Major Modification

Major Modification

Graduate Program in [PROGRAM NAME, e.g. Education]

Degree(s):

[List the specific degrees being modified

Ex:

Doctorate in Philosophy Education

Master of Arts Education

Graduate Diploma Program Evaluation]

Submitted to:

Council

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

[Date]

Contents

Overview

Instructions

Section 1:Overview

1.1Type of major modification

1.2Academic unit

1.3Brief program overview

Section 2:Major Modification

2.1Type of major modification and rationale

2.2Impact

2.3University of Ottawa mission and strategic plan

Appendix A: Program Modification Report

Appendix B: Calendar Text

Appendix C: Letters of Support

Appendix D: Comparison to Other Universities

Resources

Overview

In accordance with the University Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), major modifications to graduate programs include significant changes to the requirements, intended learning outcomes or human and other resources associated with the program. Major modifications typically include one or more of the following:

Program requirements that differ significantly from those existing at the time of the previous cyclical review;
Significant changes to learning outcomes;
Significant changes to the faculty engaged in delivering the program and/or to the essential physical resources, as may occur, for example, where there have been changes to the existing modes of delivery.

The uOttawa Quality Assurance Office reports these types of modifications to the Council of Ontario Universities on an annual basis.

For additional information on program modifications,see the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance Framework and Guide.

Instructions

Use the template provided as a guide forwriting a major modificationapproval request. Content, resources, formatting and writing suggestions are provided throughout the template as guidelines. Each major modification is a unique request, so it is possible that some sections may need to be added to the template while others may need to be deleted.The proposal can be submitted in English, French or a combination. However, use just one language within each section.

Within the template and guide, note that:

The text written in black is part of the request and should be retained in the final document.
The text written in grey is information that will guide you to complete each section of the request. Delete the grey text once each section is complete. The final document should have none.

If you have questions about the template or about program modifications, contact the Quality Assurance Office at .

Once the major modification request is complete, please forwardit to the Quality Assurance Office for an initial review.

Section 1:Overview

Major Modification

Graduate Program in [NAME OF PROGRAM]

Last Cyclical Review Year [YEAR OF LAST REVIEW,e.g. 2014]

Approved by the Council

Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Meeting of [DATE OF MEETING]

Prior to thismajor modification requestbeing submitted to the FGPS Council, itwas reviewed and approved by the[NAME OF THE ACADEMIC UNIT]and the [NAME OF FACULTY]. The modification was preparedin consultation with the Graduate Studies Office of the Faculty of [NAME OF THE FACULTY] and approved by the Vice-Dean.

Internal approvals fromthe faculty and/or the Coop office:

1. Name of the committee, date of the meeting when the approval was received

2. Name of the committee, date of the meeting when the approval was received

3. Name of the committee, date of the meeting when the approval was received

Effective date: Date when the major modification will come into effect. (Typically, the effective date is May,but this may change with the new student information system, uoCampus.)

1.1Type of major modification

In this section, select the type ofmajor modifications from the list provided.
Please note:

More than one type of major modification can be selected.

General / Specific type of major modification (please select) / Notes
Overall program / Change program name / Changing the emphasis of a program from research to professional is considered a change in program learning outcomes.
Merge two or more programs
Change program learning outcomes
Add new combined program
Add new field, concentration or stream
Fields / Change field name / Fields, concentrations and streams are no longer required by OCGS. However, if the program has received OCGS approval then they must be maintained or closed with approval.
Close field, option
Add major research paper
Program structure / Add thesis requirement / A change of mode of delivery, for example delivering courses online, is considered a major modification when the change affects at least half of the courses available in the program.
Add course based option
Add or remove CO-OP, internship, practicum
Add or remove part-time/full-time option
Change mode of delivery
Add faculty or other essential resources
Change admission requirements
Requirements / Change course or exam requirements / Changes that depart from the regulations approved by Senate are considered a major modification.
Change language requirements
Add new unit from collaborative program
Partnerships / Add international partner or location to an existing program
Add domestic partner or location to an existing program
Other major modifications not covered by this list
Other
Resource suggestions:

For additional information on program modifications, see the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance Framework and Guide.
If you have questions about program modifications, particularly concerning what constitutes a minor modification, a major modification or a new program, contact the Quality Assurance Office at .
To ensure that the major modification is in accordance with program regulations, please check thegeneral regulations for graduate studies.

