All Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who do I contact to find out what activities are subject to the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000?
2. Why does the Board have three categories of handbooks and guidelines??
3. How do I determine whether my organization is public or private?
4. What are the differences for private versus public organizations in the PEQAB review process?
5. What are the costs associated with an application and review?
6. How are the assessors selected?
7. Is there a review for each application?
8. Can organizations nominate assessors?
9. Can an application be modified during the review process?
10. Can the secretariat review a draft of an application?
11. Can an applicant withdraw an application?
12. What happens if an applicant withdraws an application?
13. How long will the Board’s review process take?
14. Is there a site visit for each review?
15. Do applicants have an opportunity to respond to a quality assessment report?
16. What is the role of the PEQAB secretariat with respect to potential applicants?
17. What is the role of the PEQAB secretariat with respect to applicants?
18. What do we do if we believe an assessor has a conflict of interest?
19. We have Ministerial consent to offer a degree program and want to add/update some aspects of it. Which changes will require consent?
20. Is a full PEQAB submission required for every review?
21. What’s the role of the PEQAB secretariat?
22. Since Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology are assessed against the Honours Degree Standard can they use the Honours Bachelor nomenclature for their programs offered pursuant to consent?
23. What will assessors consider when reviewing renewal applications?
24. Can I comment on an application?
25. How do the Board's standards and procedures relate to those used in other Canadian provinces and in other countries?
26. How are the Board's degree-level standards related to those of Ontario universities?
27. How do college degrees compare to degrees from a university?

1. Who do I contact to find out what activities are subject to the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000?

Inquiries about the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000 and its regulations, the activities subject to the Act and the Minister’s requirements should be directed to the Universities Unit of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (Email: PostsecondaryAccountability@ontario.ca, Mailing Address: Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1L2 Canada). Return to FAQs

2. Why does the Board have three categories of handbooks and guidelines?

The Board has three sets of handbooks and submission guidelines for:
1. Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAATs);
2. other public institutions; and
3. private institutions.
While there is substantial consistency among the three sets of documents, they reflect different requirements among the three categories of institutions set out in the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000 and Regulations made under the Act. In addition CAATs are subject to policy directives from the Minister. Return to FAQs

3. How do I determine whether my organization is public or private?

The Universities Unit, at the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities is responsible for administering the Act and determining, as per the Act, whether an organization is considered to be private institution in Ontario. Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology are established under the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002. For information on whether your organization is public or private, please contact the Universities Unit at the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (Email: PostsecondaryAccountability@ontario.ca, Mailing Address: Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1L2 Canada). Return to FAQs

4. What are the differences for private versus public organizations in the PEQAB review process?

In addition to a program review, which all applicants are subject to, all private organizations must undergo an organization review. The purpose of the organization review is to assess the applicant’s organizational character, financial viability and student protection policies and practices against 8 standards (e.g., to meet the Administrative Capacity Standard, applicants must show that they have “the legal characteristics, governance structure and administrative capacity necessary to organize and manage a competent institution of higher learning”). The organization review takes place before the program review. If an organization is not successful at the organization review stage, it will not proceed to the program review. Return to FAQs

5. What are the costs associated with an application and review?

The application fee for each consent application is $5,000, payable in the form of a certified cheque in Canadian currency to the "Minister of Finance, Ontario". The check must be included with your application.

In addition to the application fee, applicants have to cover the review costs incurred. Before final consideration by the Board, all applications for consent to offer degree programs undergo a program review by a Quality Assessment Panel appointed by the Board. Additionally, all private organizations are subject to an organization review by an Organization Review Committee, also appointed by the Board.

