Seneca is Preparing for our Third Quality Audit! | Academic Newsletter | Seneca Polytechnic

by Jennifer Parker, Program Quality

in the Winter 2017 issue

Phase One is Complete
The Academic Quality Unit, under the leadership of Jean Choi (Dean, Academic Quality), submitted a comprehensive self-study report to the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS) in December 2016, as part of the College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP).

The purpose of the CQAAP audit is to assess the effectiveness of college-wide quality assurance mechanisms, with the goal of continuous improvement.

The self-study consisted of Seneca’s assessment of its quality assurance processes as they relate to six standards and thirty-two requirements. The self-study required us to provide evidence from our academic programs to demonstrate how we follow our policies and procedures. Seneca completed two previous quality audits in 2006 and 2011.

The collection of evidence for the self-study focused on our policies and practices related to:

• rigorous program development (e.g., clear program outcomes, credential validation, and meeting workplace expectations)
• cyclical program review (e.g., use of stakeholder feedback, mapping program outcomes, and ensuring program currency)
• consistent program delivery (e.g., innovative teaching and learning, assessments tied to program outcomes, and consistency among sections)
• well-defined academic policies and procedures (e.g., advanced standing, prior learning, communication with students, accommodation, appeals, and supporting students)
• comprehensive faculty recruitment and orientation practices (e.g., knowledge and skills, reflective practice, and facilitating achievement of program outcomes)

Next Steps
Now that the self-study has been submitted, we will begin to prepare the participants for an intensive two-day site visit that will take place in March 2017. The visit includes a number of round table sessions with faculty, students, and administrators, as well as representatives from Program Advisory Committees, Board of Governors, HR, Library, ITS, and all other service areas.

The visit is a terrific opportunity to promote and showcase all the great work we are doing here at Seneca!

Jennifer Parker is coordinating the site visit preparations. If you would like more information on the audit, please send an email to Jennifer.Parker@senecacollege.ca.

^{Image credit: “Quality” by Elizabeth Hahn is licensed under CC BY 2.0}

View the Winter 2017 issue of the Academic Newsletter.