Program Development Procedure
| Effective Date: | December 13, 2021 |
| Downloadable Version: |
 Program Development Procedure
|
| This document is available in alternate format on request. |
Purpose:
1. Humber’s Quality Assurance Framework guides the development of new programs in alignment with:
1.1. Humber’s strategic priorities including the Strategic Plan, Strategic Mandate Agreement and the Academic Plan
1.2. Minister’s Binding Policy Directive – Framework of Programs of Instruction, including the Ontario Qualifications Framework (OQF) and general education requirements
1.3. Ontario College Quality Assurance Service Credentials Validation Service guidelines
1.4. Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board Standards and requirements
1.5. Existing and complementary programs at Humber where they exist
2. Quality academic programming and academic pathways strengthen Humber’s Polytechnic identity. Newly imagined programs respond to the imperatives of fast-paced change in the workforce and the challenges of the interconnected global economy, changing cultural and societal factors, and the interests of students at all life stages seeking to gain purposeful employment and to contribute positively to society. As a result, the new program development process is consultative and comprehensive to ensure consideration of:
2.1. Entering student profiles, the profile of the graduate and the supports required for learner success, graduation and employability
2.2. Program feasibility and viability including community/industry and market need, student interest, student demand, applicant demographic analysis, competitive analysis, enrolment projections, post-graduation employment potential, and financial viability
2.3. Differentiation from existing programs internally, locally, nationally and internationally
2.4. Flexible, resilient, innovative and inclusive curricular design, delivery options, and modes of instruction including full-time, part-time, and in–person, online, remote synchronous and asynchronous offerings.
2.5. Capacity to deliver including human resources, financial resources and capital infrastructure to support the program both in startup and on a continuing basis
2.6. Inbound and outbound pathway options, articulation agreements and consultation with partner institutions for pathway development and co-development of programs where appropriate
2.7. Consultation with subject matter experts, program advisory committees, external recognition, accreditation, professional associations to ensure currency and relevancy of programs of instruction
2.8. Experiential and work integrated learning opportunities
2.9. Student recruitment and marketing
2.10. Faculty development
Scope and Authority:
This procedure outlines the Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning’s (hereafter referred to as “Humber” or “the College”) program development process for all Ministry approved credentials.
Based on approval from the Senior Vice-President Academic, Micro-credentials and Continuous Professional Learning programs (CPL) may customize the steps in the policy and this procedure.
Definitions:
For the purposes of this policy the following definitions apply:
Ministry: To denote the provincial Ministry(ies) responsible for Colleges and Universities. At the time of writing, this is the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and additionally for Apprenticeship the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
PPDR: Program Planning, Development and Renewal
PEQAB: Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board
Procedures:
1. New Program Ideas
1.1. Ideas for new programs or major program revisions that require Ministry approval are generated at the Faculty-level to respond to labour market and learner demand. Ideas are tabled by various program stakeholders including staff, Program Advisory Committees, Industry Associations, faculty etc. The Associate and Senior Deans propose new programs ideas at enrollment planning meetings.
1.2. New program development work is approved by the SVPA as part of the planning process.
1.3. A program consultant from PPDR is assigned to lead the development project. A timeline for consultation and approval steps is created jointly by the Associate Dean and PPDR and approved by the Senior Dean.
2. Once a program idea is approved for development, the idea progresses through the 4 phases of new program development as outlined in the Program Development Manual:
- Concept Development
- Program Development (includes curriculum development)
- Internal Program Approval
- External Program Approval
3. Concept Development
3.1. A new program concept is presented to the Academic Leadership Committee by the Senior Dean(s) or Associate Dean(s) for feedback and information sharing as outlined in Table 1.
3.2. A new program proposal is presented to the Strategic Enrollment Management committee by the Senior Dean(s) and Associate Dean(s) as outlined in Table 1.
3.3. Approval by the Senior Vice President Academic is required prior to the second phase of development including outreach to students, PAC or external parties to discuss the proposed program.
4. Program Development
4.1. A new Ad-Hoc Program Advisory Committee is created to inform and endorse new programs as outlined in Table 1. Ad-Hoc PAC members must be approved by the Senior Dean and the Dean, PPDR.
4.2. Internal Consultations are required to inform program details including tuition, space, admission requirements and student supports as outlined in Table 2.
4.3. Curriculum development is completed by subject matter experts assigned by the Faculty(ies) and requires creation of a program map, course descriptions and outlines in consultation with (at minimum):
4.3.1. Centre of Innovative Learning to ensure alignment with UDL and EDI best practices, Humber’s Learning Outcomes Framework, course outline expectations.
4.3.2. PPDR to ensure alignment with Ministry requirements
5. Internal Approval
5.1. The new program proposal is presented to the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Committee by the Senior Dean(s) and Associate Dean(s) for permission to present the proposed program to the Board of Governors (BOG).
5.2. A brief and a motion are prepared by PPDR and the program is presented to the Academic and Student Affairs subcommittee of the BOG by the Senior Dean(s) and Associate Dean(s) prior to presentation at the BOG (Table 1).
5.3. Presentation to BOG by the SVPA is the final step in the internal program approval process and is required to apply for funding with MCU. Requirements for presentation to BOG are outlined in Table 1.
6. External Approval
6.1. PPDR submits non-degree programs for validation to the Credentials Validation Service.
6.2. PPDR submits degree program proposals to MCU for referral to PEQAB.
6.3. PPDR submits applications for program funding to MCU
6.4. The Senior Dean(s), Associate Dean(s) are responsible for submissions related to accreditation or regulatory requirements for programs of instruction. PPDR is able to support this process to ensure alignment with internal processes and MCU requirements.
7. Communication of Approved Program of Instruction Information
7.1. Approval of funding for Programs of Instruction is communicated to the College President.
7.2. Upon SVPA approval, PPDR communicates approval to internal stakeholders.
7.3. Program information including courses, schedule of study, course outlines, program description and learning outcomes are published on the College website only with MCU and SVPA approval.
7.4. Senior Dean(s) and Associate Dean(s) coordinate with Marketing and Communications and Recruitment to ensure accuracy of program information.
8. Comprehensive Action Plan
8.1. Following the approval of the program a comprehensive action plan is developed for the program to ensure continuous improvements.
8.2. PPDR tracks Action Plan status updates as part of the APQA process that occurs annually.
8.3. PPDR will report on action plan data annually by program, program cluster, Faculty, and college-wide to identify broad themes as they emerge and provide support as required to successfully implement associated recommendations.
References:
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. (2004). Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Policy Framework: Admissions Criteria. http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/documents/AdmissionsPolicy.pdf
Ontario College Quality Assurance Service. (2021). Credential Validation Service. https://www.ocqas.org/credentials-validation-service/
Ontario College Quality Assurance Service. (2021). The Credential Validation Service (CVS) Handbook for New Program Submissions and Program Modifications. https://www.ocqas.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Handbook-The-Credential- Validation-Service_v8_Final_Feb17_2021.pdf
Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (2018, December 14). Ontario Qualifications Framework. http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/programs/oqf/
Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities. (2019, December 27). Minister’s Binding Policy Directives, and Operating Procedures. http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/pepg/audiences/colleges/
Postsecondary Education Quality and Assessment Board. (n.d.). Manuals. http://www.peqab.ca/handbooks.html
Appendices/Templates:
Table 1 - New Program Internal Consultation and Approval Committees
