O ?
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Senate ?
FROM: ?
Senate Undergraduate
Admissions Board
SUBJECT:
Proposed Public University
?
DATE: ?
April 21, 1988
Transfer Credit Committee
Action undertaken by the Senate Undergraduate Admissions Board gives rise to the
following motion:
"that Senate approve the establishment of a
Public Universities Transfer Credit Committee
and associated procedures, as set out in S.88-
24"
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Note: Subsequent to the SUAB consideration, the matter has been discussed by
the Presidents of the three provincial universities and the Ministry of
Advanced Education and Job Training has agreed to provide secretariat
services for the committee. The committee would be advisory to the Tr-
Universities Presidents' Council.
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
To: SUAB
?
From: N. Heath
Secretary, SUAB
Subject: Proposed Public University
?
Date:
Oct.. 1, 1987
Transfer Credit Committee-SUAB 177
Discussion held earlier in 1987 among the four public degree granting
institutions in B.C. (UBC, SFU, UVic, OLI) have resulted in the attached
proposal, concerning a joint procedure for evaluating private post-secondary
institutions.
SFU representatives in this process have been Dr. R. Saunders and N.
Heath. To implement the procedures, approval is required from SUAB and
Senate.
The joint committee would permit a full evaluation of private
institutions which is not generally carried out at this time. Institutions with
whom we currently have transfer credit agreements (eg. Columbia College,
Alpha College, Coquitlam College) would be invited to submit applications to
be evaluated. Other institutions which might also wish to be evaluated for
the purpose of having courses accepted for university transfer might include
New Summits College, City University, and numerous other developing
private colleges.
The evaluation process would be somewhat similar to accreditation
procedures which are widespread in the U.S.A. However, the joint committee
does not intend for its evaluation to imply accreditation, as that term is
understood outside Canada. The range of institutions and nature of enquiry
would be limited to suitability of the institutions to offer academic post-
secondary courses at the university level.
Recommendation:
That SUAB approve and submit to Senate for consideration
and approval the establishment of a Public Universities Transfer
Credit Committee and associated procedures as set out in SUJAB
174.
Is
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PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION
INTRODUCTION:
The public universities of British Columbia (OLI, SFU, UBC, UVIC) have
received requests for transfer credit for post-secondary courses and programs
offered in British Columbia by private institutions that are not governed by
the University Act, the College and Institutes Act, the Institute of Technology
Act or the Trinity Western College Amendment Act. These requests raise
issues relating to the adequacy of the institution's resources, facilities and
general academic policies that are of concern to all of the public universities,
as well as issues relating to specific courses that are of concern to each
university individually. Accordingly, the public universities have decided to
process applications for transfer credit from these institutions in two stages:
Stage one: An evaluation of the adequacy of the resources,
facilities and academic policies that affect the ability of the
institution to deliver high-quality university transfer courses
in an appropriate academic environment. This evaluation will
be conducted by the public universities in concert.
Stage two: An evaluation of individual courses for which
transfer credit has been requested. This evaluation will be
conducted by each university individually according to its
own policies and, procedures as is currently the case.
All requests for transfer credit should be initiated by the institution offering
the courses.
A Stage I evaluation will not be held unless the institution has applied to one
of the public universities for transfer credit for a university-level course that
it is currently offering or is planning to offer in the following academic year.
Unless a first stage evaluation has already been completed, an application to
any of the public universities for transfer credit for a course will be
considered an application for a first stage evaluation, and transfer credit will
not he granted for any courses until the first stage evaluation has been
completed and the results considered by the Public Universities Transfer
Credit Committee.
STAGE I EVALUATIONS:
The purpose of the Stage I evaluation is to ensure that any institution offering
courses for transfer credit to the public universities of British Columbia has
resources, facilities and general academic policies conducive to
university-level work in the chosen fields of instruction, at a high level of
excellence, on a continuing basis.
0
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PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES TRANSFER CREDIT COMMITTEE ?
