New Brunswick Council on
Articulations and Transfer
(NBCAT)
2014–2015 Annual Report
DATE: March 2015
1.
INTRODUCTION
To ensure an on-going improvement and enlargement of opportunities for learner mobility, the
establishment of a New Brunswick Council on Articulations and Transfer (NBCAT) and the New
Brunswick Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Action Group (NBPLAR) in 2010, has
shown its true value in working cooperatively among post-secondary institutions and other
stakeholders for the benefit of learners.
Through NBCAT & NBPLAR, New Brunswick’s post-secondary institutions and other
stakeholders have joined forces to facilitate student mobility, enabling students to have a more
seamless educational experience in attaining their post-secondary credentials. And there has
been and we will continue to see an increase in awareness, a better understanding and common
use of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) best practices and common tools in
NB.
1.1
The NBCAT members (Council and CPC)
The Council
Name / Nom
Title / Titre
Provost and Vice-President,
Academic & Research
Mount Allison University (MTA)
Brigitte Arsenault (Vice-Chair)
Vice-président
Formation et réussite étudiante
Collège Communautaire du
Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB)
Anthony Secco
Vice-President Academic
Fredericton
University of New Brunswick
(UNB)
Terry Dempsey
Vice-President Academic
New Brunswick Community
College (NBCC)
Barry Craig
Vice-President Academic
St. Thomas University (STU)
André Samson
Vice recteur à l’enseignement et à
la recherche
Université de Moncton (UdeM)
Keith McAlpine
Director
New Brunswick College of Craft
and Design (NBCCD)
Frank Vandenburg (Staff)
Associate Director, NBCAT
Post-Secondary Education,
Training and Labour (PETL)
Philip Bélanger (Staff)
Executive Director, NBCAT
Post-Secondary Education,
Training and Labour (PETL)
Karen Grant (Chair)
Organization / Organisation
Contact Persons Committee (CPC)
Name / Nom
Chris Harris (Chair)
Sheldon Macleod (Vice-Chair)
Pascal Robichaud
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Title / Titre
Registrar
Assistant VP of Enrolment Services
Registrar
Page 2
Organization / Organisation
New Brunswick Community
College (NBCC)
Crandall University
Université de Moncton (UdeM)
Chris Parker
Registrar
Marie-France Lanteigne
Mount Allison University (MTA)
Registraire
Collège Communautaire du
Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB)
Karen Preston
Registrar
St. Thomas University (STU)
David Hinton
Registrar
University of New Brunswick
(UNB)
Nancy Beaulieu
Registrar
NBCCD
Mark Bishop
Registrar
UNB Saint John (UNBSJ)
Lori Leach
Manager
Apprenticeship and Occupational
Certification (AOC)
Claudette Thériault- UdeM &
Michelle Richard /Jocelyne
Landry as of Jan 2015 – CCNB
(Invited Guests)
Coordinators / Coordonnatrices
Frank Vandenburg (Staff)
Associate Director, NBCAT
Philip Bélanger (Staff)
Executive Director, NBCAT
1.2
CCNB-UdeM Inter-Institutional
Service Project / SAMI
Post-Secondary Education,
Training and Labour (PETL)
Post-Secondary Education,
Training and Labour (PETL)
The NBCAT Meetings (Council and CPC)
The Council is to meet at least 2 times a year. Additional meetings on special issues that arise
may be called by the Chair as needed. The NBCAT meetings this year were held as follows:


April 15, 2014: PETL, Fredericton, NB
April 2, 2015: Moncton / Dieppe, NB
The CPC is to meet 4 times a year in person and using tele/video conference. Additional
meetings on special issues that arise may be called as needed. The CPC meetings this year
were held as follows:




