Program Development

The duration of this step varies greatly depending on the proponent and their Faculty.

Proponents are responsible for completing these steps to determine the program’s financial and operational viability for the Faculty and the institution.

Deliverables:

• Executive summary draft
• Work with Senate Office to review structure of proposal, and relevant policies, forms and consults
• Provost’s Office provides feedback regarding market research and enrolment forecast, as relevant
• Revised and final executive summary
• Begin completing the Senate-required Forms (see Curriculum Submission Guidelines)
• Operational and financial requirements questionnaire
• Program budget and enrolment forecast, based on a template to be completed in conjunction with the Faculty Financial Manager including all costs per consultations with operational units.
• Meeting between program proponent, the Faculty’s Finance Manager and the Provost’s Office to review and finalize all documents pertaining to the Curricular Budget Impact Form and its appendices.
• Final Curricular Budget Impact Form signed by all relevant executives.

This step can take up to 2 months

Proponents are responsible for following Department and Faculty’s internal process of approval.

Deliverables:

• • Curriculum proposal package
  • Senate required consultations

This step can take up to 2 months

Following Faculty approval, the Senate Office assists with moving the proposal through the required Senate committees.

Simultaneously, the proponents should begin planning for the student tuition consultation process (per Board policy LR4) and start working with the recruitment and marketing teams

Deliverables:

• Upon Senate Committee approval, complete the Student Consultation Report Template and submit to Provost’s Office to begin to process for student consultation as per Board policy LR4.
• Approved curriculum proposal package
• Begin to plan for program promotion and marketing with appropriate Faculty teams.
• See Senate proposal submission deadlines.

For graduate programs—proponents should contact Enrolment Services at this point to start the CoGS online application process.

This step takes 3 months minimum

Following Senate approval, the Senate will forward the curriculum proposal* for the Board of Governors’ approval.

Simultaneously, the Provost’s Office will forward the Student Tuition Consultation Report* for the Board of Governors’ approval.

*Please note that the Board of Governors needs to approve both the curriculum proposal and the tuition pieces at the same time.

Deliverables:

• Student consultation report from the AVP Students
• Tuition fee schedule

This step takes 6-8 months minimum

This step is not always required. The Office of the Provost will advise when this is required.

Upon the Board of Governors’ approval, the Provost Office works with the proponent to finalize the Stage 1 Form (and any other Ministry-required forms) and forwards the proposal to the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills for approval. The Provost Office will advise proponents of ministerial approval once it has been granted.

Recruitment: 

Effective May 2022, advertising of the program cannot take place until the program has received Ministry approval.

Deliverables:

• Stage 1 form (Ministry application including Senate approval and BoG approval)

After receiving final approval for a program, program proponent(s) must:

• If undergraduate program: Inform the Student Recruitment and Advising Office (SRA) and the International Student Initiative Office (ISI)
• Inform the communications manager/coordinator of the unit
• Inform Enrolment Services or the College of Graduate Studies (CoGS), as appropriate, for systems and program application set-up

Assessment is limited to verification of learners’ presence at the time and place at which the activities leading to the Letter of Attendance. Typically consists of fewer than 150 expected hours of learning activities.

Assessment is limited to verification of learners’ presence at the time and place at which the activities leading to the Letter of Completion are offered and verification that the learner has completed all tasks assigned as part of the Letter of Completion. Typically consists of fewer than 150 expected hours of learning activities.

Assessment must include verification of learners’ presence at the time and place at which the activities leading to the Letter of Proficiency are offered, and verification that the learner has achieved a level of performance in completing all tasks assigned as part of the Letter of Proficiency program that would indicate proficiency. Programs limiting assessment to verification of learners’ presence at the time and place at which the program is offered fall outside of the scope of this policy unless the title Letter of Attendance is used. Typically consists of fewer than 150 expected hours of learning activities.

Consists of a minimum of 150 expected hours of learning activities. May consist of one or more Letters of Completion and/or Letters of Proficiency, in addition to other requirements. Assessment must include verification of learners’ presence at the time and place at which the Non-Credit Certificate is offered, and verification that the learner has achieved a level of performance in completing all tasks assigned as part of the Non-Credit Certificate program that would indicate proficiency.

Faculty / College of Graduate Studies Approval: The responsible Faculty or College holds the delegated authority from the Senate to approve these proposals, ensuring they comply with Policy O-129.  Upon approval, the Faculty/College must provide notice and a copy of the proposal to the Senate Secretariat and the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic.   

Faculty / College of Graduate Studies Approval: Initial approval required from the proposing body.

Senate Committee Approvals: Requires approval from the Senate Curriculum Committee (program requirements) and the Senate Admissions & Awards Committee (admission requirements). Requires approval from the full Senate.