The cost for the review varies with each application, depending on the number of reviewers, the length and complexity of the review and associated travel, accommodation, meeting or communication costs and whether the applicant’s response to the quality assessment panel report requires further assessment. In general, the assessment costs for the program quality assessment range from $9,000 and $12,000. The costs for an organizational review, which is required for all private institutions, will not normally exceed $7,500. Return to FAQs

6. How are the assessors selected?

In its Handbooks, the Board has articulated criteria for quality assessors and selects all quality assessors based on these criteria. The Board will strive to name Quality Assessment Panels (QAPs) that reflect an appropriate mix of academic/professional credentials and experience related to the field and it has the ability and expertise to identify suitable candidates. Applicants may nominate up to three qualified persons from whom the Board may choose one or more to serve on the QAP. The Board has sole discretion, however, to select all quality assessors for an application, without regard to the applicant’s nominees. There are clearly identified conflict of interest guidelines provided by PEQAB, to which applicants and quality assessors must adhere. Return to FAQs

7. Is there a review for each application?

Yes. The quality of each application will normally be assessed by a panel of quality assessors. The nature and complexity of the application will determine the number and nature of credentials, skills and background of quality assessors. When an applicant is seeking consent to offer a degree program, or consent renewal for a degree program the panel will normally consist of two to three members including the panel chair. The Board will select all quality assessors. In a small number of situations the Board might not require the advice of expert assessors in order to make a recommendation to the Minster. Return to FAQs

8. Can organizations nominate assessors?

Yes. Applicants may nominate up to three qualified persons from whom the Board may choose one or more to serve on the Quality Assessment Panel (QAP). The Board has sole discretion, however, to select all quality assessors to review an application, without regard to the applicant’s nominees. Criteria for assessors (which can also be found in the Handbooks) are as follows. Quality assessors must:

• be committed to the principles and practices of quality assurance in postsecondary education;
• be recognized by their peers for having a broad outlook, an open mind and sound judgment;
• be free of any conflict of interest, in accordance with the Board’s policy on conflict of interest for quality assessors; and
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• have demonstrated skills in oral and written communication, preferably including experience writing formal reports to deadlines.

The Board will seek to select highly qualified QAP members who possess:

• an advanced academic credential related to the subject area under review (normally at the terminal level in the field);
• required or desired professional credentials and/or related work experience of substantial depth and range;
• relevant academic experience such as administration, teaching, curriculum design and/or quality assessment experience (e.g., as appraisers for accrediting bodies or as reviewers of degree programs); and
• a record of active scholarship, normally having achieved the rank of associate or full professor.

Return to FAQs

9. Can an application be modified during the review process?

Yes. During the course of an assessment an applicant may modify its application so long as the Quality Assessment Panel and the PEQAB secretariat are aware of any changes. Note that changes will likely lead to a longer review period. Return to FAQs

10. Can the secretariat review a draft of an application?

Yes, the secretariat can review a draft application for completeness but not for quality. Return to FAQs

11. Can an applicant withdraw an application?

Yes. In the event that an applicant wishes to withdraw an application during the review process, the applicant must send written notice to the Minister, with a copy to the Board, requesting that the application be withdrawn. Return to FAQs

12. What happens if an applicant withdraws an application?

Regardless of whether an applicant withdraws, the Board will post all applications on its website and report on the status of each application. In addition, all materials and reports received in relation to an application may be subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Return to FAQs

13. How long will the Board’s review process take?

The length of the Board’s review will vary depending on the complexity and completeness of each application. A review of an application from a public organization is generally completed within about 6 months. A review of an application from a private organization, which requires the assessment of both the organization and the proposed program, is generally completed within about 10 months. Return to FAQs

14. Is there a site visit for each review?

In most cases, Quality Assessment Panels are expected to undertake site visits where they can test the validity of claims made in applications and secure further information from meeting with appropriate individuals, usually including faculty, students, staff, and administrators, and sometimes members of the governing board or program advisory committee. In some cases, the Board considers a desk review by assessors to be sufficient. Return to FAQs

15. Do applicants have an opportunity to respond to a quality assessment report?

Yes. Applicants will have an opportunity to comment on the Quality Assessment/ Organization Review Panel report on their application. Return to FAQs

16. What is the role of the PEQAB secretariat with respect to potential applicants?

The PEQAB secretariat may clarify PEQAB criteria or processes to potential applicants who are in the process of developing an application.