June 03, 2014: UNBSJ, St John, NB
August 20, 2014: STU, Fredericton, NB
November 19, 2014: NBCC, Moncton, NB
February 11, 2015: PETL, Fredericton, NB
Approved minutes are posted on the NBCAT portal repository.
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 3
2.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF 2013-2014
This annual report assesses the past year’s activities and achievements against the desired
outcomes and performance measures identified in the NBCAT operational plan for each action
item. A list of abbreviations is available in annex A.
2.1 Web Portal and Communications
Actions
Timelines
Outcomes
Comments
Maintain and update the web
portal and NBCAT Web Site to
be consistently informative
On-going
The Portal data is updated annually in
accordance with the quality assurance
protocol officially signed by all participating
institutions. An information guide for portal
data updates is being developed to assist
current and new individuals at each
member institution, responsible for
updating their respective data.
Continued expansion of the
portal to include credit transfer
and formal transfer
agreements with High Schools,
other post-secondary
institutions across Canada,
and possibly from other
countries to participating NB
receiving institutions
On-going
The portal now includes formal transfer
agreements with PS institutions in the other
provinces across the country. Some
transferable course credits from PS
institutions are also included. The next step
is to continue adding course credits from
PS institutions across the country and
formal agreements with PS institutions
outside the country, to NB receiving
institutions. Apprenticeship and
Occupational Certification (AOC)
transferable credits have also be added to
the portal. Two (2) institutions have been
created on the portal, Advance Placement
(AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB),
so that members offering credit for those
courses can now include these credits.
These accomplishments
are due to the continued
dedication and support of
the NBCAT’s Contact
Persons Committee
member institutions joining
forces for such cooperative
efforts. However, with the
on-going development of
the portal it is starting to
impact resources within the
member institutions, thus
this will need to be taken in
consideration as we
continue progressing.
Efforts were taken to explore this idea and
it was concluded that given the on-going
development of the portal and updating
process in place, that it would not be
necessary to pursue this avenue.
The idea was originally
initiated by the CPC
members. It was
unanimously agreed that it
would no longer be
necessary.
The first step of our awareness campaign
was to focus on ensuring that admin and
faculty staff be made aware among our
participating institutions. It had been
agreed that each institution would take
initiatives within their respective institution
to build awareness, and free to call on Phil
& Frank to do presentations when deemed
appropriate. A brief questionnaire was
circulated and completed by the CPC
members to recap their respective internal
It is critical to have the
NBCAT and Credit Transfer
Portal awareness strategy,
which will lead to an ongoing awareness
enhancement for a better
understanding and common
use of Credit Transfer
practices in NB.
Establish a standard Form and
process for recording changes
in the portal repository.
Continue work on building
NBCAT and Credit Transfer
Portal awareness in
collaboration with an oversight
committee composed of
institutional reps implicated
with communications and
marketing.
On-going
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 4
efforts to date. This information will
contribute to putting together a detailed
awareness plan for 2015-16, based on the
different market segments with a broader
focus on the credit transfer trends and
benefits and the portal being a valuable
tool for learner recruitment, guidance and
orientation.
Host Annual General Meeting
of NB institutions and other
stakeholders.
2014-15
The AGM was held in April 2015 and
based on the discussions and review and
endorsement of the annual report,
recommendations will be made to PETL for
2015-16.
Host a second stakeholder
symposium in collaboration
with the NBPLAR Action
Group.
2014-15
A second symposium was hosted in
October 2014 and it marked considerable
growth in participation and success. Thus,
it was highly recommended we host a third
one in 2016 and that there be advance
planning to allow stakeholders the
opportunity to schedule ahead of time and
programming for on-line registrations. It
was also recommended that there be more
student and faculty participation, a higher
participation from outside the province, and
