Program Closure

Graduate Program in [PROGRAM NAME, e.g. Education]

Degree(s):

[List the specific degrees being modified

Ex:

Doctorate in Philosophy Education

Master of Arts Education

Graduate Diploma Program Evaluation]

Submitted to:

Council

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

[Date]


Contents

Overview

Instructions

Section 1:Overview

1.1Academic unit

1.2Brief program overview

Section 2:Program Closure Rationale

2.1Rationale

2.2Impact

2.3University of Ottawa mission and strategic plan

Appendix A: Program Modification Report

Appendix B: Calendar Text

Appendix C: Letters of Support

Resources

Overview

In accordance with the University Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), major modifications to graduate programs include significant changes to the requirements, intended learning outcomes or human and other resources associated with the program. Major modifications also include program closure.

The uOttawa Quality Assurance Office reports program closures to the Council of Ontario Universities on an annual basis.

For additional information on program closure,see the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance Framework and Guide.

Instructions

Use the template provided as a guide forwriting a program closureapproval request. Content, resources, formatting and writing suggestions are provided throughout the template as guidelines. Each program closure is a unique request, so it is possible that some sections may need to be added to the template while others may need to be deleted.The proposal can be submitted in English, French or a combination. However, use just one language within each section.

Within the template and guide, note that:

  • The text written in black is part of the request and should be retained in the final document.
  • The text written in grey is information that will guide you to complete each section of the request. Delete the grey text prior to submitting the request to the FGPS. The final document should have no grey text.

If you have questions about the template or about program modifications, contact the Quality Assurance Office at .

Once the program closurerequest is complete, please forwardit to the Quality Assurance Office for an initial review.

Section 1:Overview

Program Closure

Graduate Program in [NAME OF PROGRAM]

Last Cyclical Review Year [YEAR OF LAST REVIEW,e.g. 2014]

Approved by the Council

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Meeting of [DATE OF MEETING]

Prior to thisprogram closure requestbeing submitted to the FGPS Council, itwas reviewed and approved by the[NAME OF THE ACADEMIC UNIT]and the [NAME OF FACULTY]. The modification was preparedin consultation with the Graduate Studies Office of the Faculty of [NAME OF THE FACULTY] and approved by the Vice-Dean.

Internal approvals fromthe faculty and/or the Coop office:

1. Name of the committee, date of the meeting when the approval was received

2. Name of the committee, date of the meeting when the approval was received

3. Name of the committee, date of the meeting when the approval was received

Effective date: Date when the program closure will come into effect.Note that program closure typically begins with the suspension of admissions and that the complete closure of the program cannot occur until all enrolledstudents have graduated. (Typically, the effective date is May,but this may change with the new student information system, uoCampus.)

1.1Academic unit

Program managers and authors of the program closure request / In this section, list the names of those managing the program.
Sample:
  • D. Perron, Chair, Department of Economics
  • F. Lisé, Supervisor, PhD Program
  • S. Beauchamp, Supervisor, Master’s Program

Support staff / In this section, list the names of support staff members who have helped prepare the program closurerequest.
Sample:
  • R. Boutin, Operations Coordinator
  • S. Lavoie, Administrative Assistant

Web address / In this section, listthe web addresses of the program.
Sample:

1.2Brief program overview

Name of program / In this section, indicatethe name of the discipline in both English and French.
Suggestions:
  • Be sure to use the correct name.
Sample:
  • Epidemiology / Épidemiologie

Degrees / In this section, list the names of the graduate diploma and/or degree programs that will cease to be offered.
Suggestions:
  • Use the exact title (for example, “Master of Fine Arts” is correct, whereas“Master in Fine Arts” is incorrect).
  • There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.
Sample:
  • Master of Science (MSc) in Epidemiology
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemiology

Responsible academic units / In this section, list the participating units,if the program is collaborative or joint.
Suggestions:
  • There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.
  • If appropriate, this section can be deleted.
Sample:
  • Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Mathematics and Statistics

Summary of program requirements / In this section, briefly describe the high-level program structure.
Suggestion:
  • There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.
Sample:
  • 21 credits with thesis

Fields / In this section, include the names of the fields that were approved by the Ontario Council on Quality Assurance.
Suggestions:
  • If appropriate, this section can be deleted.
  • Be sure to use the correct names.
  • There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.
Sample:
  • There are two fields at the PhD level:
  • Descriptive and Analytic Epidemiology
  • Applied and Clinical Epidemiology

Number of students currently registered in the program / Sample:
  • Graduate Diploma: 2
  • Masters:0
  • Doctorate:0

Current number of core faculty members / Sample:
  • 16

Other data deemed appropriate / An example of information that can be added is the number of students who have graduated since the start of the program (total and/or by degreetype). If no additional data is deemed appropriate to include, this section can be deleted.

Section 2:Program Closure Rationale

2.1Rationale

In this section, briefly describe the rationale for closing the program. Refer to the calendar text(Appendix B).
Content suggestions:
  • Include information about why the program should be closed.
For example: Drop or absence of admissions for three years, insufficient resources (for example, a loss of funding), or replacement of the program by another program or the folding of several existing programs into one.
Resource suggestions:
  • Refer to Appendix B for guidance on preparing calendar text.
  • For additional information on program closure, consult the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance Framework and Guide.
  • If you have questions about program modifications, particularly in terms of what constitutes a minor modification, a major modification or a new program, contact the Quality Assurance Office at .