If the secretariat is contacted by organizations that are considering applying for Ministerial consent, secretariat staff will direct these organizations to the appropriate materials and provide information about the Board’s roles, processes, and policies. Secretariat staff, together with staff from the Universities Unit, who are responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000 and other public policy issues related to degree granting, may meet with potential applicants.

The secretariat can review a draft application for completeness but not for quality. Return to FAQs

17. What is the role of the PEQAB secretariat with respect to applicants?

PEQAB secretariat staff are available to all applicants to clarify PEQAB criteria or processes.

Once an application is referred to the Board, PEQAB staff determine if the application is consistent with PEQAB’s guidelines for submission. The secretariat does not comment on the quality of applications.

The primary role of secretariat staff is to provide the Board with clear, complete information about the applicant and the application. If there is any ambiguity about what the applicant intends to deliver, PEQAB staff will seek clarification from the applicant.

In some cases during the review for completeness and clarity of the application, staff might believe that some aspects of the submission are unlikely to meet the Board’s standards and/or benchmarks (i.e., proposed faculty possess only bachelor degrees). The secretariat does not inform the applicant of potentially weak parts of its submission or suggest that they be addressed in a particular way. If the applicant’s intention is clear, no further information will be sought from the applicant with respect to the benchmark/standard. Secretariat staff are not involved in the review process unless asked to clarify the Board’s requirements, expectations or directions.

Although secretariat staff will be aware of Board recommendations and discussions, they do not divulge these to the applicant or any other party. Secretariat staff will notify applicants of the status of their applications and Board requirements such as deadlines for applications to be included on Board agendas. Once the PEQAB review is completed, the secretariat notifies the applicant that the PEQAB process is complete (i.e., that the Board’s recommendation has been communicated to the Minister) and identifies the ministry staff responsible for managing the application through the remainder of the consent process. Return to FAQs

18. What do we do if we believe an assessor has a conflict of interest?

PEQAB has clearly identified conflict of interest guidelines to which applicants and members of quality assessment panels must adhere.

The secretariat circulates to the applicant the names of the panel member(s) approved by the Board to assess the program. It is assumed that the applicant notifies the secretariat immediately if a possible conflict of interest (COI) exists. The onus is on the applicant to identify a COI or potential COI with any member of the panel. If the applicant identifies a COI, the secretariat will review the applicant’s evidence, and if the secretariat:

• determines that no conflict of interest exists, the review continues;
• determines that a conflict of interest exists, it informs the assessor of the conflict, removes him/her from the panel, and recruits an alternative assessor; and
• is unsure as to whether or not a conflict of interest exists, it may request additional information from the applicant.

The final determination on whether an actual or potential conflict of interest rests with the Board. Return to FAQs

19. We have Ministerial consent to offer a degree program and want to add/update some aspects of it. Which changes will require consent?

For answers to questions about what requires consent, please contact the Universities Unit at the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (Email: PostsecondaryAccountability@ontario.ca, Mailing Address: Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1L2 Canada). Return to FAQs

20. Is a full PEQAB submission required for every review?

For information on submission requirements pertaining to new consents please consult the Submission Guidelines for New Programs. PEQAB requirements for current consent holders seeking to renew consent are addressed in the Submission Guidelines for Renewal of Ministerial Consent. Both can be found in the publications section on the PEQAB website.

