[Program] Action Plan Response to PSWPA Preliminary Audit Team Report
Instructions:
1. Programs may use this template to respond to the Audit Team’s Preliminary Audit Report, or choose to use another format, as long as the information requested below is included in the response.
2. Delete any rows for which you do not need to respond, i.e., those requirements that were recorded as being “met” in your Audit Team Preliminary Audit Report and that you do not need to respond to.
3. Please delete these instruction notes before returning your response to the Audit Team.
4. After printing and obtaining the appropriate signatures, please scan the document and send your response in PDF format to .
5. Please note that signatures of the person responsible for each action are required to ensure that the responsible person is aware of their responsibilities and agrees to carry out the plan by the recorded completion date.
Opening Comments
[Insert any opening comments you may have here or delete this section]
Action Plan
Standard 1: Program Quality Management System
Requirement / Interpretation / Action Plan / Role(s)/Title(s) of Person(s) Responsible / Expected Completion Date / Signature(s) of Person(s) Responsible /1.1 The program facilitates the evolution of the program to maintain its relevance and to fulfill its mission and program of study. / Describe how you are improving your program to maintain current best practices and relevancy to your community.
1.2 The program ensures that established policies and procedures regarding its development, review, and maintenance are monitored (approved and revised) regularly, and applied consistently across all programs of instruction. / Describe the process of how you regularly review and change as necessary policies and procedures (e.g., PSW student handbook)
1.3 The program gathers, collates, and analyzes data from stakeholders (e.g., graduates, industry representatives, faculty, students, and professional bodies) for continuous improvement of program maintenance records (e.g., program reviews) and program indicators (e.g., graduation rates, retention rates and employability ranges). / Describe how you obtain feedback from your community stakeholders, students and staff.
Describe how you use the feedback you obtain from your community stakeholders, students and staff to measure improvements in the program.
1.4 The program uses program indicators, program maintenance records, and stakeholder data to measure program performance. / Describe how you maintain, store and update statistical records for the program.
1.5 The program follows up to ensure that changes to the program are relevant with provincial standards and PSWPA Quality Assurance Framework requirements, and ensures that recommendations arising from previous program reviews have been considered and implemented. / Describe how you reassess and evaluate the effect of changes you have made to the program.
1.6 The program maintains all audit records, reports, and backup documentation arising from program quality assurance audit processes. / Describe how the program is maintaining appropriate and relevant records of improvements recommended by the accrediting body, i.e., PSWPA.
Other Comments on Standard 1
[Insert any other comments you have respecting Standard 1 or the Audit Team’s recommendations here]
Standard 2: Program Development
It is possible to demonstrate all of the requirements of this standard in one comprehensive document.
Requirement / Interpretation / Action Plan / Role(s)/Title(s) of Person(s) Responsible / Expected Completion Date / Signature(s) of Person(s) Responsible /2.1 The program ensures the existence, articulation, and use of clear statements of program vocational learning outcomes as outlined by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (regardless of the location or method of delivery); and that they are consistent with the program’s intended purpose. / Demonstrate that the program curriculum is linked to the VLOs.
2.2 These learning outcomes must be clearly linked to Ministry of Education overall and to specific expectations for Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). / Demonstrate that the learning outcomes are linked to the Ministry of Education’s overall and specific expectations for an OSSD.
2.3 The program ensures that program requirements (courses, work placements, admission requirements) are derived from, and flow coherently from, the program's vocational learning outcomes and are aligned with the Quality Assurance Framework established by PSWPA. / Demonstrate that curriculum, work placements and admission requirements follow the VLOs and accreditation requirements.
2.4 The program ensures that vocational learning outcomes provide a sound basis for curriculum development and are used in prior learning assessments (PLAR). / Demonstrate that VLOs are used in the PLAR process.
Other Comments on Standard 2
[Insert any other comments you have respecting Standard 2 or the Audit Team’s recommendations here]
Standard 3: Conformity with Government Requirements
Requirement / Interpretation / Action Plan / Role(s)/Title(s) of Person Responsible / Expected Completion Date / Signature(s) of Person(s) Responsible /3.1 The program ensures that the program title is consistent with established Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development credentials framework, titling protocols and validated program standard titles. / Demonstrate that the program title is certificate, rather than diploma.
3.2 The program ensures that programs of instruction are consistent with (meet or exceed) the credential framework requirements (i.e., scope of program vocational learning outcomes, essential employability skills (EES), duration for completion, admission requirements, name of credential). / Demonstrate that the program follows VLOs, essential employability skills and admission requirements.
3.3 The program ensures that programs of instruction are consistent with the current workplace expectations (i.e., essential vocational skills, attitudes, knowledge, and competencies). / Demonstrate that your program is meeting your community’s workplace needs.
3.4 The program ensures that programs of instruction provide reasonable opportunities for students to achieve vocational and non-vocational program outcomes. / Demonstrate how you ensure student success in the program.
3.5 The program ensures that changes to provincial program standards are communicated to all relevant stakeholders and implemented in a timely manner to maintain the relevance of the program. / Demonstrate that your community partners have been made aware of changes to the provincial standards.
Other Comments on Standard 3
[Insert any other comments you have respecting Standard 3 or the Audit Team’s recommendations here]
Standard 4: Program Delivery and Student Assessment
Requirement / interpretation / Action Plan / Role(s)/Title(s) of Person Responsible / Expected Completion Date / Signature(s) of Person(s) Responsible /4.1 The program’s delivery and student assessment approach ensures consistent delivery of programs of instruction regardless of the program delivery strategies (hybrid, online, full-time or part-time, or are delivered with a third-party or other postsecondary institutions), including those programs with off-site locations. / Demonstrate that the program assesses and evaluates consistently across all sites; e.g. moderated marking
4.2 The program’s delivery and student assessment approach engages and supports all PSW teaching staff in regular professional development. / Describe how the program provides professional development on student assessment for instructors.
