1 Curriculum
Section 1: Curriculum
Section 1.1 Currency and Relevancy
All Ontario College Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Baccalaureate Degree programs offered at the college are required to have a Program Advisory Committee, as outlined in the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive: Framework for Programs of Instruction (Section C).
The PAC name will either be the name of your program or a discipline cluster (e.g., Accounting).
Resources
- Minister’s Binding Policy Directive: Framework for Programs of Instruction (Section C, p. 3)
- New Program Development Curriculum Guidebook
- PAC Member Guide
- Manager, Program Quality
**If you answer ‘N/A’ or ‘NO-Action Item’ to this question, you will move directly to Q#1.1D.
Voting PAC members, including the PAC executive (Chair, Vice-Chair) must all be external to the College (not currently employed part-time or full-time by the College). Details outlining expectations for PAC membership, including executive member roles, are outlined in the PAC Bylaw and the PAC Member Guide. Distributing the PAC Member Guide will help to ensure PAC members are aware of and follow their mandate and Terms of Reference and strive to achieve best practice.
It is imperative that PAC meetings and recommendations have proper minutes to demonstrate the program is acting in response to industry input, including recording motions and voting results for all formal recommendations for the program.
Data Sources
Data sources for this question include PAC meeting agendas and minutes and PAC membership lists. Both of these data sources are managed by the program area, with copies uploaded to the PAC tab of the Program PQ shell. Having PAC meeting agendas and minutes, and PAC membership lists uploaded to the Program PQ shell will also support the college during the CQAAP audit.
PAC recommendations and outcomes should be recorded in PAC meeting minutes as MOTIONS. Not all PAC recommendations are feasible; however, they must all be seriously considered and responded to. It is important that the program identify industry trends to ensure graduates have the necessary skills to be successful in the occupation.
Resources
- PAC Member Guide
- PAC Bylaws
Data Sources
Data sources include PAC meeting minutes, labour market information sourced by the program area, Professional bodies and/or
current industry related literature/news.
Current or emerging trends can be identified through PAC meetings, industry partner conversations, accreditation or professional body communications or industry publication, among other sources.
The data source for this question is as below:
- Domestic graduate data can be found in Figure 4b.1.
- International graduate data (if available) can be found in Figure 4b.3.
The KPI Graduate Employment Survey is completed six months after graduation. Additional information from graduates, employers and the PAC may be needed to formulate possible improvements. Consider conducting additional research with graduates/employers to learn more about the issues and identify suggestions for improvement.
Please select “Yes” only if BOTH domestic and International graduate employment rates are at or above the GTA average. If only one is at or above the GTA average, please select “No”. If GTA MCU average is not available, please refer to the Ontario MCU average.
The data source for this question (if available) is the KPI Employer Satisfaction Survey, found in Figure 4a.8.
The KPI Employer Satisfaction Survey is completed six months after graduation and provides the Employer Satisfaction Rate. Additional information from graduates, employers and the PAC may be needed to formulate possible improvements. Consider conducting additional research with employers to learn more about the issues and identify suggestions for improvement. If GTA MCU average is not available, please refer to the Ontario MCU average.
| Q# 1.1 F Has the program met the enrollment targets for this year? |
Each program should have an established plan to reach its enrollment target(s) for each intake semester.
| Q# 1.1 G Has student satisfaction with the knowledge and skills acquired in the program improved compared to the previous year? |
Please indicate N/A for this response. KPI Student Satisfaction surveys were not conducted for the 2020-2021 academic cycle.
Key Performance Indicators are a province-wide survey administered by the provincial government. Students normally complete the survey in class each year during the winter semester. KPI results are published in April or May of each year.
For key questions in the KPI survey, program results may be compared to similar programs at other GTA colleges, to the School average results, and to the provincial average. If the GTA average is not available, compare with the Ontario average.
| Q# 1.1 H Is the program accredited? |
Accreditation is a process where a program meets a set of stringent requirements set by an external body. Evidence of this alignment is normally outlined through a formal self-study report and review by auditors. Often an accreditation may be required for entry into the field of practice and the accreditation/designation can be used in program advertising.
If you are unsure of whether your program is accredited or not, or approved by a regulatory body, please contact your Chair.
**If you answer ‘NO – N/A’ or ‘NO-Action Item’ to this question, you will move directly to Q#1.2A.
| Q# 1.2 A Thinking about the Program Vocational Learning Outcomes (PVLOs) and/or Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs), indicate your agreement with the following statements: |
PVLOs and PLOs describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities that graduates should possess to be successful in the field of study. In order to meet student, graduate, industry and Ministry expectations, the program must ensure that current PVLOs and/or PLOs are available, accessible, and accurately communicated.
Resources:
| Q# 1.2 B Do all the course outlines for the program exist in COCO? |
Resources:
| Q# 1.2 C Do the course outlines in COCO reflect the most current curriculum used in each course? |
In order to meet student, graduate, industry and Ministry expectations, course outlines must communicate current and accurate course details. As subject matter experts, faculty are specifically equipped to ensure currency in course curriculum.
| Q# 1.2 D Please indicate your agreement (yes or no) with the following statements: |
“Sound curriculum design” entails that the Program Vocational Learning Outcomes, Course Learning Outcomes, assessments, and Topical Outline be aligned and consistent with the intended goals and scope of the program. Faculty teams should have periodic meetings throughout the year to share and problem solve concerns.
Resources:
- How to Write CLOs
- Learning Outcomes Checklist
- Course Outlines Check Up
- Policy #AC100-27 Assessment and Evaluation Policy
| Q# 1.2 E Which of the following New Essential Skills (NES) have been integrated into the program? (Select all that apply.) |
New Essential Skills (NES) are an acknowledgement of the need to go beyond the current and widely accepted EES to ensure students have skills for the 21st century. The NES are Centennial’s unique approach to implementing and enhancing the EES to provide students with an updated toolkit of the skills needed in an increasingly complex and interconnected world impacted by technology, internationalization, and globalization. Programs may identify natural entry points to enhance the NES in curriculum.
Resources:
- NES Framework
- Guide to Implementing NES in Curriculum
- Template for Aligning Course Learning Outcomes to NES
- NES Mapping Template
| Q# 1.2 Ei Please identify any unchecked NES from the above question and indicate below how the program intends to integrate the NES outcome(s) over the next year? |
Identify any NES the program would like to implement or focus on over the next year. Select all that apply.
Resources:
- NES Framework
- Guide to Implementing NES in Curriculum
- Template for Aligning Course Learning Outcomes to NES
- NES Mapping Template
| Q# 1.2 F Does the program have a summative assessment (e.g. capstone, program-level project, applied research project, culminating practice)? |
All programs should have a summative assessment that evaluates all PVLOs and/or PLOs in the final semester of the program to ensure that graduates are adequately equipped with the necessary skills prior to exiting the program.