The ritual associated with program review is overcome when the department asks fundamental questions about itself, such as, “What are we trying to do?  Why are we trying to do it?  Why are we doing it that way?  How do we know it works?”  The review then takes on a purpose:  It creates a link to the academic work of the department.  The exercise thus moves beyond the belief that program review is mandated by "them" and is for "them."

Werin, J., & Swingen, J. (2000).  Departmental Assessment: How Some Campuses Are Effectively Evaluating the Collective Work of Faculty.  Forum on Faculty Roles & Rewards, AAHE