Degree Authorization

B.C. Public Institutions - Quality Assessment

Submissions for review by the Degree Quality Assessment Board

Overview

Submission of full program proposal for peer and public review

  • Institutions submitting a new degree proposal for review by the Degree Quality Assessment Board must provide a full program proposal following the guidelines outlined in the degree program review criteria and guidelines.
  • A full program proposal is posted on the post-secondary institution proposal system for 30 days for comments by peers from other B.C. public post-secondary institutions. The post-secondary institution proposal system is an online, password-protected database.
  • Once a proposal is under peer review, the full program proposal is posted on the public Degree Granting Authorization website at applications under review for public viewing and comment for 30 days. Comments from the public are to be sent to the submitting institution at the e-mail address listed in the executive summary, and copied to the board secretariat.

IMPORTANT:  Any proprietary information should not be included in full program proposal but be attached separately on the post-secondary institution proposal system as an appendix document. Appendices will not be posted on the public website.

External Expert Review (if applicable)

  • The board conducts an initial review of the application to determine whether a program review by external experts is required.
  • If a review is required, the institution nominates external experts. See the policies on the use of external experts.
  • The board then chooses the experts from the list of experts maintained by the board secretariat or from nominations provided by the institution.
  • The institution is advised of the review and notified of the applicable costs.
  • Following the review, the external experts provide a report to the board and to the institution. The institution may send written comments to the board on the external experts' report.

Recommendation of the Board

  • The board reviews the new degree program proposal using the criteria laid out in the criteria and procedures document. It considers any external expert reports, the peer reviewer comments, public comments and institutional comments, and makes a recommendation to the minister.
  • The board recommends that the minister approve, approve with conditions, or not approve the institution's application.
  • The institution is informed of the board's recommendation by the board secretariat.

Minister's Decision

  • The minister reviews the board's recommendation before approving or not approving the new degree program.

Notification

  • The institution is advised of the board’s recommendation and the minister's decision to approve or not approve, and the decision is posted on the ministry website at recommendations and decisions.

    *Note: in addition to the public posting of the minister’s decision, for submissions made after Dec. 11, 2006, a synopsis of the board’s recommendation will also be posted on the ministry website. This is to reflect the board and the ministry’s commitment to ensuring the interests of the public are served by having an open and accountable process.

New mandate applied degree ministry review

  • British Columbia public university colleges and provincial institutes submitting proposals for applied master's degrees, and colleges submitting proposals for applied bachelor degrees, must first submit an applied degrees ministry review to the ministry before the full program proposal is forwarded to the board for review. Further information on new mandate applied degrees can be found in the applied degrees policy framework.
  • The institution may post the full program proposal for public comment and for the 30-day peer review concurrently with the applied degree ministry review, or may wait to hear from the ministry. Please note that the ministry review submission is not posted on the post-secondary institution proposal system.

Degree program review for institutions with exempt status

Overview

Submission of program proposal for peer and public review

  • Institutions with exempt status must submit new degree program proposals for minister's approval in the format used by the institution for its internal approval process. See the degree program review criteria and guidelines for information on specific submission guidelines.
  • Institutions with exempt status are not required to have their degree programs assessed by the board unless the degree program is beyond the degree level for which they are exempt, or a review by the board is recommended by the minister.
  • The new degree program proposal is then posted on the post-secondary institution proposal system, an online, password-protected database, for 30 days for comments by peers from other B.C. public post-secondary institutions.
  • Once the new degree program proposal is under peer review, it will also be displayed on the public Degree Granting Authorization website at applications under review for public viewing and comment for 30 days. Comments from the public are to be sent to the submitting institution at the e-mail address listed in the executive summary, and copied to the board secretariat.

IMPORTANT: Any proprietary information should not be included in new degree program proposal but be attached separately on the post-secondary institution proposal system as an appendix document. Appendices will not be posted on the public website.

Minister's Decision

  • Following the 30-day review period, new degree programs submitted by exempt institutions will go directly to the minister for decision and will not be reviewed by the board unless the minister has concerns about a proposal.
  • The minister will review the submission materials and other requirements before providing or denying approval.

Notification

  • The institution is advised of the board’s recommendation and the minister's decision to approve or not approve, and the decision is posted on the ministry website at recommendations and decisions.

    *Note: in addition to the public posting of the minister’s decision, for submissions made after Dec. 11, 2006, a synopsis of the board’s recommendation will also be posted on the ministry website. This is to reflect the board and the ministry’s commitment to ensuring the interests of the public are served by having an open and accountable process.