Formatting and writing suggestions:

Select the appropriate major modifications and delete the rest of the list.
There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.
You may request more than one major modification at a time. However, making than one major modification to a program might be seen as creating a new program.

Sample:

Add CO-OP

1.2Academic unit

Program managers and major modification request authors / In this section, list the names of those managing the program.
Sample:

D. Perron, Chair, Department of Economics
F. Lisé, Supervisor, PhD Program
S. Beauchamp, Supervisor, Master’s Program

Support staff / In this section, list the names of support staff members who have helped prepare the major modification request.
Sample:

R. Boutin, Operations Coordinator
S. Lavoie, Administrative Assistant

Web address / In this section, listthe web addresses of the program.
Sample:

1.3Brief program overview

Name of program reviewed / In this section, include the name of the program.
Suggestions:

Be sure to use the correct name.

Sample:

Epidemiology

Degrees / In this section, list the names of the degrees that will be affected by the major modifications.
Suggestions:

Use the exact title (for example, “Master of Fine Arts” is correct, whereas“Master in Fine Arts” is incorrect).
There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.

Sample:

Master of Science (MSc) in Epidemiology
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemiology

Responsible academic units / In this section, list the participating units,if the program is collaborative or joint.
Suggestions:

There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.
If appropriate, this section can be deleted.

Sample:

Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Mathematics and Statistics

High-level program requirements / In this section, briefly describe the high-level program structure.
Suggestion:

There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.

Sample:

21 credits with thesis

Fields / In this section, include the names of the fields that were approved by the Ontario Council on Quality Assurance.
Suggestions:

If appropriate, this section can be deleted.
Be sure to use the correct names.
There is no need for paragraphs; bullets suffice.

Sample:

There are two fields at the PhD level:
Descriptive and Analytic Epidemiology
Applied and Clinical Epidemiology

Number of students currently registered in the program / Sample:

Masters: 28
Doctorate: 6

Current number of core faculty members / Sample:

Other data deemed appropriate by the academic unit / An example of information that can be added is the number of students who have graduated since the start of the program (total and/or by degreetype). If no additional data is deemed appropriate to include, this section can be deleted.

Section 2:Major Modification

2.1Type of major modification and rationale

In this section, name the type of major modifications (copy from section 1.1. above), provide details of the proposed modifications and briefly describe the rationale. Refer to the calendar text(Appendix B).
Content suggestions:

Indicate the types of major modifications. This should be the same as what was indicated in the first section of the document.
Provide details of the major modification.
For example: If the modification is to Change admission requirements, indicate if it is a change in the minimum grade required for acceptance into the program, a change in the language requirements, a change in details about fast-tracking from master’s to PhD, or another changeaffecting admission requirements.
For example: If the modification is to Change course or exam requirements,indicate if it is a change in the number of compulsory courses, the total number of credits required to receive the degree, minimum requirements, program duration, residency requirements, thesis or research paper options, or other course or exam requirements.
Include information about similar programs at other universities. A table showing the requirements at other universities can be attached as an appendix.
Refer to the calendar text(Appendix B). For example:
If the modification is to Add a CO-OP option, then indicate if the option applies to the course-based master’s, the master’s with major research paper or the master’s with thesis; whether it applies to students in an associated collaborative program; and how the program requirements will be presented in the calendar text in the two-column table under “Program Requirements.”
Explain the rationale for the changes.