4.3 The program’s delivery and student assessment approach ensures fair and equitable evaluation of student achievement through valid assessment methods, accompanied by prompt and descriptive feedback on student performance. / Demonstrate how the program ensures fair marking for all students with prompt and descriptive feedback on tests and assignments.
4.4 The program’s delivery and student assessment approach assesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities of graduating students. / Demonstrate how the program’s marking measures all knowledge, skills and abilities (e.g. different types of tests, labs, assignments)
Other Comments on Standard 4
[Insert any other comments you have respecting Standard 4 or the Audit Team’s recommendations here]
Standard 5: Existence, Monitoring and Communication of Academic Policies and Practices
Requirement / Interpretation / Action Plan / Role(s)/Title(s) of Person(s) Responsible / Expected Completion Date / Signature(s) of Person(s) Responsible /5.1 The program ensures that academic policies and procedures are established for:
a. specific pre- and co-requisites
b. advancement in programs and maximum periods for completion
c. possible alternative entry and exit points / If applicable, describe the program’s policies and procedures for admission, maximum completion time from start of program and the granting of equivalent credits.
5.2 The program ensures that academic policies and procedures are established for:
a. requirements for admission to the program and to courses in the program
b. provisions for awarding credit toward a credential or exemptions from specific course requirements as a result of exemptions
c. recognition for prior learning / Describe the program’s policies for admission requirements, exemptions and PLAR equivalencies.
5.3 The program ensures that academic policies and procedures are established for:
a. instances requiring accommodations;
b. assessment, including provisions for re-assessment and appeals
c. requirements for awarding the credential (i.e., title of any program or series of courses)
d. rules and criteria governing any awarding of merit, distinction, and other grades / Describe the program’s policies for accommodation, assessment and appeals, awarding the PSW certificate in addition to the credit, and any rules around honours.
5.4 The program ensures that academic policies and procedures are established for formal arrangements with external bodies governing credentials, certifications, and so forth, e.g., First Aid & CPR. / Describe the program’s policies and procedures for the use of guest speakers and instructors.
5.5 The program ensures that academic policies and procedures regarding changes to programs (i.e., courses, vocational learning outcomes) are established. / Describe the program’s policies and procedures for changing the program (if any changes are made); e.g. EDU course codes
5.6 The program ensures that established academic policies and practices are published, communicated and applied consistently across all programs of instruction. / Demonstrate that all policies (e.g. student handbook) are public and communicated to students and stakeholders while being applied consistently in all programs.
5.7 The program ensures that established academic policies and practices are reviewed and monitored regularly and consistently. / Describe how all of your teachers and relevant staff review and update policies and practices (e.g. student handbook).
Other Comments on Standard 5
[Insert any other comments you have respecting Standard 5 or the Audit Team’s recommendations here]
Standard 6: Availability and Allocation of Resources
Requirement / Interpretation / Action Plan / Role(s)/Title(s) of Person Responsible / Expected Completion Date / Signature(s) of Person(s) Responsible /6.1 The program ensures that teaching staff:
a. possess the combination of experience and credentials appropriate to and required by the accreditation criteria
b. have the level of expertise and ability to provide the published learning experience
c. participate in reflective practice;
d. undergo initial and continuing professional development
e. are oriented, monitored, and evaluated / Describe your hiring practice, demonstrating that instructors:
a. meet health and teaching requirements
b. have appropriate and current skills and experience
c. participate in reflective practice
d. participate in regular professional development
e. are oriented, monitored and evaluated regularly and appropriately
6.2 The program ensures that teaching staff:
a. execute their professional responsibilities
b. work within structured instructional plans
c. are accessible and available for student inquiry
d. meet the needs of the students and facilitate the achievement of the learning outcomes
e. provide prompt and descriptive feedback to students
f. promote a positive attitude to learning for students / Describe how you ensure that instructors:
a. are professional
b. follow instructional plans
c. are accessible and available for students
d. meet the needs of students to achieve learning outcomes
e. provide prompt and descriptive feedback
f. promote a positive learning environment
6.3 The program ensures sufficient numbers and continuity of faculty and staff to carry out both classroom and non-classroom support roles for student success. / Describe the program’s process for ensuring sufficient staff and continuity of staff.
6.4 The program ensures that academic support and advising services meet the needs of the students and facilitate the achievement of the program vocational learning outcomes. / Describe how the program ensures students’ success (i.e., academic support and guidance) in meeting VLOs.
6.5 The program ensures that staff members providing student support services such as tutoring, financial and academic advising, are appropriately qualified, trained, and supported. / Describe how the program provides students with support services.
6.6 The program ensures that learning facilities, equipment, and technological infrastructure support the promised modes of delivery and the learning process, and are accessible to all PSW students. / Describe how the program ensures that the classroom meets student and instructor needs.
6.7 The program ensures that the leadership, organization, and management of human resources, financial services, learning resources, information technology resources, and academic facilities are optimized. / Describe how your leadership and organizational structure are best utilized to support the student and instructors.
Other Comments on Standard 6
[Insert any other comments you have respecting Standard 6 or the Audit Team’s recommendations here]
Conclusions
[Include any concluding comments here]
Authorization
By signing below, I affirm that I have the authority to respond to the PSWPA Preliminary Audit Report on behalf of the program:
Signature:Name:
Position:
Date:
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