Degree Quality Assessment Board
Last updated on February 8, 2024The Degree Quality Assessment Board is an independent advisory board that ensures legislated quality assurance requirements are met for post-secondary education in B.C.
There are:
- Up to 13 voting members appointed by the Minister
Members may be reappointed to consecutive terms by the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
The Board has a standing committee to develop and implement the quality assurance process audit.
Board Meetings
The deadline for general submissions to be considered for inclusion in the board's agenda package is 10 business days prior to the meeting. The deadline for Determination of New Degree and Substantive Changes to Consent submissions is 15 business days prior to the meeting.
Given the large volume of materials the board reviews, submissions must be concise, with limited attachments, where possible. Applicants will be informed when their application has been forwarded to the board. The meeting schedule is as follows:
2024
- January 24, 2024
- March 6, 2024
- April 17, 2024
- May 29, 2024
- July 17, 2024
- September 18, 2024
- October 30, 2024
- December 11, 2024
Prior to deliberation, institutions must provide complete documentation. Supporting documents may include:
- Application and supporting documentation
- Organizational profile
- Peer review comments
- Organization review, including expert analyses
- Degree program review, including expert analyses
- Quality assurance process audit, including expert analyses
- Applicant response to peer/public comments and external expert reports
- Ministry comments
In some cases, the board may have significant issues it wishes to be addressed, or it may require additional information, clarification or comment from the applicant prior to making a recommendation. Therefore, one or two representatives of the applicant, including the senior academic officer most familiar with the application, should be available by telephone during the meeting. If desired by the applicant, the representatives may make themselves available in person rather than by telephone; however, the representatives will only be called into the meeting if the board needs to obtain clarification or discuss an aspect of the proposal with them. Any such discussion will normally be limited to 20 minutes and focus on allowing the applicant to respond to specific questions and outstanding issues. The time is not to be used for a general program overview or marketing presentation.
The Board Secretariat
Staff members who work at the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills perform the following secretariat duties:
- Administrative support
- Process / monitor applications
- Assist applicants and prospective applicants
- Coordinate meeting agendas, information packages and events
- Conduct research as directed
Use of External Experts
External experts may be required to:
- Conduct an organization review, focusing on the characteristics of the institution
- Conduct a degree program review, focusing on the specifics of a proposal for a particular degree-level and discipline/area of study
- Conduct a quality assurance process audit, focusing on the institution's internal quality assurance policies, processes and procedures
The board will appoint any external experts. However, institutions can suggest appropriate qualified individuals for the board’s consideration.