I

?

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

S.04-5

Continuing Studies - Office of the Dean

Cohn Yerbury,

Continuing Studies-

December 1, 2003

To: ?

Senate ?

From

Re: ?

Senate submission - Criteria &

?

Date:

Guidelines for the Establishment

Of Certificates for Successful

Completion of Non-credit Courses

The Senate Committee on Continuing Studies recommends the following motion:

Motion: "that Senate approve the revisions to the Criteria and Guidelines for the Establishment

of Certificates and Diplomas for Successful Completion of Programs of Non-credit

courses as set forth in S.04-5"

The Senate Committee on Continuing Studies, at its meeting of November 4, 2003, passed the following

motion:

"that the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies approve the revisions to the Criteria & Guidelines for

the Establishment of Certificates and Diplomas for Successful Completion of Programs of Non-credit

Courses, and that the revised document be forwarded to Senate for approval."

The attachment document entitled "Criteria & Guidelines for the Establishment of Certificates and

Diplomas for Successful Completion of Programs of Non-credit Courses" is a revision of the Senate

approved proposal (S.89-39) to establish recognized University certification for non-credit programs.

Senate approved the original proposal on November 27, 1989, and the original documents are attached.

It should be noted that authority for approving non-credit certificate programs was granted to the SCCS

by Senate:

Approval Process

(amendment to Item # 5)

Programs being proposed as suitable for non-credit certificate granting status are to be submitted

to the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies for consideration and approval. The program

description will contain information on the content and duration of each course, the potential

instructors and the evaluation methods. The Senate Committee on Continuing Studies will also

be responsible for approving changes to programs and for approving the discontinuance of

programs. The Committee will report program approvals and discontinuances to Senate annually.

(Approved by Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules, Fall, 2000)

(Approved by Senate, November 6, 2000)

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies, I would be pleased to respond to any questions

that Senate members may have regarding the proposed changes to S.89-39.

CY/bs\

sccs\criteria\senate_crit_I201 03.doc

---

Criteria and Guidelines for the Establishment of Certificates and Diplomas for Successful

0 ?

Completion of Programs of Non-credit Courses

1.

Certificate programs are intended for non-degree holders while diploma programs are

intended for students who have one or more degrees. A program should be initiated

only if the subject matter is such that the University appears to be the most

appropriate body to offer the instruction.

2.

A program must have a clearly defined educational objective and rationale. The

rationale should include a statement of required University resources, such as Library

resources, an assessment of community needs and a survey of other similar programs

at SFU and elsewhere.

3.

A program must be under the direct and ongoing supervision of an academic

department of the University or an Academic Program Steering Committee. Program

activities must be reported annually to the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies.

4.

Each program will be the specific responsibility of a department, school, Faculty, or

centre. The department will be responsible for ensuring the academic rigour of the

curriculum and the quality of instruction. In cases of interdisciplinary programs,

responsibility may be shared or there should be an Academic Program Steering

Committee. The majority of the members of the Committee should be appointed

from the academic units most closely associated with the program.

5.

Programs being proposed as suitable for certificate or diploma granting status are to

be submitted to the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies for consideration and

. ?

approval. A description of the course/s that make up the program must be submitted,

including information on: the content and duration of each course; the proposed

instructors; the means of evaluation; and required University resources, including

Library resources.

6.

The Senate Committee on Continuing Studies will also be responsible for approving

changes to programs and for approving the discontinuance of programs. The

Committee will report program approvals and discontinuances to Senate annually.

7.

Programs must have an evaluative component and students will be expected to

maintain satisfactory performance in each course to remain eligible for a certificate or

diploma. This will enable the achievements of students to be recognized properly

and recorded in ways that document progress, attest to standards, facilitate

progression and mobility and serve as an encouragement to further learning.

8.

Programs will consist of non-credit courses that may vary in length and format from

standard university credit courses but will include a minimum of 120 contact hours in

total (including face-to-face and/or on-line lectures, labs, seminars, and tutorials).

Approved by the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies, November 4, 2003

Editorial amendments: December 17, 2003

Subject to approval by SFIJ Senate.

