MacEwan University has been granted audit status and delegated new program approval status from the Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC). These delegations streamline processes for the development and review of MacEwan’s degree programs.
“The new statuses recognize Council’s faith in MacEwan’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional programming for our students and our continued efforts to act as trendsetters and trendbreakers in the post-secondary environment,” says Dr. Craig Monk, provost and vice-president, Academic.
CAQC is a provincial council operating at arm’s length from the Government of Alberta and comprises an expert panel of academic faculty from Alberta and across Canada. The council reviews new degree program proposals from universities across the province, makes recommendations for approval to the minister of advanced education and monitors the regular review of existing degree programs to ensure they continue to meet national and provincial quality standards necessary for students.
“Audit status allows us to keep our program review process in-house,” says Dr. Ken Ristau, academic quality assurance officer. “This means that we have greater institutional autonomy and responsibility for our own quality assurance processes related especially to the monitoring, review and development of baccalaureate programs. If CAQC has concerns or just general interest, they can audit us on those programs.”
The internal review process for the university’s programs will ensure proper process and documentation can be provided in the event of a potential audit.
The delegated new program approval status applies to proposed new degrees, and new specializations within existing degree programs at MacEwan. Instead of CAQC reviewing those new programs and making a recommendation to the minister of advanced education, the proposed programs go straight to the minister for approval.
Receiving these statuses is the result of a lengthy application process. MacEwan has undergone two institutional comprehensive reviews, culminating in the delegations from CAQC.
“It’s about 14 years in the making,” says Dr. Ristau. “It’s basically the completion of our transition from community college to university. It really is the capstone of that process.”
The new statuses demonstrate that MacEwan has a proven understanding and application of provincial quality standards for degree programs.
“A meeting with Council was literally the first meeting I took upon assuming my role as Provost. It’s an honour to see them put their trust in MacEwan’s dedicated faculty and staff when it comes to our internal decision making and evaluation,” says Dr. Monk. “We will continue our work toward Teaching Greatness to ensure that every student receives the superior quality of programming for which MacEwan is known.”