Resource suggestions:

Refer to Appendix B for guidance on preparing calendar text.
For additional information on program modifications, consult the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance Framework and Guide.
If you have questions about program modifications, particularly in terms of what constitutes a minor modification, a major modification or a new program, contact the Quality Assurance Office at .

Formatting and writing suggestions:

Refer to the calendar text in Appendix B.Calendar text must be prepared in both French and English and must be included in the appendix.
Use separate paragraphs for separate ideas.
Use sub-headers if appropriate.
If the program has more than one degreetype, ensure that the specific degree or diploma being described is clearly noted.

2.2Impact

In this section, explain the impact of the major modification. If there is an impact on other programs,you may be required to provide evidence of support from the programs.
Content suggestions:

Describe how the major modification will have an impact on the following:
Program — for example:
Program goals
Degree-level expectations
Learning outcomes
Teaching, learning and/or evaluation methods
Participation in one or more collaborative programs
Students — for example:
The student profile
Enrolment
Admission requirements
Students’ level of preparation
Resources and governance — for example:
Facilities
Faculty resources
Material or financial resources
Administrative structure
Other existing programs — for example:
the University of Ottawa
Saint Paul University
International partners offering dual degrees with the University of Ottawa
Add any additional information that would be helpful.

Resource suggestions:

Check the general regulations for graduate studies.

Formatting and writing suggestions:

Discuss each point. Where necessary,provide supporting evidence that the impact of the major modification is appropriate and acceptable.
Provide evidence of consultation with and/or secure letters of support from programs that may be affected by the major modification. Include any letters in Appendix C andrefer to them in this section.
Use separate paragraphs for separate ideas.
Use sub-headers if appropriate.
If the program has more than one degreetype, then ensure that the specific degree or diploma being described is clearly noted.

2.3Universityof Ottawa mission and strategic plan

In this section, briefly explain how the major modification is in line with the University’s mission and the strategic plans of,preferably, both the University and your faculty or unit. Note that, for programs offered by Saint Paul University, these comments can be framed in terms of SPU’s mission and strategic plan.
Content suggestions:

Explain how the major modificationis in line with the University’s mission and the strategic plans of, preferably, both the University and your faculty or unit.
Indicate whether the major modification helps to differentiate the program from other programs offered in Ontario or elsewhere.
Add any additional information that would be helpful.

Suggested resources:

Destination 20/20 strategic plan
Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA)

Strategic Areas for Development in Research (SADR)
Strategic plan of your faculty or academic unit

Formatting and writing suggestions:

Write no more than a half page.
If the program has more than one degreetype, ensure that the specific degree or diploma being described is clearly noted.
Write with a forward focus; indicate where this program is heading in the future.
Re-read the entire proposal prior to submission.

Appendix A: Program Modification Report

The Quality Assurance Office prepares a brief report of recent program modifications.
The Quality Assurance Office inserts the report here.

Appendix B:Calendar Text

The academic unit prepares the calendar text and inserts it here.
To prepare the calendar text:
Follow the templates below.
Alwayssubmit the calendar text in both French and English.
Usethe current calendar textfrom the program website.
Add and underline the new text.
Strikethrough the text to be removed.

Follow the templates below to submit changes regarding major modifications to the FGPS Calendar in French and in English.

TEXTE ACTUEL DE L’ANNUAIRE DE LA FESP / TEXTE PROPOSÉ POUR L’ANNUAIRE DE LA FESP

Indiquer le nom du programme (p. ex.: Éducation), suivi du grade (p. ex.: M.A.).
Préciser la rubrique de l’annuaire dans laquelle le texte sera modifié (Renseignements généraux, Admission, Exigences du programme, Cours).
Aller chercher le texte de votre programme sur le site web de la FESP (
Copier/coller le texte actuel de l’annuaire de la FESP dans cette colonne.