2.2Impact

In this section, explain the impact of the program closure. If there is an impact on other programs,it is best to include explicit evidence that they are in agreement with the closure.
Content suggestions:
  • Describe how the program closure will have an impact on the following:
  • Overall Program — for example:
  • Program goals
  • Degree-level expectations
  • Learning outcomes
  • Teaching, learning and/or evaluation methods
  • Participation in one or more collaborative programs
  • Students — for example:
  • The student profile
  • Enrolment
  • Admission requirements
  • Students’ level of preparation
  • Resources and governance — for example:
  • Facilities
  • Faculty resources
  • Material or financial resources
  • Administrative structure
  • Other existing programs — for example:
  • the University of Ottawa
  • Saint Paul University
  • International partners offering dual degrees with the University of Ottawa
  • Add any additional information that would be helpful.
Resource suggestions:
  • Check the general regulations for graduate studies.
Formatting and writing suggestions:
  • Discuss each point. Where necessary,provide supporting evidence that the impact of the program closure is appropriate and acceptable.
  • Provide evidence of consultation with and/or secure letters of support from programs that may be affected by the program closure. Include any letters in the appendix section andrefer to them in this section.
  • Use separate paragraphs for separate ideas.
  • Use sub-headers if appropriate.

2.3Universityof Ottawa mission and strategic plan

In this section, briefly explain how the program closure is in line with the University’s mission and the strategic plans of,preferably, both the University and your faculty or unit. Note that, for programs offered by Saint Paul University, these comments can be framed in terms of SPU’s mission and strategic plan.
Content suggestions:
  • Explain how the closing of the programis in line with the University’s mission and the strategic plans of, preferably, both the University and your faculty or unit.
  • Add any additional information that would be helpful.
Suggested resources:
  • Destination 2020 strategic plan
  • Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA)
  • Strategic Areas for Development in Research (SADR)
  • Strategic plan of your faculty or academic unit
Formatting and writing suggestions:
  • Write no more than a half page.
  • If the program has more than one degreetype, ensure that the specific degree or diploma being described is clearly noted.
  • Write with a forward focus; indicate where this program is heading in the future.
  • Re-read the entire proposal prior to submission.

Appendix A: Program Modification Report

  • The Quality Assurance Office prepares a brief report of recent program modifications.
  • The Quality Assurance Office inserts the report here.

Appendix B:Calendar Text

  • The academic unit inserts the calendar text here.

Sample section of calendar text:

TEXTE DE L’ANNUAIRE DE LA FESP
ÉTUDES DU BILINGUISME (M.A.)
Admission
Sont admissibles au programme de M.A. en études du bilinguisme les titulaires d'un (1) des suivants:
  • Un baccalauréat spécialisé ou l'équivalent en Second Language Teaching / Didactique des langues secondes, en Linguistique appliquée ou dans une discipline connexe.
  • Un baccalauréat de trois ans en Linguistique appliquée ou dans une discipline connexe en plus d'un certificat de niveau universitaire avancé en enseignement de l’anglais à ceux qui parlent d’autres langues, comportant au moins 30 crédits.
La moyenne minimale pour être admis est de 70% (B), calculée selon les directives de la FÉSP.
CALENDAR TEXT
BILINGUALISM STUDIES (MA)
Admission
To be admitted to the MA program in Bilingualism Studies, candidates must haveone (1) of the following:
  • An honours bachelor's degree or equivalent in Second Language Teaching / Didactique des langues secondes, in Applied Linguistics or in a related discipline.
  • A three-year bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics or a related discipline in addition to a university-level, university-administered advanced certificate in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages), representing a minimum of 30 credits.
The minimum admission average is 70% (B), calculated in accordance with FGPS guidelines.

Appendix C: Letters of Support

  • The academic unit inserts copies of support letters here. This section can be omitted if support letters are not required for closing the program.
  • If the proposed program closure relies significantly on the contributions of other stakeholders then letters of support are required from the appropriate department chairs and/or deans, or service directors.

Resources

University of Ottawa

General Regulations for Graduate Studies

Strategic Mandate Agreement

Destination 20/20strategic plan

Strategic Areas for Development in Research (SADR)

Teaching and Learning Support Service

Regulation on Bilingualism at the University of Ottawa (“The students” – Part VI, section 4)

Graduate and Professional Student Survey (GPSS) — Questionnaire Sample

Graduate and Professional Student Survey (GPSS) — Results

Ontario College and University Library Association quality assurance brief

Province of Ontario

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

Ontario Human Rights Code

Council of Ontario Universities

Ensuring the Value of University Degrees in Ontario: A Guide to Learning Outcomes, Degree Level Expectations and the Quality Assurance Process in Ontario

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario — Learning Outcomes

Accessible Campus

Canadian Association for Graduate Studies

Accommodating Graduate Students with Disabilities

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