that there be more time allocated for
interaction among participants. An
organizing committee will be established to
develop a proposed plan for review by the
CPC and the Council for endorsement, and
then to be presented to PETL for funding
approval.
2.2 Transfer & Articulation Agreements
Actions
Continue work of the active
sub-committees for
articulation and transfer in the
field Nursing, Business, ITCS, Engineering and Trades
to Education.
.
Timelines
2014 -15
Outcomes
The PETL funded CCNB - U de M interinstitutional pilot project that was initiated
in 2011 presented some very on-going
productive outcomes, thus, it was
extended till March 2015, conditional that
efforts to attain self- sustainability be
demonstrated.
LPN-BN: The pilot project providing LPN
graduates from the NBCC and CCNB the
opportunity to pursue their education
towards a BN at UNBSJ via completion of
bridging courses, has proven to be very
successful. Its two pilot cohorts were
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 5
Comments
This project serves as a
possible model for other
institutions as an operational
structure to enhancement
inter-institutional transfer
agreements by having
resources allocated to
coordinate the work, pending
its sustainability.
This successful collaborative
work has shown true worth
in continuing to move
completed with a very high success rate.
The next measurable outcome will be the
success rate completing the BN program.
With the revamping of the CCNB LPN
program curricula now being completed, a
potential transfer agreement to the BN
program at UdeM, is presently in the
works.
Business sub-committee: With the
change in the CPA standards, progress in
has stalled some. However, given the
growing demand for management skills in
the field of IT and CS, work is underway
to explore potential transfer agreement
related to IT-CS and Business programs.
Also, a recent formal bloc transfer
pertaining to Business Accounting was
concluded between CCNB and U de M,
which may serve as a model for other
participating institutions.
UdeM and the CCNB reinforced their
collaborative efforts by launching new
articulated programs: Applied Bachelor’s
degree in managing financial services,
technology, information and leadership.
Other agreements in the field of business
administration are about to be launched
as well: Applied Bachelor’s degree in
managing client relations, and
transportation and logistics.
Engineering - IT / CS sub-committee:
A transfer agreement was struck between
NBCC and UNB providing a model for
CCNB & UdeM and leading to the
potential cross-transfer agreement among
all four (4) participating institutions.
Based on shared information of existing
course transfers presently recognized and
the analysis of existing models in other
jurisdictions, professional services were
retained to conduct a gap analysis
between NBCC, CCNB, UNB & UdeM
programs related to civil engineering. A
final report was completed at the end of
March, 2015, showing good potential for
credit transfer agreements among
participating institutions. A recommended
action plan will be presented to the CPC
and the Council for review and
endorsement.
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 6
forward with such initiatives
in other fields of studies.
.
The continued collaborative
work of addressing
challenges to transfer
agreements has lead to a
shared vision for more
student mobility among
participating institutions.
The determination of the
participating member
institutions to keep moving
forward by exploring all
potential options has
resulted in finding the best
avenues.
Trades to Education sub-committee:
A sub-committee was established to
explore the options for recognizing
learning within AOC curricula for credit
transfer for tradespeople seeking to teach
their trade. The sub-committee was
recently divided into two working groups,
in order to facilitate progress in exploring,
in 2015-16, potential credit transfer for two
trades to a Bachelor of Education and for
an Intro to Trades as a teachable subject
for Education students.
Continue development of a
mechanism for High School
Transcript Electronic Transfer
in cooperation with EECD
2014-15
UdeM has been leading this initiative for
NBCAT with allocated PETL funding to
develop a High School Transcript
Electronic Transfer mechanism. UdeM
has been working in cooperation with the
ministry of Education and Early Childhood
Development (EECD) and CPC member
institutions. Although there have been
delays due to changes at EECD the work
is progressing, aiming at productive
outcomes by the fall of 2015.
This is foreseen as a
valuable collaborative model
to simplify and accelerate
the process for credit
