Scope
This procedure forms part of 爱豆传媒鈥檚 Program Development, Change, Suspension, and Termination Policy (the 鈥淧olicy鈥) and should be followed and applied in relation to developing new Degree 爱豆传媒 under the Policy. Degree 爱豆传媒 include Bachelor鈥檚 Degrees and Master鈥檚 Degrees. Terms not otherwise defined in this procedure are as defined in the Policy.
Process
Program development is the responsibility of the Schools, subject to review and approval by relevant Institute, Ministry, and professional governing bodies. New Degree 爱豆传媒 are approved by the Board, and require Ministry approval through the degree authorization process conducted by the Degree Quality Assessment Board (鈥淒QAB鈥). Board approval is required prior to application to the Ministry for approval.
Program areas are required to consult with Academic Affairs prior to embarking on the degree development process. Proponents of new Degree 爱豆传媒 must also familiarize themselves with the Ministry degree authorization process. Detailed information about this process is found on DQAB鈥檚 Degree Authorization website.
For all new health-related degrees an additional Ministry review process is required. These include paramedicine and continuing professional health education programming, as well as any mental and social health programs. To ensure compliance with Ministry requirements, consultation with Academic Affairs is required prior to embarking on development of any new health-related programming. Detailed information about this process is found at on DQAB鈥檚 New Health 爱豆传媒 website.
The degree approval process consists of three stages, blending Institute and Ministry requirements:
- Stage One 鈥 Concept Development and Initial Assessment
- Stage Two 鈥 Full Program Proposal Development
- Stage Three 鈥 DQAB Assessment
Stage One 鈥 Concept Development and Initial Assessment
A new degree concept usually arises as part of a larger Institute strategy aligned with academic planning and priorities. The process requires careful planning, strong commitment, and support.
1. Initiation and Documentation
a. The proponent Dean explores the degree concept with the Vice-President, Academic (鈥淰PA鈥) and other School Deans to ensure alignment with Institute academic planning and priorities, and to identify potential curriculum and/or collaboration opportunities across Schools. VPA endorsement is required to proceed with degree concept proposal development.
b. The Dean assembles a Concept Proposal Development Team (the 鈥淭eam鈥) to write the proposal, ensure appropriate consultation, and manage proposal development and approval processes.
c. The Team initiates the Ministry鈥檚 template for Stage 1 Review for New Degree Proposals (the 鈥淪tage 1 Review鈥), which serves as the concept proposal. This document forms the first part of the application process to the Ministry to offer a new degree.
d. The Team also initiates 爱豆传媒鈥檚 Status Tracking and Approval Form (鈥淪TAF鈥) to ensure appropriate consultation, review, and approval is followed throughout the concept and full program proposal development process.
2. Consultation, Data Gathering and Analysis
a. The Team, in consultation with the Dean and Academic Affairs, generates a list of stakeholders who can provide information required for completion of the Stage 1 Review, and who may influence the overall success of the proposal. This list will include internal and external stakeholders representing a variety of academic, operational, Indigenous, and industry/employer perspectives.
b. The Team consults with identified groups and individuals throughout the completion of the Stage 1 Review process.
c. The Team works in partnership with Institutional Research to gather and analyze data regarding labour market needs, Student demand, and the competitive landscape, to ensure that decision-making, regarding viability of the program concept, is evidence-informed.
3. Stage 1 Review Draft
a. The Team completes the Stage 1 Review incorporating key information and insights provided by stakeholders and through the data gathering and analysis processes.
b. The Dean reviews the document and, in consultation with the VPA and other School Deans, determines whether there is sufficient evidence and support for the proposal to proceed to Approval.
c. Should the recommendation be that the proposal not go forward, the proposal process is terminated.
d. The Team documents the outcome on the STAF.
4. Stage 1 Review Approval
a. The Dean presents the Stage 1 Review to the School Curriculum Committee (鈥淪CC鈥) for review, feedback, and endorsement.
b. With SCC endorsement, the Dean presents the Stage 1 Review to Program Council (鈥淧C鈥) for review, feedback, and recommendation for approval to the Board.
c. With PC recommendation, the VPA presents the Stage 1 Review to the Board for approval.
d. Once approved by the Board, Academic Affairs posts the Stage 1 Review to PSIPS for peer review and feedback as part of the Institute鈥檚 application to the Ministry to develop a new degree.
e. The Dean drafts responses to comments received on PSIPS and provides them to Academic Affairs for review, endorsement, and posting on the PSIPS website.
f. The Ministry assesses whether the proposal meets the criteria related to the institution鈥檚 mandate and strategic plan, system consultation and coordination, labour market needs and Student demand. The Ministry notifies the Institute of the outcome.
g. The Team updates the STAF to reflect outcomes.
h. With Ministry approval, the Dean proceeds to Stage Two: Full Program Proposal Development. If the Ministry does not approve the new degree proposal, the Dean and VPA will either terminate the process or determine next steps.
