Roles of Committee Chair: Responding to Report Review

Report review is the last opportunity a committee has to ensure that its report is technically sound, clear, and objective. It also is the process by which the imprimatur of the institution is placed on the committee's work.

The review process centers on the responses a committee prepares in the process of revising its draft report based on the comments received through an independent review.
The audience for comments made in response to review is the report review coordinator along with a monitor appointed in some instances by the institution's Report Review Committee. They will recommend whether or not the committee's responses are adequate to warrant public release of the report.
Report review is an integral part of the committee's deliberative process. A report is not finished until the review process is completed.
Experience shows that review almost always strengthens a report substantially.
It is important for the chair to ensure that every review comment is mined for its maximum value and that the committee is thorough and thoughtful in preparing its response to review. Even seemingly minor review comments can have important implications for the content and structure of the report.
Report review does not have to be a drawn-out or difficult experience. If a draft report is sound going into review and if the review comments are responded to promptly and thoroughly, the review process can be expeditious.