For all other kinds of reviews contact the secretariat to discuss our submission requirements.(Telephone Number: 416- 212-1230, E-mail: peqab@ontario.ca, Mailing Address: Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, 23rd Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 1L2). The Board does not need full applications for amendments for consent such as program or nomenclature changes. For example, for amendments to add a degree completion option to a program offered under consent, the Board requires a gap analysis prepared by the consent holder assessing prior learning, entry point(s) to the degree program, and any bridging requirements. Return to FAQs

21. What’s the role of the PEQAB secretariat?

The Chair and the Board are supported by a secretariat. The secretariat undertakes research; drafts the Board's criteria, policies and procedures and coordinates the Board's relations with Ministry officials and regulatory bodies. Each application for ministerial consent is managed by a member of the secretariat who assists the college and expert assessors in understanding the Board's criteria and procedures to facilitate the comprehensive review of applications. Return to FAQs

22. Since Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology are assessed against the Honours Degree Standard can they use the Honours Bachelor nomenclature for their programs offered pursuant to consent?

While college degrees are assessed against the Board’s Honours Bachelor Degree standard, which is the same as the Baccalaureate/Bachelor's Degree: Honours standard outlined in the Ontario Qualifications Framework, the term “honours” is not available for designating college degrees.

Pursuant to the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000, Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology may apply for the Minister’s consent to offer bachelor degrees in applied areas of study. There are a variety of ways to connote with nomenclature whether a degree is applied, professional- or research-oriented. With the exception of Bachelor of Applied Science, which connotes research-oriented degrees, research-oriented degrees are normally of the form: Bachelor of Faculty (Subject), e.g., Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) or Bachelor of Science (Chemistry). The level of study at the Bachelor level can be further differentiated as “honours” for research-oriented degrees. Because colleges are enabled by the Act to offer only degrees in applied areas, research-oriented nomenclatures (e.g., Bachelor of Arts/Science/Applied Science), and the term “honours”, are not available for designating college degrees. The typical approaches to nomenclature for Bachelor degrees in applied areas, available for designating college degrees, are:
1. Bachelor of Faculty (Subject), for example, Bachelor of Technology (Information Technology);
2. (With the exception of Applied Science) Bachelor of Applied Faculty (Subject), for example, Bachelor of Applied Arts (Justice Studies); or
3. Bachelor of Subject, for example, Bachelor of Interior Design.
Return to FAQs

23. What will assessors consider when reviewing renewal applications?

At renewal of consent, as part of the program review, the Quality Assessment Panel (QAP) reviews the actual delivery of the program and the implementation of policies and procedures (proposed during the initial review) and assesses the program against the Board’s standards and benchmarks, articulated in Chapter 5 of the Handbook for Ontario Colleges and the Handbook for Public Organizations, and Chapter 7 of the Handbook for Private Organizations. The organization is responsible for demonstrating program quality and an ability to assure quality on an ongoing basis. In addition to the program review, private organizations must undergo an organization review.

As indicated in the respective Submission Guidelines for Renewal of Consent all organizations are required to submit the following for the program review:

• a self-study conducted according to policies and procedures for such reviews that have been approved by the Board;
• all program-, resource- and policy-related materials (e.g., course outlines, CVs, admission criteria, library and other learning resources, etc.);
• a self-assessment against the Board’s standards and benchmarks; and
• a report on the commitments made during the last Board review.

There are additional submission requirements for the organization review of private organizations (for details please refer to the Submission Guidelines for Private Organizations (Renewal of Consent).

The organization’s self-study documents and samples of student work are the core elements of the program review. Key issues considered by the QAP are whether:
1. the organization and the program meet the standards and benchmarks set by the Board;
2. individual student work in the terminal stage of the program that reflects exemplary, average, and minimally acceptable performance demonstrates that the degree-level standard has been achieved;
3. the policy environment meets the requirements set by the Board; and
4. the organization’s internal program evaluation exercise aligns with the Board’s requirements for such program evaluations, and whether the organization’s internal quality assurance/program evaluation achieves its intended aim of continuous program improvement.

As part of their renewal applications (in the Report: Assessment Against PEQAB Standards and Benchmarks) organizations are also asked to

• list any commitments made during the last Board review, and report on how these were addressed;
• address significant changes made to the program during consent; and
• include a thorough, frank and accurate analysis of the program against the Board’s standards and benchmarks.