transfer. Thus, it is felt that
there should be more
indicators of communication
with EECD via PETL
pertaining to the High School
Transcript Electronic
Transfer development.
Continue to liaise with
institutions to encourage
enhancements in provincial
and inter-provincial transfer
On-going
NBCAT has established strong
relationships with existing CATs (BC, AB,
ON), which lead to a signed MOU to
enhance collaboration at improving
provincial and inter-provincial transfers.
NBCAT has also maintained continuous
liaisons with other jurisdictions across the
country, the Pan-Canadian Consortium on
Admissions and Transfer (PCCAT), the
CMEC working group on Credit Transfer
(WGCT), the Canadian Information
Centre for International Credentials
(CICIC), and the Canadian Association for
Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA).
These liaisons have proven
to value better
communication,
understanding and reliance
among participating
institutions in-province and
throughout the country. This
is an important action to
maintain as on-going in all
annual action plans.
Explore and support new
recommended transfer and
articulation initiatives.
On-going
Beyond the three initiated articulation pilot
projects and the CCNB-UdeM interinstitutional service project, NBCAT will
continuously provide support for any
recommended articulation projects in
other fields of interest.
This activity is viewed upon
as very valuable and should
remain as on-going in all
annual action plans.
Develop a hub that will allow
NBCAT member institutions
to share information,
research, and data updates
2014-15
Given the status of on-going
development, it was concluded to put
more emphasis on using the portal
repository to share information, and
research, versus the development of a
separate mechanism as a hub.
Develop a common practice
for inter-institutional student
referrals for optional studies.
2014-15
Having explored this avenue it was
concluded that the Portal has become the
tool of reference for this, thus to build on it
as part of the common practice and
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 7
include it in the awareness strategy.
2.3 Research
Actions
Explore with MPHEC the
possibility of a data
information sharing
agreement
Timelines
2014-15
Outcomes
Comments
MPHEC is in the midst of exploring the
possibility of including college data for
their statistical compilation process. It was
discussed and agreed that this could allow
for MPHEC to use our benchmarking
model to compile credit transfer stats for
NBCAT and possibly other maritime
provinces.
It is recommended that this
be continued in 2015-16.
In the meantime we initiated the idea of a
survey to determine any gaps pertaining to
information system requirements for the
colleges to be part of the MPHEC annual
statistical compilation process. However, it
was discerned that MPHEC had just
recently undertaken a similar study, thus
we decided to hold back on our initiative
until the MPHEC study results are known.
Continuous improvement of
the benchmarking model to
ensure an accurate annual
measure of the overall
transfer effectiveness.
Undertake research on
completion rates for transfer
students, and others that will
help inform and shape policy
and practice, as needed
Continued support for the
PCCAT-ARUCC development
of a National Transcript and
Transfer guide
2014-15
On-going
2014-15
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
The benchmarking model implemented in
2012-13, now including the compiled
provincial statistical in the annual report, is
reviewed on an annual basis. Based on
recommendations brought forward, a
clearer definition consistent of credit hours
/ unit hours was emphasized to the CPC
members, and an explanation note will
now be added in the stats report
pertaining to the outcomes.
Given the on-going
development of student
mobility, there will always
be room for improvement.
Thus, it is important that
there be an annual review
of the benchmarking model.
There has been on-going research
undertaken including, the Engineering
programs gap analysis and a research
project on NB high school graduates’
participation in PSE.
More on-going detailed
research will be required to
continuously improve
practices and provide
information for shaping
policies.
NBCAT continued supporting the PCCATARUCC development of the second phase
for a National Transcript and Transfer
guide in 2014-15.
Page 8
2.4 PLAR
Actions
Timelines
Outcomes
Comments
While there has been
significant growth in awareness
of PLAR activities in NB, the
new strategy for 2015-16
promises even more growth in
awareness.
Continue to expand on the
PLAR Awareness Strategy
launched in 2012-13 with an
emphasis on membership
recruitment and employer
