The Program Advisory Committees (PAC) Terms of Reference are based on Seneca Polytechnic’s Program Advisory Committees Policy and apply to all individuals serving on a PAC at Seneca for postsecondary programs of instruction for which an Ontario college credential is awarded.

1. PACs will consist of individuals external to Seneca who have a direct interest in, and a diversity of experience and expertise related to, the sector and discipline addressed by the program.
2. PAC membership is tied to individuals and cannot be delegated unless approved by the primary Seneca PAC resource person.
3. Members are not remunerated for their participation.
4. PAC membership will reflect the diversity of the Seneca community.
5. A non-degree PAC will have a minimum of six members and a degree PAC will have a minimum of eight members, including one academic expert in the sector, from another postsecondary institution.
6. The term for committee members will be three years, or longer at Seneca’s discretion, renewable once.

1. PAC members will engage in an ongoing exchange of information between industry and Seneca to update, promote, assess and advise on the development, maintenance and renewal of academic programs.
2. PAC members will provide recommendations and advise on:
   • experiential education opportunities including field placements, clinical experiences, work-integrated learning placements and field trips
   • content development, inclusion or revision to maintain or improve program relevancy and currency
   • current and future employment opportunities, industry trends and employer needs
   • skills and knowledge required by graduates to meet needs of industry
   • placements, including those for graduates and suitable for temporary or permanent positions
   • quality assurance – ensuring programs continue to align with other academic programs and industry demands
3. PAC members will liaise and promote positive and productive relationships among Seneca, local community and businesses, industry and professional associations.
4. PAC members will assist in identifying guest speakers and participate in student and program-related institutional and/or community events, as required. 

1. The members of each PAC will vote on a formal motion to elect a chair from the membership for a two-year term.
2. The PAC chair will provide leadership to each committee and preside over all meetings with the support of the academic chair.
3. PAC chairs may stand for re-election of a PAC committee once, at Seneca’s discretion.

1. PAC members are expected to attend all scheduled PAC meetings and are encouraged to participate in agenda setting.
2. A minimum of two PAC meetings per year will be held and conducted according to conventional rules of order.
3. If a PAC member misses two consecutive meetings without notifying Seneca, the academic chair or designate will communicate directly with the member to determine whether the individual is able to continue on the PAC.
4. All appointed PAC members will have voting privileges.
5. All resolutions or motions voted on by a PAC will be worded in a formal motion, voted on by the PAC membership and recorded in the minutes.
6. Quorum for meetings, motions and resolutions will be a simple majority of the voting members of the PAC.
7. Meeting minutes will be taken by a Seneca employee and approved by the academic chair and PAC chair prior to distribution.
8. PAC members will respect the confidential nature of the information shared with and discussed at PAC meetings.

1. PAC members who perceive that their interests conflict, or have the potential to conflict, with an issue under discussion at a PAC meeting should excuse themselves from the discussion and abstain from voting on the specific issue.
2. A member’s declaration of conflict of interest will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

1. During the developmental stages of a program, the responsible academic chair will establish a PDAC, or use an existing PAC, to advise on the development of the new program.
2. When a program is launched, the PDAC will be dissolved and a dedicated PAC will be established, or the new program will be clustered with an existing PAC.

1. The Terms of Reference are reviewed every five years and revisions are approved by the Vice-President, Academic.