In cases where information pertinent to the panel’s judgement is included in the self-assessment against the Board’s standards and benchmarks, but not elsewhere, the organization is responsible for ensuring this information is provided to the QAP.

In addition, during the site visit, the QAP will be responsible for reviewing samples of student work selected at random. This exercise may be approached in the following manner: prior to the site visit, the organization may sort the student work into what it considers exemplary, average, and minimally acceptable performance categories. At the site visit, the QAP may randomly select samples from among these three categories and review these against the relevant Board standards and benchmarks. Return to FAQs

24. Can I comment on an application?

Yes. At the time an application is submitted, the Board will post it on its website and indicate a deadline for comment on the application from interested parties. Those seeking further information about the application should address the applicant. Comments bearing on the assessment of the application against the Board’s criteria will be handled as follows:

• Comments bearing on the assessment of the application against the Board's criteria are transmitted to the quality assessors and applicant for consideration.
• Comments bearing on the Board's criteria or operations are transmitted to the Board for consideration.

Unless requested to do so by the Minister, the Board does not consider matters related to public policy. Comments bearing on matters of public policy should be directed to the Universities Unit of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. (Email: PostsecondaryAccountability@ontario.ca, Mailing Address: Mowat Block, 900 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1L2 Canada). Return to FAQs

25. How do the Board's standards and procedures relate to those used in other Canadian provinces and in other countries?

To promote international recognition and transferability of degrees, the bodies responsible for quality assurance, including PEQAB, take care to use common categories, descriptions, and procedures where possible. The Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC) endorsed a common framework for degrees in Canada and a common set of standards and principles for the review of new degrees and new degree-granting institutions. Information about the pan-Canadian framework and standards can be accessed on the CMEC website. In addition, as per the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000, PEQAB criteria are required to be in accordance with educational standards recognized in Ontario and other jurisdictions. To fulfill this legislated requirement, the Board regularly undertakes a comprehensive review of all of its criteria to ensure it reflects standards recognized in Ontario and elsewhere. Return to FAQs

26. How are the Board's degree-level standards related to those of Ontario universities?

As of January 2006, PEQAB and the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance (formerly the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies and the Undergraduate Program Review Audit Committee), the principal assessment body of the Council of Ontario Universities, share a common set of degree-level standards/expectations. These standards/expectations are also incorporated in the Ontario Qualifications Framework (OQF).

Each university is expected to develop its own institutional expression of the undergraduate and graduate degree level expectations and to apply them to each academic program. The assessment of whether graduates achieved these degree level expectations takes place through an audit during the Cyclical Program Review. As part of the PEQAB review process, all applicants for consent are required to specify the program/degree learning outcomes for each degree. At consent renewal, PEQAB assesses whether graduates have achieved these outcomes. Return to FAQs

27. How do college degrees compare to degrees from a university?

A degree from an Ontario college of applied arts and technology offered under the Minister’s consent is reviewed against the same standard as an honours bachelor degree offered by an Ontario University. The Ontario Qualifications Framework (OQF) outlines the full range of credentials offered by Ontario postsecondary education institutions and the knowledge and skills expected of graduates. The framework includes two levels of baccalaureate degrees. For bachelor/ baccalaureate degrees: honours there are three types of degrees: academically-oriented, professionally-oriented and in an applied area of study. Pursuant to the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000, Ontario colleges may offer only degrees in applied areas of study. Degrees in applied areas of study and honours bachelor degrees offered by Ontario universities both occupy the category identified as the Baccalaureate/Bachelor’s Degree: Honours. Degrees under the same category of the OQF are at the same level and conform to the same requirements and features outlined in the framework. PEQAB’s degree level descriptions and requirements (as outlined in its degree level standard) are consistent with the features outlined in the OQF. The degree standards outlined in the OQF are the same as those adopted by Ontario universities for their degrees. Return to FAQs