DRAFT OVERVIEW: DEGREE QUALITY ASSESSMENT BOARD PROCESS

DRAFT OVERVIEW: DEGREE QUALITY ASSESSMENT BOARD PROCESS

Purpose of the Degree Quality Assessment Board The Government of British Columbia is committed to enhancing student choice by expanding degree opportunities for learners. The purpose of the Degree Quality Assessment Board (the Board) is to review and make recommendations to the Minister of Advanced Education in respect of: applications for consent to provide or advertise degree programs, grant degrees, or use the word university under the Degree Authorization Act from private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions; new degree program proposals submitted by British Columbia public post-secondary institutions; and, applications for exempt status (formerly, the Ministry referred to this as self-accrediting status ) from British Columbia public post-secondary institutions, and from private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions. The Board conducts quality assessment processes to ensure that new proposed degree programs at both private and public post-secondary institutions meet consistent criteria resulting in high quality degree programs. The Board will address the following public policy objectives: increasing learner choice; ensuring quality education in degree programs; promoting a coherent and integrated post-secondary system; and, promoting the protection of learners interests and ensuring appropriate use of publicly-funded student financial assistance. Legislative Framework Degree Authorization Act: All Private and Out-of-Province Public Post-Secondary Institutions The Degree Authorization Act (the Act) applies to all private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions. It does not apply to British Columbia public post-secondary institutions. Section 3 of the Act requires private and out-of-province public institutions to obtain consent from the Minister if they wish to do any of the following: grant or confer a degree in British Columbia; provide a program in British Columbia which leads to a degree that is conferred inside or outside British Columbia; advertise a program offered in British Columbia leading to a degree that is conferred inside or outside British Columbia; and, sell or offer for sale a diploma, certificate or other document that implies the granting or conferring of a degree. DRAFT (August 28, 2003) Page 2

In addition, section 3 requires private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions that wish to use the word university in their name to either obtain consent from the Minister to do so, or be authorized by a British Columbia statute to do so (currently, in addition to the five British Columbia public universities, Trinity Western University and Sea to Sky University are authorized by British Columbia statute to use the word university ). Section 4 of the Act provides that the Minister may give an applicant consent if the Minister is satisfied that the applicant has undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the Minister under the Act for the purposes of giving or refusing consent. The Board will be responsible for the quality assessment process and for determining whether applicants have met the criteria. In addition to the exemption for British Columbia public post-secondary institutions, the Act contains the following exemptions: Institutions may advertise or provide a program leading to a degree if the institution does so under an agreement with another institution that has authority to grant degrees in British Columbia and the other institution actually grants the degree [section 3(3)]. Institutions that were registered with the Private Post-Secondary Education Commission (PPSEC) and providing degree programs, granting degrees from outside British Columbia, advertising degree programs, or using the word university on the date that the Act was introduced (April 11, 2002) may continue to do so for up to five years [section 3(4)]. Public post-secondary institutions from other provinces in Canada that were designated as such by PPSEC and providing degree programs, granting degrees from outside British Columbia, advertising degree programs, or using the word university on the date that the Act was introduced (April 11, 2002) may continue to do so for up to five years (once designated by PPSEC, these institutions were exempt from registering with PPSEC) [section 3(5)]. Trinity Western University and Seminary of Christ the King are exempt from the Act, except in regards to degrees that they did not grant on the date the Act was introduced (April 11, 2002). Degrees that Trinity Western University and Seminary of Christ the King did not grant on the date the Act was introduced will require consent under the Degree Authorization Act. Both institutions have their own statutes that give them authority to grant academic degrees. Institutions providing only theological degree programs are exempt from the Act unless they wish to provide academic degree programs (the definition of degree in section 1 of the Act specifically exempts theological degrees). The Act provides that the Minister may attach terms and conditions to a consent, including a termination date after which the consent will cease to be effective unless renewed by the Minister. The Minister cannot give consent unless: the Minister is satisfied that the applicant has given financial security to protect the interests of students, if security is required by the regulations in respect of the person seeking consent; and, DRAFT (August 28, 2003) Page 3

