About Academic Development
The Academic Development department supports student success at Algonquin College by fostering teaching excellence and supporting the quality and integrity of program curriculum at the College. We work with faculty and staff to evolve Algonquin’s academic offerings at all levels of curriculum, in alignment with Ministry and quality standards. Academic Development is comprised of the following areas:
Curriculum Planning and Implementation
Leveraging Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) binding policy directives and operating procedures, as well as College academic policies and best practices, the Curriculum and Implementation Team provides direction and oversight over the following:
- New and modified program submission for curriculum and funding approval through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU)
- Annual Curriculum Review (ACR)
- Approval and implementation of new or revised program and course information in the student information system (SIS), on OntarioCollege.ca (OCAS), and on College program pages as applicable
- Review and support for program publications on the College website and/or ontariocollege.ca (OCAS)
- Course Outline Mapping and Management System (COMMS) administration and support (including revisions to course outlines and program mapping)
Learning and Teaching Services
Learning and Teaching Services (LTS) aims to foster a culture of teaching innovation and excellence at Algonquin College. Our goal is to build relationships with faculty, academic schools and Applied Research that support strategic collaboration, pedagogical and technological exploration, and ideas sharing. We provide leadership and consultative support in course development, teaching and learning, and teaching with technology.
Our areas of focus include supporting:
- Quality course design and development practices
- Teaching innovation and excellence
- Strategic adoption and integration of educational technology
Program Development, Renewal, and Academic Pathways
The Program Development, Renewal, and Pathways team supports academic activities related to program curriculum. Our goal is to empower faculty in the development, review, and renewal of program-level curriculum to support the best possible educational experiences and career outcomes for Algonquin College students and graduates. We support all credential types and all academic departments across the College in alignment with provincial requirements, College policies and best practices, and industry needs.
Our areas of focus include:
- New Program Development
- Curriculum Guided Reflection as part of Program Quality Review
- Program Modifications (including the implementation of curriculum recommendations from PQR)
- Program Standards Implementation
- Program Mapping
- Degree Consent and Consent Renewal
- Professional Development
- Development and renewal of academic pathways and articulation agreements
Program Quality Assurance
In accordance with the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS) quality assurance standards and the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB) requirements, the Program Quality Assurance Team establishes and maintains processes for the ongoing and cyclical formative and summative evaluation of College programs, including the following:
- Leadership, support, data collection, and implementation tracking for Program Quality Reviews (PQR)
- Oversight for the College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP) on a five-year cycle
- Maintenance and renewal of the College-wide Program Quality Assurance Framework and policies
- Informing various quality assurances systems and tools, including the Program Lifecycle Management System (PLMS) and quality indicator reports in Power BI