What Changes to Expect in 2005/2006
Program Changes, Foundation Studies/Levels 1-3
Mandatory assignment submission will no longer determine if a student qualifies to write the examination. Instead,
students will have the opportunity to earn marks towards the final course grade by completing online term work
such as multiple-choice quizzes and integrative assessments.
Starting in September 2005, it will be possible to earn 30% of the final course grade from term work. With the
exception of FA1, MS1 and CM1, all foundation studies courses will have 5 online, multiple-choice quizzes where
each quiz will earn 15% of the final course grade. FA1 and MS1 will have 5 online quizzes where each quiz will
earn 3 % of the final course grade, plus one online integrative assessment which will be 15% of the final grade.
CM1 will have four integrative assessments, where three will earn 5% each and one will earn 15% of the final
course grade. CM1 will not have multiple choice quizzes.
Integrative assessments in FA1 and MS1 will take the form of a single submission in week 8 of the course work.
The assessment submission will be in the form of a small “case study” requiring the student to demonstrate
understanding of all course topics to that date.
As of September 2005, the final course grade will be the combined/blended mark comprising the term work plus
70% of the actual exam mark. To illustrate, if a student does not submit the term work of quizzes and/or integrative
assessments which account for 30% of the final grade, only 70% of the actual exam mark (i.e., exam mark x 0.70)
will be assigned as the final course grade. In other words, if a student receives 0 marks on the term work, but
receives 93% on the final exam, their final mark will be 65%.
Program Changes, Advanced Studies/Levels 4-PACE
As the new CGA-Canada online delivery and course model are integrated fully into the program, the former model
of “10 assignments, 10 weeks” continues to disappear. Online discussions will be integrated into more courses. To
summarize course design in 2005/2006 will be as follows:
Level 4
AT1
AU1
MA2
TX1
10 weekly assignments
10 weekly assignments
10 weekly assignments
5 assignments (weeks 2,4,6,8,9)
Level 5
FA4
FN2
AU2
MU1
MS2
TX2
PF1
PA1
5 assignments (weeks 2,4,6,8,9) and 4 discussions (weeks 1,3,5,7)
5 assignments (weeks 2,4,6,8,9)
4 assignments (weeks 2,4,6,8)
4 assignments (weeks 2,4,6,8)
4 assignments (weeks 2,5,6,8) and 6 discussions (weeks 1,3,5,7,9,10)
5 assignments (weeks 2,4,6,8,9)
4 assignments (weeks 3,5,7,9) and 3 discussions (weeks 1,2,10)
5 assignments (schedule subject to discussion)
edNET Delivery
All CGA and LU (Laurentian University) courses will be delivered through edNET, CGA-Canada’s learning
management system. This means that assignments, review questions and solutions, electronic lesson notes, etc., are
accessed through a central server – rather than through a course CD. This also means that students will post
assignments to the central server for marking, rather than sending them by e-mail to a marker mailbox.
New Course – Public Sector Finance (PF1)
Session 3 (Spring) will see the first offering of the new PACE-level elective course, Public Sector Finance.
CGA-Canada describes the course as follows:
PF1 is a PACE-Level survey course providing an overview of the public sector for accountants. The course
integrates examples and assignments requiring application of concepts and some case studies. The course focuses
on financial management concepts, methods, and standards currently in use in the public sector more generally, and
in the Canadian public sector more specifically. The focus is on the federal and provincial governments, although
international issues are discussed. After completing PF1 you will be familiar with planning, control, and reporting
in government, and should be able to prepare, review, and analyze government annual reports and budget
documents; critically analyze public sector performance information; review, evaluate, and/or recommend cost
management and control practices in public sector enterprises; and, identify and manage risk. The prerequisites for
PF1 are FA2, FA3, MA2, AU1.
Security Software
CGA-Canada has negotiated a significant discount for a security bundle from Trend Micro, a leading supplier of
systems security software. The security bundle recommended for student use, Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet
Security, protects PCs and home networks against viruses, worms, Trojans, and blended threats—including network
viruses, like MYDOOM and SASSER. It also blocks hackers, detects and removes spyware, guards against phishing
(spoofing and other forms of fraudulent websites) attacks, filters unwanted content, and minimizes spam. CGA
students will be able purchase a 12-month subscription. The new security software agreement is expected to be
finalized in time for the beginning of Session 1 (Fall) in August. It will also be available to CGA members.
CGA Course Content Changes
There are significant CICA Handbook changes coming through this year making for significant changes in the
financial accounting stream and in the AU1/AU2 (Auditing 1 and 2) courses.
A large number of courses will be redesigned to fit the new program delivery. Specifically, FA1 (Financial
Accounting 1), CM1 (Communications), MS1 (Management Information Systems 1), TX1, (Taxation 1) MA2
(Management Accounting 2), FA4 (Financial Accounting 4), MU1 (Management Auditing 1) and TX2 (Taxation 2).
New editions of textbooks will be used for FA1 (Financial Accounting 1), MS1 Management Information
Systems 1), and TX1 (Taxation 1). CM1 (Communications 1) is undergoing a major revision including adapting to
an entirely new text.
Online discussion groups, currently found in MS2, will be added to FA4 and PF1.
BC2 (Business Case 2) will be an entirely new case that will integrate information from the prerequisite courses of
MS1 (Management Information Systems 1), FA3 (Financial Accounting 3), and QU1 (Quantitative Methods 1).
AU1 (Auditing 1) is a co-requisite and students must complete the course term work (e.g., assignments) before
attempting the business case.
MA2 (Management Accounting 2) is updated with new and current readings for its readings package.
The Ethics Reading Handbook is being updated and designed for online delivery. The newly revised Handbook will
be available for students in Session 1 (Fall).
Application for Membership - Sponsorship
Applications for Membership now require the recommendation of a member of the Association. The sponsor is
attesting to the suitability of the candidate for membership. Students are encouraged to attend chapter events such as
annual conferences, or convocation ceremonies organized by the regional affiliate and/or representation or chapter
office. These functions provide students with the opportunity to meet members who can act as sponsors when the
time comes. Students residing in remote areas who don’t know any CGAs should contact their regional or
representation office so that a potential sponsor may be found for them.
Partner Degree University Course Content Changes
Laurentian courses - H.B.Com and MBA courses will have changes based on regional student and affiliate
feedback.
SAIT courses - are being updated for broken web links and obsolete references. OB1 (Organizational Behaviour 1)
has been revised to a new text. The NM1 (Network Management 1) and PM1 (Project Management 1) will be
released in a new version for the Session 3 (Spring) offering.