the applicant has made adequate arrangements to protect student transcripts. University Act, College and Institute Act, Institute of Technology Act: British Columbia Public Post-Secondary Institutions Under section 48 of the University Act, British Columbia public universities must not establish a new degree program without the approval of the Minister. Although Royal Roads University has its own legislation, section 48 of the University Act applies to Royal Roads University by reference. Under the College and Institute Act and the Institute of Technology Act, British Columbia public university colleges and institutes may grant baccalaureate degrees that are designated by Order in Council. Through amendments to the College and Institute Act and the Institute of Technology Act related to the Degree Authorization Act, British Columbia public colleges have been given authority to grant applied baccalaureate degrees that are designated by Order in Council, and British Columbia public university colleges and institutes have been given the authority to grant applied masters degrees that are designated by Order in Council. Although the Degree Authorization Act does not apply to British Columbia public post-secondary institutions, the Ministry requires new degree program proposals (other than proposals from institutions with exempt status) to be reviewed by the Board before proceeding to the Minister for approval under the University Act, College and Institute Act, and Institute of Technology Act. The Board s quality assessment process replaces the Degree Program Review Committee process. Because the Degree Authorization Act does not apply to British Columbia public post-secondary institutions, they may not apply to the Minister for consent to use the word university. Changes to British Columbia public post-secondary institutions names, if any, would occur through the regular legislative process. Exempt Status Institutions with proven track records (ten years history in granting degrees at the particular degree level) and appropriate governance mechanisms in place may obtain exempt status (previously, the Ministry referred to this as self-accrediting status ) to a specific degree level. For example, if an institution has had authority to grant baccalaureate degrees for ten years and meets the other criteria for exempt status, the institution could have exempt status in respect of new baccalaureate degrees. Following the 30 day Notice of Intent/Peer Review period, new degree programs submitted by exempt institutions at the degree level for which the institution is exempt will go directly to the Minister for approval and will not be reviewed by the Board, unless the Minister has concerns about a proposal and refers it to the Board. DRAFT (August 28, 2003) Page 4

Approach All degree proposals will be posted in the form of a Notice of Intent on the Post-Secondary Institution Proposal System (PSIPS) website for public viewing and for a 30-day comment period, even if the institution has exempt status. In addition, degree proposals submitted by British Columbia public post-secondary institutions will be posted for peer review by other British Columbia public post-secondary institutions via PSIPS for that same 30-day period. The Degree Quality Assessment Board is recommending that degree proposals submitted by private and out-of-province public institutions also be required to be posted for peer review. If this recommendation is implemented, the peer group would be defined as all British Columbia public post-secondary institutions, and all private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions that have received consent to provide degree programs in British Columbia. Following the 30- day period, proposals may proceed to the Board for review (or in the case of proposals submitted by institutions with exempt status, to the Minister for approval). Applied baccalaureate degrees proposed by British Columbia public colleges, and applied masters degrees proposed by British Columbia public university colleges and institutes will be subject to a checklist review by the Ministry prior to the proposal being forwarded to the Board. The Ministry review will focus on the following four areas: 1. benefits of the program to students; 2. impact on existing programs at the institution; 3. extent of industry support; and, 4. any implications to system capacity and coordination. For applications by private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions, the Board will assess whether an organization review should be required, and if so, whether any prior accreditations can be recognized as satisfying all or part of British Columbia s organization review criteria. British Columbia public post-secondary institutions will not be required to undergo an organization review. For all degree proposals submitted by non-exempt institutions, the Board will determine whether review by outside subject experts is required. If so, the Board will select the subject experts. Any costs associated with the organization and subject experts review will be paid by the institution submitting the proposal. The Board will review the degree proposal, information from the peer review, and the subject experts reports, if any, and make recommendations to the Minister on whether the degree proposal should be approved, approved with conditions, or refused. In the case of private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions, the Minister may give consent after receiving the Board s recommendation (or, in the case of institutions with exempt status, after the 30-day public comment period), provided that the institution has met the financial security requirements and made adequate arrangements to protect students access to transcripts. Ministerial consents will have terms and conditions attached and can be suspended DRAFT (August 28, 2003) Page 5

