Responsibilities & Reporting

The Degree Quality Assessment Board oversees the quality assurance process for degree level programs in B.C. This is important because quality education plays a vital role in:

• Training a workforce to meet regional and industry needs
• Attracting international students
• Expanding opportunities for B.C. students to study abroad

The board also has a duty to address public policy objectives such as:

• Increasing learner choice
• Promoting coherent and integrated post-secondary system
• Promoting protection of learners’ interests
• Ensuring appropriate use of publicly funded student financial assistance

To accomplish this, the board acts as a:

• Leader - Providing policy advice to the Minister on new degree program quality assurance and related matters
• Overseer – Assessing new degree program submissions using ions against established standards and making recommendations to the Minister
• Steward - promoting the interests of learners
• Reporter - reporting to government, stakeholders, public, others.

Quality assurance responsibilities:

• Ensuring new proposed degree programs at post-secondary institutions meet consistent and high quality criteria
• Making recommendations to the Minister on applications to
  • Offer new degree programs
  • Provide and advertise degree programs
  • Grant degrees
  • Use “University” under the Degree Authorization Act
  • Gain exempt status
• Making recommendations concerning policies, criteria and guidelines that will apply for the purposes of giving or refusing consent/approval (including attaching terms and conditions to consent)
• Performing other duties that may be requested by the Minister such as monitoring of institutions with consent to offer degree programs under the Degree Authorization Act

General responsibilities:

• Managing board affairs: Establish the processes and structures necessary to ensure the effective functioning and renewal of the board – this includes: monitor and improve quality of board, ensure appropriate board committees; ensure appropriate board orientation and ongoing professional development; articulate roles and responsibilities for board, committees, chair individual governors; define board process and guidelines, evaluate board, committees, directors and chair; and identify potential director candidates.
• Organization’s mandate: Fully understand the organization’s mandate set by government, review and make recommendations to government regarding the mandate to reflect changing circumstances.
• Strategy and plans: Participate in the development of, review and approve the organization’s strategic plan consistent with the organization’s mandate as set by government.
• Human resources: Subject to government legislation and guidelines, nominate board members and external experts, as applicable and plan for board member succession and development.
• Financial and corporate issues: Ensure code of ethical conduct and conflict of interest guidelines are in place.
• Monitor and report: Monitor organizational performance against strategic plans and compliance with applicable legislation and government direction; account to government and stakeholders through appropriate reporting.
• Communications: Oversee organization’s communications policy.