UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
PLANNING COMMITTEE
FOR INFORMATION ONLY

The program is supported by evidence of academic vitality in teaching and scholarly/artistic work and extension/public service sustained over a significant period of time. It has achieved at least a national reputation, and might be expected to develop as a centre of excellence. Few, if any, changes are required.

Such programs are typically characterized by most of the following:

• distinguished faculty with a national/international reputation for scholarly work;
• an up-to-date curriculum;
• sound teaching practices;
• strong student demand;
• evidence of high student satisfaction with their educational experience;
• routine use of evaluation procedures for all aspects of the program’s objectives; and,
• justifiable program costs.

The program is supported by evidence of academic vitality in teaching and scholarly/artistic work and extension/public service sustained over a period of time but has some weaknesses. Some changes should be made. Modifications may include program changes (e.g. curriculum revisions), internal redirection of faculty resources, additional resource allocations, (both faculty and non-faculty), and, measures to improve student satisfaction/quality of experience in the program.

Such programs are typically characterized by most of the following:

• many faculty actively engaged in scholarly work;
• a generally up-to-date curriculum;
• generally sound teaching practices;
• high to moderate student demand;
• evidence that students are generally satisfied with the program and the quality of their experience in it;
• evaluation procedures which may not be as effective as they could be; and,
• high to moderate program quality to cost ratio

The program is supported by some evidence of academic vitality in teaching and scholarly/artistic work and extension/public service but has identifiable deficiencies which should be rectified in a given timeframe. It is characterized by sufficient demand, and/or may be essential to the service requirements of other units. Several fundamental changes must be made to achieve adequacy and provide a credible program. Deficiencies may be identified as program (e.g., curricular), faculty/scholarly activity (e.g. quality and quantity of scholarship or breadth of expertise of faculty), and non-faculty resources.

Such programs are typically characterized by most of the following:

• some distinguished faculty, but more who are not actively engaged in scholarly work;
• a curriculum in need of revision;
• a need for attention to be directed to some aspects of the teaching enterprise;
• moderate student demand;
• some dissatisfaction of students with their educational experience;
• lack, or minimal use, of evaluation procedures; and,
• moderate to low program quality to cost ratio

The program, over a period of years, has shown little evidence of academic vitality in teaching or scholarly/artistic work or extension/public service. Such a program may suffer from additional liabilities including low quality to cost ratio, low student demand, and lack of provision of an important service component to other programs. The academic quality of the program area is unlikely to improve without significant additional resources. Many fundamental changes are required.

Such programs are typically characterized by most of the following:

• few faculty who are actively engaged in scholarly work;
• several significant weaknesses in the curriculum;
• uneven and often poor teaching practices and results;
• low student demand;
• significant dissatisfaction expressed by students with their educational experience; and,
• lack of or ineffective evaluation procedures.