or revoked if the consent holder fails to comply with the Act or the regulations, or with the terms and conditions of the consent. In the case of British Columbia public universities, the Minister will give approval to offer the new degree program after receiving the Board s recommendation or, in the case of institutions with exempt status, after the 30-day public comment/peer review period. In the case of British Columbia public colleges, university colleges and institutes, the Minister will put forward an Order in Council designating the new degree. New degree areas and types, such as the new applied degrees to be offered by the British Columbia public colleges, university colleges and institutes, are encouraged, provided that they are consistent with the institution s mission and mandate. The Ministry has committed to maintaining a six-month turnaround time for the degree approval process. Given this turnaround time, the Board s ability to work with institutions to perfect proposals will be limited; if a proposal is deficient, the Board will recommend that the Minister deny consent or approval. If the Board recommends that the Minister deny consent/approval, however, the Board may provide its recommendations for improvement and the institution may revise the proposal and resubmit it at a later date. Steps in the Degree Program Approval Process 1. 30-day Public Notice of Intent All institutions will post a Notice of Intent on the PSIPS website. The Notice of Intent provides the public with an opportunity to comment on the application, ensuring an open and accountable process. The Notice of Intent will be posted on the Ministry website for public commentary for 30 days. The website will indicate that comments should be provided to the applicant and copied to the Board Secretariat. 2. Peer Review Full program proposals submitted by British Columbia public postsecondary institutions will also be subject to a web-based peer review process, unless the institution has exempt status to the degree level proposed. If the institution has exempt status for the proposed degree level, the Notice of Intent will be posted for review, and the institution must either attach the documentation it used for its program approval process, or provide a link to a website where this information is available. This process allows other British Columbia public post-secondary institutions to comment and provide feedback to the submitting institution. Comments and feedback are also provided to the Board Secretariat, and will be available to the Board. The peer review process will occur during the 30-day Notice of Intent period. As noted earlier, the Board is recommending that peer review also be implemented for private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions. 3. Degree Quality Assessment Board Review (unless degree proposal is submitted by an institution that has exempt status for the degree level proposed) - The Board may select external experts in the subject areas to review the program proposals and will review the report of the external experts as part of making its recommendation to the Minister. DRAFT (August 28, 2003) Page 6

4. Recommendation to the Minister The Board will recommend that the Minister approve, approve with conditions, or not approve the institution s application. The Minister will either provide or deny consent (for private and out-of-province post-secondary institutions) or provide or deny approval (for British Columbia public post-secondary institutions) to offer the degree. In the case of British Columbia public colleges, university colleges and institutes, an Order in Council is required after the Minister approves the degree. Post-Secondary Institution Proposal System PSIPS is a web-based application that will facilitate the submission, review and approval processes relating to: degree program approval; 1 applications for exempt status; and, applications for consent to use the word university by private and out-of-province public institutions. In most cases, application materials will consist of a Notice of Intent, Proposal or Application, and Appendices (as PDF attachments). These key documents are stored in a database along with information collected in data fields that will be used for executive reporting and accountability. PSIPS is a password-protected database and has a closed user group: Board members will be assigned a PSIPS User ID and password and will be able to view all proposals and comments online at any time. PSIPS will also notify board members when a proposal has been verified by the Board Secretariat (comprised of Ministry staff) and is ready for review. British Columbia public post-secondary institutions are able to view and comment on one another s proposals as part of a 30-day peer review process, prior to Board review. All British Columbia public post-secondary institutions were assigned PSIPS User IDs in the fall of 2002 and have been submitting proposals via PSIPS since then. Private and out-of-province post-secondary institutions must contact the Secretariat to obtain a User ID and password. As currently designed, there is no peer review component for this user group and they will be able to view their own proposals only. As noted earlier, the Board is recommending that peer review be implemented for private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions. The general public will only be able to view the Notices of Intent for the applications under review and a list of approvals and consents. These are reports generated by PSIPS which will be linked to the public website. 1 PSIPS also manages the submission and review of non-degree programs from BC public post-secondary institutions. Review and approval of non-degree program proposals submitted by BC public post-secondary institutions, which was formerly conducted by the Ministry, is now conducted by peers in BC s public colleges, university colleges and institutes. DRAFT (August 28, 2003) Page 7

Applicants will submit application materials electronically via PSIPS. The Board Secretariat will be notified immediately by automated email, and will conduct an initial review to ensure the application is complete and applicable fees have been paid. Board members will be automatically notified of new applications from non-exempt institutions, as soon as the Secretariat has verified the application. When the Board has completed its review, the Board s recommendation and Minister s decision will be tracked and recorded on PSIPS by the Secretariat. Relationship to British Columbia Student Financial Assistance Program (BCSAP) Private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions that receive Ministerial consent under the Degree Authorization Act will be eligible for BCSAP designation, provided they offer at least one program of study that is BCSAP eligible. Institution officials are required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding each year acknowledging and agreeing to fulfill their responsibilities under BCSAP. The designation criteria are listed in the BCSAP Policies and Procedures Manual and include the following program requirements, in addition to criteria met through the quality assessment process: programs must be at the post-secondary level; the program of study when taken full-time (100 percent course load) must be at least 12 weeks in length within a period of 15 consecutive weeks; programs delivered via correspondence or through on-line learning may be considered fulltime under certain circumstances. For academic (credit based) programs, students can apply for BCSAP if they will earn the same number of credits in the same time period as full-time students in other BCSAP eligible programs delivered on site at the institution. brokered courses or programs (instruction which results in a credential from another school) are not eligible programs for the purposes of BCSAP. Note that the criteria reflect policies in place for the 2003/04 school year and are subject to change. DRAFT (August 28, 2003) Page 8