NEW PROGRAM PROPOSALS
April 2014
Questions regarding the approval process for new degree programs should be directed to the Office of the
Provost or applicable Dean. Please review the IQAP policy which governs the development and approval
process for all new degree programs. Policy may be found at the Quality Assurance website:
https://www.trentu.ca/vpacademic/pqac_info.php. Templates available on website.
INTERNAL APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
 Program Quality Assurance Committee (PQAC) (to Aug 31, 2015) or Academic Planning & Budget
Committee (AP&B) (as of Sept 1, 2015) will review and recommend the proposal to go forward to
Senate for approval. For a detailed process please review the policy. Extensive consultation is part of
this process.
 External Reviewers. Once approved by PQAC or AP&B the degree program undergoes an external
review as part of the internal process (prior to Senate approval). A template is available. Using
template – Nominations of External Reviewers – a list of 6 or more qualified external reviewers must
be submitted to the Office of the Provost. Reviewers must be at ‘arm’s length; see IQAP p.27 for
definition of Arm’s Length.

Required Documents
 Template available on website - under Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance – New
Degree Program Proposal (this template used for internal approval and for ON Quality Council)
 Appendix A – Learning Outcome Tables (support is available from the Centre for Teaching and
Learning)
 Appendix B – Curriculum Vitae (recommended template on website; include tenured, tenure-track
 Appendix C – Course Syllabuses (include newly developed or a relevant sampling)
 Appendix D – Budget (samples available upon request)
EXTERNAL APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
 All new degree programs require approval by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance
(ON Quality Council). Approval by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) is
required for funding purposes. Cost-recovery graduate programs do not require MTCU approval but
approval may be sought for students to be eligible for OSAP.

ON Quality Council Submission – Required Documents
 Template available on website - under Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance – New
Degree Program Proposal (same form as used for internal approval)
 Appendix A – Learning Outcome Tables (support is available from the Centre for Teaching and
Learning)
 Appendix B – Curriculum Vitae (recommended template on website; include tenured, tenure-track
 Appendix C – Course Syllabuses (include newly developed or a relevant sampling)

MTCU Submission – Required Documents
 Template available on website - under Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities – Program
Approval Form
 Appendix D – Budget (samples available upon request)
Program Proposal Brief
of the
Bachelor/Master of Arts/Science
in
________________
(Honours/General)
or
DATE: _______________
For Submission to:
Program Quality Assurance Committee
Senate Committee
Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page #
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW – Exec Summary
a) Degree Nomenclature
b) Executive Summary: Introduction and Overview
SECTION 2: EVALUATION CRITERIA
1. Objectives
2. Admission Requirements
3. Structure
4. Program Content
5. Mode of Delivery
6. Assessment of Teaching and Learning
7. Resources for All Programs
8. Resources for Graduate Programs Only
9. Resources for Undergraduate Programs Only
10. Quality and Other Indicators
SECTION 3: APPENDICES
 Appendix A – Learning Outcome Tables
 Appendix B – Course Syllabuses
(should include a cover sheet including a list of course; include required courses or a sampling of
representative curriculum)
 Appendix C – Curriculum Vitae
(should include a cover sheet including a list of faculty alphabetically; include tenured, tenure
track, and if relevant, limited term appointments to be associated with the program)
 Appendix D – Budget
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
a) DEGREE NOMENCLATURE
Clearly identify the official name of the degree which will be approved by Senate, ON Quality
Council, and, if applicable, MTCU (i.e.., BSc in Geography (Hons), Master in History)
b) Executive Summary : Introduction and Overview
SECTION 2: EVALUATION CRITERIA
Note: This part of the proposal directly reflects the evaluation criteria as outlined in the Institutional Quality
Assurance Policy (IQAP) p.27 - Appendix C: Evaluation Criteria for New Program Approvals (as set out in the
Quality Assurance Framework 2.1).
Appendix A – Learning Outcome Tables. This section will involve developing program goals, mapping of
program goals and courses to degree level expectations and methods of assessment and evaluation.
1. OBJECTIVES
a) Consistency of the degree program with the institution’s mission and academic plans.
b) Clarity and appropriateness of the degree program’s requirements and associated learning
outcomes in addressing the institution’s own undergraduate or graduate Degree Level
Expectations.
c) Appropriateness of degree nomenclature.
2. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
a) Appropriateness of the degree program’s admission requirements for the learning outcomes
established for completion of the program.
b) Sufficient explanation of alternative requirements, if any, for admission into a graduate, secondentry or undergraduate program, such as minimum grade point average, additional languages
or portfolios, along with how the program recognizes prior work or learning experience.
3. STRUCTURE
a) Appropriateness of the degree program’s structure and regulations to meet specified program
learning outcomes and degree level expectations.
b) For graduate degree programs, a clear rationale for program length that ensures that the
program requirements can be reasonably completed within the proposed time period.
4. PROGRAM CONTENT
a) Ways in which the curriculum addresses the current state of the discipline or area of study.
b) Identification of any unique curriculum or program innovations or creative components.
c) For research-focused graduate degree programs, clear indication of the nature and suitability of
the major research requirements for degree completion.
d) Evidence that each graduate student in the degree program is required to take a minimum of
two-thirds of the course requirements from among graduate level courses.
5. MODE OF DELIVERY
Appropriateness of the proposed mode(s) of delivery (i.e., means or medium used in delivering a
program – e.g., lecture format, distance on-line, problem-based, compressed part-time, different
campus, inter-institutional collaboration or other non-standard form of delivery) to meet the
intended program learning outcomes and Degree Level Expectations.
6. ASSESSMENT OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
a) Appropriateness of the proposed methods for the assessment of student achievement of the
intended program learning outcomes and Degree Level Expectations
b) Completeness of plans for documenting and demonstrating the level of performance of
students, consistent with the institutions’ statement of its Degree Level Expectations.
7. RESOURCES FOR ALL PROGRAMS
a) Adequacy of the administrative unit’s planned utilization of existing human, physical and
financial resources, and any institutional commitment to supplement those resources, to
support the program.
b) Participation of a sufficient number and quality of faculty who are competent to teach and/or
supervise in the program.
c) Evidence that there are adequate resources to sustain the quality of scholarship produced by
undergraduate students as well as graduate students’ scholarship and research activities,
including library support, information technology support, and laboratory access.
8. RESOURCES FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS ONLY
a) Evidence that faculty have the recent research or professional/clinical expertise needed to
sustain the program, promote innovation and foster an appropriate intellectual climate.
b) Where appropriate to the proram, evidence that financial assistance for students will be
sufficient to ensure adequate quality and numbers of students.
c) Evidence of how supervisory loads will be distributed, and the qualifications and appointment
status of faculty who will provide instruction and supervision.
9. RESOURCES FOR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS ONLY
Evidence of and planning for adequate numbers and quality of :
a) Faculty and staff to achieve the goals of the program
b) Of plans and the commitment to provide the necessary resources in step with the
implementation of the program
c) Planned/anticipated class sizes
d) Provision of supervision of experiential learning opportunities (if required)
e) The role of adjunct and part-time faculty
10. QUALITY AND OTHER INDICATORS
a) Definition and use of indicators that provide evidence of quality of the faculty (e.g.,
qualifications, research, innovation and scholarly record; appropriateness of collective faculty
expertise to contribute substantively to the proposed program).
b) Evidence of a program structure and faculty research that will ensure the intellectual quality of
the student experience.
(template developed April 2014)