provost's Office as soon as possible.