engagement
On-going
To ensure that the strategy would
be effective a series of research
activities were undertaken, as well
as awareness-building activities
including sponsorship of PLARrelated webinars and presentations
at key conferences and national
meetings. A new, more active
awareness and membership
recruitment strategy was agreed to
for 2015-16.
Use the initial information
collected in 2013-14 to finalize
a Contact guide for PLAR
practitioners with assessment
expertise.
On-going
Part of the awareness research
included reaching out to
practitioners - this activity will form
the basis of a more detailed guide
in 2015-16.
Support the pan-Canadian
development of QA
benchmarks for PLAR
On-going
NBPLAR continues to participate
on the Advisory Committee for the
National QA benchmark project led
by CAPLA. A draft of the
benchmark handbook is currently
being reviewed with the final
version to be validated Fall 2015
Review the usage of the online NB PLAR training to
evaluate further development
On-going
Member institutions have made
use of the training, both as part of
their overall staff training and as
stand-alone training for staff. Some
organizations have made the initial
module available to clients and
stakeholders to better educate
them regarding PLAR.
Build on the Pan-Canadian
jurisdictional review to support
the compilation and
publication of best practices
resources
On-going
The compilation of best practices is
currently engaged with the National
QA project, the results of which will
identify several best practices. The
additional work by CAPLA and CIC
on practitioner competencies, to
which NBPLAR is also contributing,
will provide additional best practice
content.
Continue to liaise with other
PLAR jurisdictions.
On-going
There continues to be more liaison
development with other
jurisdictions, the Canadian
Association for Prior Learning
(CAPLA), and the Canadian
Information Centre for International
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 9
The increased engagement
through next year’s awareness
activities will add additional
users of the training
Credentials (CICIC).
Work closely with NBCAT to
develop a PLAR recognized
unit into the Portal.
2014-15
This initiative is still in the works
with the anticipation that there will
be a PLAR component with a tab
on the Portal in the next fiscal
2015-16.
Pause the small scale funding
program to identify whether
changes can improve usage
while funding projects on an ad
hoc basis
On-going
Members have undertaken projects
in spite of the pause, and funding
was made available to support the
Awareness activities on an ad hoc
basis.
The pause will continue for
2015-16 with project funding
being considered on a per case
basis.
Host a second NBCAT &
NBPLAR stakeholder
symposium.
2014-15
A second symposium was hosted
in October 2014 and it marked
considerable growth in participation
and success. Thus, it was highly
recommended that a third one be
hosted in 2016, and that there be
advance planning to allow
stakeholders the opportunity to
schedule ahead of time and
programming for on-line
registrations. The NBPLAR Action
Group is very supportive of a
continuation of this important
stakeholder event.
NBPLAR firmly believes that
this is a very valuable initiative
that should be considered as
an on-going event in
conjunction with NBCAT.
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 10
3.
NBCAT Financial Statement 2014-2015
$275,000.00
PETL Funding allocated for activities
Expenses
Overhead Costs (office supplies, hardware and software purchase
& maintenance, Cell / Blackberry usage, printing, conference calls,
copying, postage and Translation)
12, 890.42
Business meeting and conferences expenses (NBCAT, CPC,
articulation pilot project sub-committees, NB PLAR Action Group,
CAPLA and PCCAT) including room rental, equipment, staff travel
(including, registrations, subscriptions and conference fees) and
services.
11,693.06
Research / Professional Services (PPCAT - ARUCC National
Transfer Guide project contribution, CCNB-UdeM inter-institutional
project, Portal Updates and Maintenance , Engineering Gap Analysis
and Colleges information system compatibility with MPHEC gap
analysis.
205,000.00
Other activities in accordance with the validated chart of
activities (including NBCAT & NBPLAR Stakeholder Symposium
(2014), NBCAT AGM and follow up on articulation pilot projects.
Membership dues and fees
40,600.00
500.00
Total Expenses
270,683.48
(Deficit) / Surplus
$4,316.520
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 11
4.
Recommended Action for 2015-16
NBCAT Chart of Activities for 2015-2016
Credit Transfer & Related
Initiatives
Ad Hoc task groups, Subcommittees and other sources
as needed

