Stage One: Statement of Interest
A new program idea may be approved for development after academic areas make a strong case for its potential alignment with the college’s strategic priorities, and contribution to the current program mix. This is dependent upon extensive analysis and documentation, which are presented as the Statement of Interest (SOI), and housed within the Curriculum Information Management system (CIM).
The SOI includes the Proposed Program Analysis, Program Demand Research Analysis, Program Steering Committee Consultation, and Capacity Assessment and Preliminary Program Costing
Proposed Program Analysis
The Statement of Interest (SOI) includes a proposed program analysis, which must be completed in CIM. This provides an opportunity for the academic area to demonstrate the rationale for adding a new program to the current college mix. The academic area works with the Office of Academic Quality (OAQ) to provide the following information:
- program specifications (including Provincial Program Standard or Description)
- working Program Vocational Learning Outcomes (PVLOs)
- outline of the strategic benefits of the program
- explanation of program fit with current mix
- analysis of the institutional capacity for delivering a new program
- assessment of potential risks involved
Program Demand Research Analysis
In conjunction with Institutional Research, the academic area conducts the Program Demand Research Analysis to determine if the new program can be launched and sustained. This includes the following:
- student and labour market demand analysis
- work integrated learning potential
- transfer and articulation potential
- partnership potential
- profile of key competitors and program differentiation
Program Steering Committee Consultation
The Dean of the academic area assembles a Program Steering Committee (PSC) to provide consultation during the early research stages of the program. The PSC includes industry and community representatives and Georgian faculty and staff, and meet in order to to discuss community and industry need for the proposed program, as well resource requirements from an employer perspective.
The Dean ensures the PSC meeting minutes are documented and attached to the program proposal in the CIM, prior to the convening of the Capacity Assessment Committee.
Capacity Assessment and Preliminary Program Costing
If the above analysis and research indicate the potential for success, the VPA approves the SOI, and the Capacity Assessment Committee convenes to discuss in further detail the college’s ability to run and sustain the proposed program. This results in a preliminary Program Costing, which is completed by the Business Manager for the academic area in conjunction with Financial Planning. The costing includes the following:
- program development costs
- projected program delivery costings (including online development, specialized space, specialized IT requirements, capital and specialized equipment)
- start-up costs
- projected staffing plan
- Library Commons and learning resource requirements
- promotion and marketing
- Return on Investment (ROI) analysis
The final Capacity Assessment Committee decision (recorded in official meeting minutes) and the preliminary Program Costing, are both attached to the program in CIM.
Final Statement of Interest (SOI) Approval
The complete SOI is presented to the Academic Leadership Team (ALT), where the advantages and disadvantages of adding the new program at the college are discussed. Based on the discussion, ALT determines final approval for development and, if granted, the program moves to the next stage, Program Design and Consultation.