COMMITTEE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
a)
a private institution must submit an initial request for transfer credit to
one of the Public Universities;
b)
that public university will submit the request to the Chairman of the
Public Universities Committee;
c)
the Chairman will request that the private institution file a request for
evaluation including all written materials;
d)
the Chairman in consultation with the PUTC Committee will then
establish an Evaluation Sub-Committee and provide it with the
materials. This sub-committee shall consist of at least one academic
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member and one University Registrar, both of whom are members of the
PUTC Committee;
e)
the Evaluation Sub-Committee will conduct the evaluation and report
back to the Committee with recommendations and rationale.
This report shall be considered confidential;
f)
the Committee then will consider the confidential report and its final
advisory position will be made known to the private institution by the
Chairman. Private institutions that receive a positive evaluation may
then proceed to Stage Il Evaluation for course by course consideration as
per the individual procedures of each public university. Private
institutions that receive a negative evaluation will be given appropriate
notice that the Committee's
advice
shall be thattheir request for
transfer credit status be denied.
g)
it is understood
'
that a re-evaluation of a private institution may be
requested by a Public University at any time.
0533Y
29.4.87
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Id
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Materials required for consideration in the evaluation include:
A)
General Background
The institution should provide a general statement of the nature,
history and objectives of the institution. This statement may include:
- a description of all programs offered by the institution, at all
levels, including remedial programs and future plans.
- a record of enrolment by program for the previous five years
including projected enrolment.
B)
Admissions Policies
The institution must have admissions policies consistent with the level
of preparation generally expected of students entering a university
transfer program at British Columbia public college or of students
admitted to the public universities.
Evidence in support of this may include:
- a concise official statement of admissions policies for university
transfer programs, including a statement of the level of
proficiency in English expected upon entry.
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I *
C)
Governing Structure
The college must demonstrate that it has an organizational structure
with appropriate academic governance and with qualified
administrative staff appropriate for the accomplishment of its
educational purposes.
Evidence in support of this may include:
- the composition and responsibilities of the institution's governing
bodies;
- a complete description of the academic structure of the institution;
- an administrative chart of the institution;
- a list of the senior administrative staff, their vitae and job
descriptions;
- a statement of the institution's relationship Ao other organizations
(government, university, church, etc.).
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D) ?
Facilities
i)
Libraries and Resource Centres.
Libraries, Resource Centres and Support Services must be
adequately supplied and appropriately staffed to support the
institution's curricula. Students must have adequate access to
relevant materials for study and research.
Evidence in support of this may include:
- a summary of holdings in all subject areas;
- collection policies;
- resources available;
- future plans and priorities regarding libraries, resource centres
and support services.
ii)
Physical Plant.
The institution's building, classrooms, computing facilities,
.
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laboratories and their furnishings must be appropriate to support
the institution's curricula and instruction.
Evidence in support of this may include:
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facilities available;
- policies and practice regarding utilization and maintenance;
- future plans and priorities regarding the physical plant.
E)
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Faculty
The
institution
must be adequately staffed with qualified faculty,
educated at the appropriate level in disciplines that are consistent
with the academic goals and objectives of the institution.
Evidence in support of this may include:
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an outline of the hiring policies for academic staff at the
institution;
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a list of full-time and part-time faculty including their curriculum
vitae showing their degrees and areas of expertise.
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F)
Review
The Public Universities Transfer Credit Committee may, at any time,
initiate a review of private institutions which have previously obtained
status leading to Stage H: Course- Evaluation. Both the initial
examination, and any subsequent review, will provide opportunity for
an on site visit by the Evaluation Sub-Committee. It should be
understood that following an initial evaluation, the institution has a
responsibility to report new initiatives, revisions, and other changes to
its programs to this Committee.
G)
Reminder
It will be understood by the private institution requesting evaluation
that this Public Universities' Committee is NOT an accrediting agency
and accordingly, the institution may NOT use a recommendation of the
Committee in its advertising or promotional material. The Public
Universities Transfer Credit Committee reserves the right to revise
the procedures at anytime.
STAGE II EVALUATIONS:
Policies of individual Universities will apply in the Stage II evaluation process.
Approval at Stage I does not guarantee that course approval will result at
Stage II.
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