Stage Two 鈥 Full Program Proposal Development
Following Ministry approval of the Stage 1 Review, development of the full program proposal may begin. The Team must reference the Ministry鈥檚 Degree Program Review Criteria and Guidelines and continue to consult with Academic Affairs throughout the full program proposal development process.
1. Initiation and Documentation
a. The Team, under the direction of the Dean, initiates the Full Program Proposal (鈥淔PP鈥) Template - Degree 爱豆传媒, and maps out approval timelines.
b. The Team maintains the STAF created in Stage One to ensure appropriate consultation and approval is followed.
2. Consultation, Data Gathering and Analysis
a. The Team and the Dean, in consultation Academic Affairs, reviews and amends as necessary, the list of stakeholders generated during Stage One, considering FPP requirements and any feedback received from the Ministry, on PSIPS, and/or from the Board. The list will include both internal and external stakeholders representing a variety of academic, operational, Indigenous, and industry/employer perspectives are considered.
b. The Team consults with identified stakeholders throughout the FPP development process, documents information gathered as part of the consultation process on the Stakeholder Consultation Template - 爱豆传媒 and summarizes it in the FPP.
c. The Team works in partnership with Institutional Research to review, update and enhance data gathered in Stage One to ensure information is comprehensive and complete.
3. Full Program Proposal Draft
a. The Team completes the draft FPP. The FPP must include a Business Plan developed in consultation with the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, an Implementation & Communication Plan developed in consultation with the Registrar鈥檚 Office and Academic Affairs. These plans are included as appendices to the FPP.
b. The Team provides the completed draft FPP to the Dean for review and feedback.
c. The Dean presents the FPP to the VPA and other School Deans for review and endorsement before proceeding to Approval.
4. Approval
a. The Dean presents the Business Plan to the VPA and VPFO for review and approval.
b. The Dean presents the FPP to the SCC for review, feedback, and endorsement.
c. With SCC endorsement, the Dean presents the FPP to PC for review, feedback, and recommendation for approval to the Board. PC also approves new and/or revised Courses within the proposed Program as per Policy 3309 Course Development and Change.
d. The VPA presents the FPP to the Board for consideration and approval. Board approval is required prior to submission of the FPP to the Ministry.
e. The STAF is updated to reflect approvals and outcomes.
f. Following Board approval, the FPP is posted by Academic Affairs on the PSIPS website for peer review and feedback.
g. The Dean uses the feedback to adjust and refine the proposal, drafts responses to comments received on PSIPS, and provides them to Academic Affairs for review, endorsement, and posting on the PSIPS website.
h. Academic Affairs submits the final FPP to DQAB to begin Stage Three 鈥 DQAB Assessment.
Stage Three 鈥 DQAB Assessment
Following Board approval and PSIPS Peer Review, the FPP is submitted to DQAB for assessment.
1. DQAB conducts their quality assessment process to ensure that new degrees meet consistent and high-quality standards.
2. The quality assessment process includes a review by external experts through either a desk review and/or Institute site visit. DQAB determines the type of review based on the level and quality of information provided by the Institute. The Dean and Academic Affairs are responsible for planning and coordinating the DQAB review/site visit.
3. DQAB provides the results of the review and/or site visit to the VPA. The Dean drafts an Institute response and submits it to Academic Affairs for review, endorsement, and submission to DQAB.
4. At the conclusion of their quality assessment process, DQAB recommends to the Minister that the application for a new degree be approved, approved with conditions, or not approved. The outcome is posted by DQAB on the PSIPS website.
5. The Minister considers DQAB鈥檚 recommendations and responds in writing to the Institute with their decision.
6. Upon receipt of the Minister鈥檚 written approval, the Team operationalizes the Implementation & Communication Plan.
7. The Team updates the STAF to reflect final outcomes.
Related Policies and Procedures
- 3306 Program Completion and Credentials Policy
- 3311 Program Development, Change, Suspension and Termination Policy
Documents and Forms
- All tools, templates, and resources available on 爱豆传媒's (for internal use only)