Continue work of the active
sub-committees for
articulation and transfer in
the field of Business and ITCS & Engineering.

Continue work of the active
sub-committee for
recognizing courses within
AOC curricula and credit
transfer for tradespeople
seeking to teach their trade.



Explore and support new
recommended transfer and
articulation initiatives, such
as in the fields of biotechnology, health and
science, etc.
Continue development of a
mechanism for High School
Transcript Electronic
Transfer with enhanced
communication with EECD
via PETL and NBCAT.
Continue to liaise with NB
PS institutions and other
jurisdictions to encourage
enhancements in provincial
and inter-provincial transfer.
Research
Ad Hoc task groups or
Sub-committees as
needed




Web Portal and
Communications
Standing
Contact Persons
Committee
Continuous

improvement of the
benchmarking model
to ensure an
accurate annual
measure of the

overall transfer
effectiveness.
Explore with MPHEC
the possibility of a
data information
sharing agreement.
Undertake research
on completion rates
for transfer
students, and others

that will help inform
and shape policy and
practice, as needed.
Continued support
for the PCCATARUCC development
of a National
Transcript and
Transfer guide.
Maintain and update the
web portal and NBCAT
Web Site to be
consistently informative.
Continued expansion
of the portal to include
credit transfer and
formal transfer
agreements with High
Schools, other PS
institutions across
Canada, and possibly
from other countries
to participating NB
receiving institutions.
Awareness & Networking:
 Continue to expand on the PLAR
Awareness Strategy and recent
outreach activities with an
emphasis on membership
recruitment and employer
engagement

Commence planning in 2015 to
host a third NBCAT & NBPLAR
stakeholder symposium in 2016.

Continue to liaise with other
PLAR jurisdictions ad
organizations.
Tools for PLAR Delivery:
 Use the information collected in
prior years to finalize a Contact
guide for PLAR practitioners.
Continue work on
building NBCAT and
Credit Transfer Portal

awareness based on the
different market
segments with a broader
focus on the credit

transfer trends and
benefits, and the portal
being a valuable tool for
learner recruitment,

guidance and orientation.

Host the NBCAT Annual
General Meeting (AGM)

Commence planning in
2015 to host a third
NBCAT & NBPLAR
stakeholder symposium
in 2016.
.
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
NB PLAR
Standing
Action Group
Page 12

Review the usage of the on-line
NBPLAR training to evaluate
further training development
Support the pan-Canadian
development of QA benchmarks
for PLAR
Build on Pan-Canadian and
provincial initiatives to support
the compilation and publication
of best practices resources
Work closely with NBCAT to
develop a PLAR section on the
Credit Transfer Portal.
Annex A
Abbreviations
NBCAT – New Brunswick Council on Articulations and Transfer
NBPLAR – New Brunswick Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Action Group
PCCAT – Pan-Candian Consortium on Admissions and Transfer
CAPLA – Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment
CPC – Contact Persons Committee
MTA - Mount Allison University
UNB - University of New Brunswick
UNBSJ - University of New Brunswick St. John
STU - St. Thomas University (STU)
UdeM - Université de Moncton
CCNB - Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
NBCC - New Brunswick Community College
NBCCD - New Brunswick College of Craft and Design
AOC – Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification
PETL - Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
CICIC – Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials
AP – Advanced Placement Program
IB – International Baccalaureate
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse Program
BN – Baccalaureate in Nursing Program
CPA - Chartered Professional Accountants
IT – Information Technology Programs
CS – Computer Science Programs
AGM – Annual General Meeting
MPHEC – Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission
EECD – Education and Early Childhood Development
CMEC – Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
WGCT – Working Group on Credit Transfer
BCCAT – British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer
ACAT – Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer
ONCAT – Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer
MOU – Memorandum of Understanding
PSE – Post-Secondary Education
PS – Post-Secondary
ARUCC – Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada
PLAR – Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
QA – Quality Assurance
CIC – Citizenship and Immigration Canada
NBCAT Annual Report 2014-2015
Page 13