Major program modifications / undergraduate proposals for institutional approval only

Major modifications to existing programs as well as some undergraduate proposals (detailed below) require institutional approval but do not require Quality Council review and approval.

1. Major program modifications

The institutional approval of major program changes involves the AAU council, and Faculty coordinating councils (where appropriate), Graduate Faculty Council (for graduate program modifications), the Provost, PDC, and Senate. Details about what constitutes a major program change are outlined in "PDC Form B - Major Program Changes" available from the Senate PDC web-site.  For details about the approval process and PDC form required for minor program changes please also refer to the Senate PDC web-site.

Some examples of major program modifications are:

• significant changes in program requirements from those existing at the time of the previous cyclical program review;
• significant changes to the faculty engaged in delivering the program and/or to the essential physical resources as may occur, for example, where there have been changes to the existing mode(s) of delivery
• more examples can be found on the Senate web-site.

2. Proposals that require only institutional approval

Proposals for new undergraduate* certificates and non-degree programs based on for-credit coursework  are reviewed institutionally by the AAU council and Faculty coordinating councils (where appropriate) before submission to PDC and Senate for approval, but do not require Quality Council review. Such proposals are to be submitted on a "PDC Form A - New Program Proposal Brief" available from the Senate PDC web-site. 

The first step in such undergraduate proposals is approval by the AAU (and faculty council, if applicable) before submission to PDC and Senate. In order that the Quality Assurance Office can provide support for such proposals, please note that any new program development needs to be registered with the Office of Quality Assurance before the AAU proceeds with the institutional approval steps. At this point the proposing AAU can request that the Office of Quality Assurance review the proposal and provide guidance before submission to PDC.

*Note that proposals for new for-credit graduate certificates/diplomas require approval by the Quality Council through the expedited process - see details.