New Program Development & Program Renewal

Depending on the nature of the change program modifications can involve the following:

• Name change (determined by the College)
• Program standards update that can include a program name change (mandated by MCU)
• Content and/or duration change (includes the POS Change which is completed in collaboration with the Academic Area, Academic Quality team and Academic Data office)
• Delivery change
• The development of a new program stream
• Reinstatement
• Enrolment change

Program Modification and Reinstatement Process (Download opens as PDF, 510 KB)

The Program of Studies (POS) of each academic program is reviewed annually by the Associate Dean. The Academic Data Officer in the Registrar’s Office initiates the process, which follows rigorous timelines documented on the Academic Planning Timelines (Download opens as PDF, 242 KB) document. The Postsecondary POS Review Cycle commences each Fall when the Registrar’s Office distributes POS Renewal Cycle (Download opens as PDF, 1 MB) packages for all programs and provides training sessions for all academic areas to ensure orientation for new academic leaders.

• The Associate Dean of the program submits all modifications to the POS, which include careful planning of pre-requisites, equivalencies and POS version control and updating. 
• The Continuing Education and Apprenticeship POS review cycles occur each Spring between March and May. Changes requested for an in-progress postsecondary POS are reviewed separately and require VPA approval. 
• Academic Quality, the Centre for Teaching & Learning, the Registrar’s Office, and Finance review and approve all POS changes submitted by Associate Deans before they are implemented into college systems and communications. 
• The up-to-date POS version of each program is on the college website, and on MyMohawk through the My Academic Plan (MAP) tool, so that students and faculty can monitor progress toward program completion. Programs are scheduled in “blocks” containing the courses required in each semester of the POS, supporting the student to fulfill program requirements. 
• The course create and update process (Download opens as PDF, 538 KB) informed from the program review process is supported through the Registrar’s Office and clearly defines the instructions for changes made during the POS review cycle, and outside of the POS review cycle. Clarification for course version control and updating vs. new course creation is clearly differentiated. 
• All changes to the course work contained in a POS, relevant to equivalences and pre-requisites are fully assessed and mapped to ensure requirements of curriculum are met and to maintain the integrity of graduate clearance. 
• All documentation must be signed by the Associate Dean of the relevant program. 
• Assessments of course outlines and Program Vocational Learning Outcomes (VLOs), and analysis and updating of the program curriculum map are key inputs to determine the ongoing relevance and quality of the academic content.
• Any major changes arising from program review are implemented through the POS cycle, completed a year in advance of the intake of new students. 
• The changes do not affect students already enrolled, and those completing their POS as prescribed by the college’s Program Curriculum Policy.

• The Program of Studies change process is guided by the Program of Studies Policy (Download opens as PDF, 115 KB).