An independent, peer-driven review of your facilities organization
APPA's Facilities Management Evaluation Program pairs your institution with seasoned educational facilities professionals who assess how your operation aligns with its mission, goals, and long-term vision — then hand you recommendations you can act on.
The Program
A comprehensive external review, conducted by your peers
Unlike an internal audit, the FMEP offers a candid, independent perspective from facilities professionals who have run organizations like yours — a structured, objective look at where your operation stands and where it can go next.
Why It Matters
Why institutions choose the FMEP
Benchmark Performance
Measure your organization against industry best practices and the peers you are compared to.
Unbiased Assessment
Gain an independent read on your operation, rooted in factual data rather than internal assumptions.
Sharper Planning
Strengthen long-range strategic planning and day-to-day operational effectiveness.
Better Customer Satisfaction
Improve how faculty, staff, and students experience the services your organization delivers.
Staff Engagement
Build engagement and internal support for the changes your organization needs to make.
What Gets Evaluated
Seven criteria that define a healthy facilities organization
FMEP assessments are built around seven core criteria that together reflect the effectiveness of your operation.
Leadership
Direction, vision, values, and the ability to drive cultural change.
Strategic & Operational Planning
Alignment with institutional goals and readiness for future needs.
Customer Focus
Engagement with faculty, staff, students, and campus stakeholders.
Assessment & Information Analysis
Use of data and metrics to understand and improve performance.
Human Resources Development
Building talent, creativity, and organizational capacity over time.
Process Management
Efficiency and effectiveness of your operations and services.
Performance Results
Outcomes in campus appearance, satisfaction, financial stewardship, and more.
The Process
How an evaluation works
Four stages, from self-assessment through a written report you can put in front of your cabinet.
Institutional Self-Evaluation
Your institution prepares a profile and self-assessment ahead of the visit.
On-Site Peer Review
A tailored team of experts spends 3–5 days on campus interviewing staff and evaluating operations.
Oral Report
The team shares immediate feedback directly with institutional leadership.
Final Report
A detailed written report with recommendations arrives, typically within 8–12 weeks.
The power of peer review
FMEP evaluators are facilities leaders from peer institutions who bring years of experience managing complex campuses. Because they are practitioners rather than outside consultants, they can speak candidly, identify gaps, and share proven strategies that internal staff may overlook — and their independence is what gives the findings credibility with your cabinet.
A proven track record
Over the past three decades the FMEP has been conducted at hundreds of institutions, including major universities, specialized schools, and cultural organizations. Institutions consistently report stronger alignment between facilities operations and institutional goals after completing the program.