Academic Program Development Policy

To ensure that academic programs are developed in alignment with Seneca Polytechnic’s strategic priorities, ministry, regulatory and external quality assurance requirements and the current and anticipated needs of students, industry, employers and the community.

This policy applies to Seneca employees participating in the program development process.

A certificate under the Ontario Qualifications Framework that is approved by Seneca’s Board of Governors for delivery at Seneca. 

Groups of individuals external to Seneca that provide industry expertise and insight to help program areas develop and renew Seneca’s programs according to labour market needs.

A type of a Program Advisory Committee that is temporarily struck to advise on the development of a program of instruction.

Clear and measurable statements that describe the knowledge, skills and competencies graduates will possess upon the completion of a program of instruction, local polytechnic certificate or short course.

A sequence of courses and learning experiences delivered to help students develop specific knowledge, skills and competencies to meet the requirements of an Ontario college credential as determined and approved by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (“the ministry”).

Examples include certificates, diplomas and degrees.

A learning or training experience focused on the development of specific skills, competencies or knowledge, designed to be completed in a short amount of time.

1. ​Academic programs developed at Seneca will:
   • ​Align with Seneca’s strategic objectives and the ministry’s Strategic Mandate Agreement 
   • ​Adhere to the Framework for Programs of Instruction as outlined in the Minister’s Binding Policy Directive 
   • ​Align with provincial quality assurance standards (e.g., Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board, Ontario College Quality Assurance Service) 
   • ​Have clear outcomes, objectives and/or competencies consistent with the credential level  
   • ​Include clear statements of requirements derived from identified program learning outcomes for programs of instruction 
   • ​Help students achieve academic and career objectives 
   • ​Address current and anticipated labour market needs 
   • ​Support and promote access, flexibility and mobility for current and prospective students and graduates 
   • ​Meet requirements identified by accreditation and industry regulatory bodies, where applicable

1. ​Program development will be supported by established processes and templates.
2. ​Internal and external consultations with domestic and international partners will be conducted as a program is developed, with Enrolment Management Committee and Senior Executive Committee endorsement required prior to submission for approval.
   
3. ​Proposed programs will receive endorsement by a Program Development Advisory Committee or, where appropriate, a standing Program Advisory Committee prior to submission for approval.
4. ​Programs of instruction and local polytechnic certificates will be approved by the Board of Governors.
5. ​Short courses will follow an approval process determined by Seneca’s Senior Executive Committee.

• Appendix: Academic program development procedures

• Program Advisory Committees Policy
• Academic Program Review and Modification Policy
• Academic Program Suspension and Cancellation Policy

• Minister's Binding Policy Directive, Framework for Programs of Instruction
• Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS)
• Ontario Qualifications Framework
• Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 36, Sched.
• Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB)
• Seneca Strategic Mandate Agreement 2020-2025
• Seneca Strategic Plan 2023-2026

1. Ideas for programs are discussed within and among faculties and brought forward for broader discussion with internal partners by the appropriate academic chair and dean.

1. Program ideas are assessed at the school level using the appropriate template, then by Program Quality (PQ) prior to the development of a business case.

1. Programs deemed viable for development are included in Seneca’s five-year development plan, which is endorsed by the Vice-President, Academic and reviewed annually by Senior Executive Committee (SEC).
2. Five-year development planning meetings take place twice annually, at which time, programs identified for development can be added, modified or removed.

1. The business case provides the foundation for the development of a program proposal.
2. The responsible academic chair, faculty members and the manager of academic programs, in collaboration with PQ, will develop a business case using the appropriate template.
3. Information in the business case will include:
   • program description 
   • target audience 
   • differentiation 
   • student demand 
   • pathways 
   • admission requirements 
   • alignment with Seneca’s strategic priorities and Strategic Mandate Agreement 
   • competitive landscape 
   • industry demand 
   • labour market analysis  
   • verification of the credential level 
   • anticipated occupational areas 
   • analysis of internal resources, capacity and program mix
4. Primary and secondary data will be collected to demonstrate program viability, including:
   • analysis of occupational areas 
   • labour market projections 
   • comparable programs 
   • applicant demand (survey) 
   • industry demand (survey)
5. Collected data is analyzed to understand the labour market and graduate outcomes and is shared with Credential Validation Services (CVS) and/or Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB) during the external review process.
6. Business case development will include formal and informal internal consultation with relevant academic and service areas, whose feedback on domestic and international considerations will be incorporated into the case, as appropriate.
7. Business case development will include external consultations with students, alumni and domestic and international partners, as appropriate.
8. The completed business case will be:
   • presented by the academic chair and/or dean to the Enrolment Management Committee (EMC) Ad Hoc for review 
   • endorsed by the EMC and the Vice-President, Academic for proposal development

1. Once a business case has been endorsed to proceed, the academic chair will develop a program proposal in collaboration with PQ using the appropriate template.
2. The program proposal will expand on the business case, detailing the requirements for the proposed academic program including:
   • nomenclature
   • admission requirements
   • target audience
   • integration of Seneca’s strategic priorities
   • program learning outcomes
   • program map
   • curriculum
   • course descriptions
   • course learning outcomes
   • key topics and themes
   • work-integrated/experiential learning
   • alignment with provincial standards and directives for credential-level curriculum (e.g., Ontario Qualifications Framework, Essential Employability Skills or Degree Level Standards)
   • evidence that the program requirements are derived from the program learning outcomes, regardless of the location or method of delivery
   • alignment with regulatory/accrediting bodies, as required
   • delivery methods and pedagogies
   • pathway gap analyses and completion plans
   • enrolment projections, domestically and internationally
   • consultations with domestic and international partners
   • evidence of review and endorsement of a Program Development Advisory Committee
   • letters of support from industry and academic institutions
   • financial framework (e.g., staffing, infrastructure requirements and resources)
   • eligibility for Seneca’s course development funds
3. Program proposals for local polytechnic certificates and short courses include information aligned with relevant internal and external requirements and may not include all the elements identified in 5.2. These program proposals may also include additional information relevant to the credential type.
4. Development of program proposals will include formal and informal internal consultation with relevant academic and service areas, whose feedback will be incorporated into the program proposal, as appropriate.
5. Development of program proposals will include ongoing formal and informal consultation with students, alumni, Program Development Advisory Committee or Program Advisory Committee members and industry collaborators, whose feedback will be incorporated into the program proposal as appropriate. 
6. Proposals will be presented by the academic chair and/or dean to EMC for review and endorsement to present to SEC.
7. Program proposals will then be submitted to the SEC for endorsement, then to the Academic Planning and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Governors and then to the Board of Governors for approval.
8. Once Board of Governors’ approval is obtained, program proposals are submitted by PQ to the appropriate quality assurance bodies for external review and validation (e.g., PEQAB for degrees and the CVS for non-degrees).
9. Program applications will be submitted to CVS for Classification of Instructional Program code validation.
10. Program applications will be made to the ministry for final approval/consent and funding.
11. Progress on program applications and approvals will be communicated to internal and external partners, as needed, to support preparations for program launch.
12. Ministry approvals and funding will be received before a program is advertised to prospective students.
13. Certificates and programs of instruction that are not funded by the ministry may be advertised to prospective students following approval by the Board of Governors.

1. Ministry approval will be communicated by PQ to the appropriate academic and service areas to initiate program implementation.
2. A kick-off meeting will be scheduled by PQ to support implementation planning.
3. The academic chair and/or dean will lead program implementation.

Approval Date: August 2021

Last Revision: July 2026