I:

---

• •

?

To: ?

Senate ?

From: L. Salter

Chair, SCAP

Subject: Proposal for Certification of

?

Date:

?

November 9, 1989

Non-Credit Programs

Reference: SCAP 89-24

Action undertaken

by Ihe

Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate Committee on

Continuing

Studies gives rise

to the following

Motionj

That Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of Governors

as set forth in S.89-39 the proposal to establish recognized University

Certification for Non-Credit Programs."

Motion 2:

'That Senate approve and recommend approval

,

to the Board of Governors

as set forth In S.89-39 the proposal for a Certificate Program in

Telecommunications Engineering"

0

---

Proposal

for

Certification of Non-Credit Programs

Description:

The University offers, in addition to degree programs and certificate

and

diploma programs made up of degree related courses, specialized programs of

non-degree courses in areas of professional practice. The Program in

Telecommunications Engineering for the British Columbia Telephone

Company, developed by the Faculty of Applied Sciences, and Continuing

Studies in conjunction with the University of California at Los Angeles, is a

notable example. The educational needs of some groups, such as the B.C.

Telephone engineers, cannot be met by traditional university offerings. Their

area of interest Is too specialized to be met by existing university programs and

the traditional 13-week format is unsuitable for both the curriculum and the

working lives of practicing professionals. In most cases, such individuals have

advanced degrees and neither seek nor need credit toward a university degree.

Nonetheless, participants in such programs would like some recognition of

satisfactory completion of programs which are academically rigorous and taught

at a university level.

There is a strong desire on the part of students enrolled in such programs, and

associated business and

professional

organizations, that the University formally

recognize satisfactory academic performance. To this end, it is recommended

that the University Senate approve the granting of certificates to participants in

approved programs of non-credit courses who demonstrate academic

. ?

competence at a level comparable to that acceptable in courses which are part

of degree programs.

The existence of specialized programs, such as the Program for

Telecommunications Engineering, has benefits for organizations, including

corporations and government agencies; for the professions; and for the

University. The organizations and professions benefit from being able to obtain

high quality professional development programs. The University and individual

faculty members benefit from close contact with practicing professionals

working, in many cases, on problems of theoretical, as well as practical. interest.

Both working professionals and their employers say that university recognition

is important in gaining financial support and acceptance for such professional

development programs. Official recognition of academic competence

contributes also to a sense of commitment on the part of students and a feeling

of accomplishment on completion. University certification seems appropriate in

cases in which instruction and evaluation procedures and curriculum content

are academically comparable to other university programs.

Many universities in Canada, including the Universities of British Columbia and

Victoria and three Alberta. universities, already offer Senate approved

certificates for programs of non-credit courses.

0

---

-2-

?

a

Criteria forth

Establisv-

111-t—gi

1.

A program should be initiated only

if the biçin

atte r

is such that the

University -appears to be the most appropriate body to offer the instruction

2.

A program must have a clearly defined educetinnI objective

and

ratioIe. The rationale should include a statement of required University

resources and community needs.

3.

A program must be under the direct and ongoing supervision of an

1'

academic department of the University.

Pronqsed Guidelines for Certificate Programs of Non-degreeCpurses:

1.

Each program would be the specific responsibility of a department, school,

Faculty, or centre. The department would be responsible for ensuring the

academic rigour of the curriculum and the quality of instruction. In cases of

interdiscipflnary programs, responsibility may be shared.

2. Programs

being proposed as suitable for certificate granting status are to

be submitted to the Senate Committee an Continuing Studies for

consideration and, if accepted, forwarded by that Committee with its

recommendations to SCAP and to Senate for approval. A description of

the course/s which make up the program must be submitted, including

information on: the content

and duration of each course;

the

proposed

instructors; and the means of evaluation.

3.

Students would be expected to maintain satisfactory performance in each

course to remain eligible for a certificate.

4.

Programs would consist of courses which may vary in length and format

from standard

university credit courses but would include a minimum

number of 120 contact hours in total (including lectures, labs, seminars,

and tutorials).

June

15. 1989

Prepared by Mark Selman, Director, Extension Credit at Harbour Centre