Committee on the Evaluation of Graduate Programs

Role

The Office of Quality Assurance (OQA) oversees all activities related to the cyclical review of undergraduate and graduate programs. The OQA establishes the cyclical review schedule in consultation with the Senate Committee on the Evaluation of Undergraduate Programs (SCEUP) and the Graduate Program Evaluation Committee (GPEC).

The committees review the self-evaluation reports and then meet with the authors of the reports and the chairs of the academic units concerned. After reviewing all documentation received during the review process (i.e., the self-evaluation report, the external reviewers’ reports and other feedback received), the committees prepare a final assessment report describing the strengths and weaknesses of the program, make recommendations and establish an action plan and an implementation timeline in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders. The committees oversee the implementation of the action plan and ensure follow-up with the academic units concerned.

The director of the Office of Quality Assurance chairs the SCEUP and the GPEC. The committees comprise faculty members representing the two major branches of knowledge—the pure and applied sciences and the humanities and social sciences. Members are appointed by the Executive Committee of the Senate upon recommendation by the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs. Members of the committee must include one faculty member from Saint Paul University, in keeping with the agreement between the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University.

(Extract of the Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), 2019, Section 5.1.4)

Terms of Reference

ESTABLISHMENT

The terms of reference of the Committee on the Evaluation of Graduate Programs were adopted on April 6, 2020 by Senate resolution 2019.2020.060.

Status

The Committee on the Evaluation of Graduate Programs (the Committee) is a standing committee of the Senate.

Powers and Functions

Under the authority of the Senate, the Committee is responsible for the proper conduct of graduate program cyclical reviews as per the Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) approved by the Senate. It ensures that programs under review are aligned with the University’s mission and objectives regarding academic planning and the student experience and supports faculties in maintaining the quality of programs offered.

Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Committee is responsible for:

  • Ensuring that programs are reviewed according to the schedule set by the Office of Quality Assurance (OQA), based on the requirements of the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance and the guidelines set in the IQAP;
  • Examining the self-evaluation reports produced by academic units/faculties in order to ensure that they align with the requirements of cyclical reviews as set out in the IQAP;
  • Ensuring that the self-evaluation reports clearly identify program objectives and associated learning outcomes, degree level expectations and their alignment with admission practices;
  • Advising academic units/faculties in the preparation of self-evaluation reports that are optimal for external review;
  • Selecting the external reviewers from a list provided by the Faculty;
  • Preparing a report, on behalf of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, addressed to the appropriate dean and academic unit chair, identifying program strengths and challenges, recommendations issued during the entire review process as well as external reviewers’ recommendations;
  • Indicating in the progress and follow-up reports the necessary measures for the implementation of recommendations issued from the review, on behalf of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs and addressed to the appropriate dean and academic unit chair;
  • Recommending specific actions to be taken for maintaining or improving the quality of programs reviewed;
  • Making recommendations to the Senate concerning changes to the Committee’s terms of reference.

MEMBERSHIP

Members

The Committee is composed of the following members:

1.    the director of the Office of Quality Assurance;

2.    one regular, full-time professor from each faculty, nominated by the Executive Committee of the Senate on recommendation of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, for a three-year, renewable term, and one regular, full-time professor from Saint Paul University, nominated by Saint Paul University for a three-year, renewable term;

3.    one full-time graduate student, nominated by the Executive Committee of the Senate on recommendation of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, for a two-year term. The student’s main role is to survey students from programs under review, gather their comments regarding program improvement and report to Committee members.

Chair

The Director of the Office of Quality Assurance serves as Committee chair.

MEETINGS

Convening

The Committee will meet as often as required to fulfill its mandate, as convened by the Chair.

Quorum

Six members of the Committee constitute a quorum.

Voting

All motions require a majority vote of members present. The Chair votes only in the event of a tie.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

The Committee reports annually to the Executive Committee of the Senate.

SECRETARIAT

Secretariat services are provided by the Office of Quality Assurance.

Members

Faculty of Arts
Vacant

Faculty of Education
Barbara Graves

Faculty of Engineering
Roland Bouffanais

Faculty of Health Sciences
Isabelle Giroux
Judy King

Faculty of Law (Civil Law)
Vacant

Faculty of Law (Common Law)
Elizabeth Judge

Faculty of Medicine
Nadine Wiper-Bergeron

Faculty of Science
Robert Ben

Faculty of Social Sciences
Jean-Philippe Thivierge

Telfer School of Management
Lamia Chourou

Saint Paul University
Sophie Cloutier

Student Member
Negar Valizadeh