Indiquer le nom du programme (p. ex.: Éducation), suivi du grade (p. ex.: M.A.).
Préciser la rubrique de l’annuaire dans laquelle le texte sera modifié (Renseignements généraux, Admission, Exigences du programme, Cours).
Copier/coller le texte actuel de l’annuaire de la FESP dans cette colonne.
Rédiger et souligner le texte à ajouter.
Barrer le texte à enlever.

CURRENT CALENDAR TEXT OF FGPS / PROPOSED CALENDAR TEXT FOR FGPS

Identify the program title (e.g. Education), followed by the degree (e.g. MA).
Indicate the section of the calendar text to be modified (i.e. General information, Admission, Program requirements, Courses).

Go to the FGPS website ( to find the text for your program.
Copy and paste the current calendar text for your program in this column.

Identify the program title (e.g. Education), followed by the degree (e.g. MA).
Indicate the section of the calendar text to be modified (i.e. General information, Admission, Program requirements, Courses).

Copy and pastethe current calendar text of your program in this column as well.
Add and underline the new text.
Strike through the text to be removed.

Sample:

TEXTE ACTUEL DE L’ANNUAIRE DE LA FESP / TEXTE PROPOSÉ POUR L’ANNUAIRE DE LA FESP
ÉTUDES DU BILINGUISME (M.A.)
Admission
Sont admissibles au programme de M.A. en études du bilinguisme les titulaires d'un (1) des suivants:

Un baccalauréat spécialisé ou l'équivalent en Second Language Teaching / Didactique des langues secondes, en Linguistique appliquée ou dans une discipline connexe.
Un baccalauréat de trois ans en Linguistique appliquée ou dans une discipline connexe en plus d'un certificat de niveau universitaire avancé en enseignement de l’anglais à ceux qui parlent d’autres langues, comportant au moins 30 crédits.

La moyenne minimale pour être admis est de 70% (B), calculée selon les directives de la FÉSP. / ÉTUDES DU BILINGUISME (M.A.)
Admission
Sont admissibles au programme de M.A. en études du bilinguisme les titulaires d'un (1) des suivants:

Un baccalauréat spécialisé ou l'équivalent en Second Language Teaching / Didactique des langues secondes, en Linguistique appliquée ou dans une discipline connexe.
Un baccalauréat de trois ans en Linguistique appliquée ou dans une discipline connexe en plus d'un certificat de niveau universitaire avancé en enseignement de l’anglais à ceux qui parlent d’autres langues, comportant au moins 3036 crédits.

La moyenne minimale pour être admis est de 7080% (BA-), calculée selon les directives de la FÉSP.
CURRENT CALENDAR TEXT / PROPOSED CALENDAR TEXT
BILINGUALISM STUDIES (MA)
Admission
To be admitted to the MA program in Bilingualism Studies, candidates must haveone (1) of the following:

An honours bachelor's degree or equivalent in Second Language Teaching / Didactique des langues secondes, in Applied Linguistics or in a related discipline.
A three-year bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics or a related discipline in addition to a university-level, university-administered advanced certificate in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages), representing a minimum of 30 credits.

The minimum admission average is 70% (B), calculated in accordance with FGPS guidelines. / BILINGUALISM STUDIES (MA)
Admission
To be admitted to the MA program in Bilingualism Studies, candidates must haveone (1) of the following:

An honours bachelor's degree or equivalent in Second Language Teaching / Didactique des langues secondes, in Applied Linguistics or in a related discipline.
A three-year bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics or a related discipline in addition to a university-level, university-administered advanced certificate in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages), representing a minimum of 3036 credits.

The minimum admission average is 7080% (BA-), calculated in accordance with FGPS guidelines.

Appendix C: Letters of Support

The academic unit inserts copies of support letters here. This section can be omitted if support letters are not required for the major modification.
If the proposed major modification relies significantly on the contributions of other stakeholders then letters of support are required from the appropriate department chairs and/or deans, or service directors.

Appendix D: Comparison to Other Universities