Phase 1 of a comprehensive course review process: program innovation.

A systematic college-wide course review process can serve as an effective and efficient vehicle for both curricular management and faculty development. The purpose of this paper is to describe Phase I of an evolving course review process at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (UKCD). Phase 1 was designed to provide the foundation necessary to ultimately achieve an overall program of continuous evaluation that will produce sustainable curricular improvement and faculty renewal. The course review process includes elements of self-assessment and collaborative peer review. Elements of the current system include emphasis on both the curriculum as a whole and individual course characteristics. It encourages faculty to view their courses as part of the whole and to develop sensitivity to the impact their courses have on other parts of the curriculum. Equally important are the elements that focus on individual course elements and educational methodologies used.