Updated September 9, 2021
Our Mission Statement
The Office of Academic Excellence (OAE) is committed to supporting quality student learning across all fields of study and credentials. Our goal is to continually improve George Brown College programs, academic policies, and quality assurance processes to ensure that all graduates have the requisite knowledge and skills to be effective practitioners, meet employer and community needs, and pursue future studies.
The values that inform our work
Our work is informed by the following values:
- Fostering learning communities through reciprocal exchange of ideas with a wide variety of stakeholders.
- Applying sound research methodology and pedagogy to our practice.
- Being respectful of and responsive to the diversity within our College and our community (this includes appreciating the unique qualities of individuals, programs and communities).
- Including a wide variety of verifiable data and research sources to strengthen the accuracy of our work.
The scope of our work and responsibilities
Our mandate includes four principal areas of responsibility:
- Academic Quality Assurance Framework
- Quality Assurance Protocols - New, Existing & Discontinuing Programs
- Curriculum Expertise & Development
- Academic Policy
Academic Quality Assurance Framework
Goal: To ensure the college’s compliance with relevant external academic quality standards and to maintain an integrated framework in the delivery of the college’s quality plan and continuous quality improvement.
Specific Office of Academic Excellence responsibilities…
- Deliver a comprehensive framework for continuous academic quality improvement.
- Fulfill the Binding Policy Directives of the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Training and Skills Development (MAESD) (formerly known as Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities or MTCU), and ensure the college’s academic quality assurance processes meet the College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP) criteria outlined by the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS) and those of the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB).
- Lead the college-wide planning processes for OCQAS quality assurance audits.
Quality Assurance Protocols - New, Existing & Discontinuing Programs
Academic Program Revision/Renewal Process Infographic
Goal: To provide a formal, robust and systematic process that informs decision-making throughout the lifecycle of college programs.
Specific Office of Academic Excellence responsibilities
- Establish, communicate and support college-wide processes for new program development, major program modifications, and program suspension or cancellation for all credential types in alignment with the MAESD Framework for Programs of Instruction.
- Advise and support program administrators in the development of new certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and graduate certificate programs, and ensure communications with, and the development of, required documentation for the Credentials Validation Service (CVS) and MAESD.
- Lead the processes for new degree development and ministerial degree consent renewal, in collaboration with degree program administrators, and ensure communications with, and the development of required documentation for, MAESD and PEQAB.
- Establish and administer the college’s portfolio of mandatory program review processes in alignment with MAESD’s Binding Policy Directives and the CQAAP quality assurance standards. This includes leading the Comprehensive Program Office of Academic Excellence Mission Statement, Values, Scope of Work Updated July 7, 2017, 3 Review process and providing structure and support to program administrators in the Program Quality Self-Assessment (PQSA) and Annual Program Quality Assurance self-reporting processes.
- Oversee the tracking and reporting of progress on the implementation of program review recommendations to support program review accountability and to inform the annual divisional business planning process.
- Analyze data and report to senior academic leaders about key college-wide academic quality themes emerging from program reviews, degree consent renewals and the advancement of program review recommendations.
- Lead the curriculum mapping processes during new program development and during or following the Comprehensive Program Review and the Program Quality Self-Assessment
Curriculum Expertise & Development
Curriculum Development Process Infographic
Goal: To lead and influence the development of program curriculum that aligns with external/internal standards and is informed by current pedagogical research and best practices.
Specific Office of Academic Excellence responsibilities…
- Provide expertise in the process of curriculum development for new programs and expert support in response to curriculum-related changes and program review curriculum recommendations for existing programs. Ensure a rigorous methodology that includes multi-level collaboration, diversity, research and innovation.
- Create, assemble and promote current, relevant resource materials for faculty and academic leaders related to learning outcomes, and curriculum development and improvement.
- Advise and assist new and existing academic programs with the alignment of course outcomes and assessments to the relevant program learning outcomes (e.g. vocational learning outcomes, Essential Employability Skills, etc.).
- Support faculty development by engaging and training faculty in the knowledge and skills necessary to develop good quality curriculum.
- Manage the content of the Program Learning Outcomes Landing Page and oversee the learning outcomes-related content on the GBC public website.
Academic Policy
Academic Policy Development & Renewal Process Infographic
Goal: To administer an integrated academic policy framework and the process for development and ongoing renewal of college-wide academic policies and practices that support principled decision-making.
Specific Office of Academic Excellence responsibilities…
- Lead the college-wide collaborative processes for academic policy-making, policy analysis and policy revision.
- Identify academic policy priorities that reflect critical academic issues and support effective operations.
- Promote the awareness and consistent application of academic policies, standards and best practices and act as an expert resource in interpreting academic policy.
- Administer the college’s academic appeals process.
