Non-Ministry Approved Curriculum Policy – May 28, 2024 Page 1 of 5

NON-MINISTRY

APPROVED

CURRICULUM

POLICY

Policy Type:

Management

Initially

Approved:

May 28, 2024

Policy Sponsor:

Provost and Vice-

President,

Academic

Last

Revised:

Primary Contact:

Dean, Faculty of

Continuing

Education and

Extension

Review

Scheduled: May 28, 2029

Approver:

Board of Governors

PURPOSE

The Non-Ministry Approved Curriculum Policy governs the approval, development, and criteria of

Courses and Programs by establishing consistency in the definitions, guidelines, and processes

associated with Course and Program approval.

SCOPE

This Policy applies to the non-ministry approved curriculum offered at Mount Royal University. All

non-ministry approved Courses and Programs offered at Mount Royal University are offered

through the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension. Non-ministry approved curriculum is

a non-ministry approved Course or Program where formal recognition in the form of a parchment,

transcript or confirmation of completion can be issued.

POLICY STATEMENT

1. RESPONSIBILITY

1.1

It is the responsibility of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic to ensure this

policy is implemented and maintained.

2. CREDENTIAL DEFINITIONS AND GUIDELINES

2.1

Certificate of Completion

2.1.1 A certificate of completion offers professional or personal development

opportunities designed to give recognition to learners who have completed or

attended courses in a particular subject area.

2.1.2 A certificate of completion must be less than 60 instructional hours and

consist of at least two (2) required Courses. Required Courses may be

prescribed or a series of options from which a specified number may be

selected.

2.2

Extension Certificate

2.2.1 An extension certificate is a university-recognized professional program that

Non-Ministry Approved Curriculum Policy – May 28, 2024 Page 2 of 5

provides individuals with a range of professional skill sets, usually specialized

in one area of study.

2.2.2 An extension certificate must be more than 60 instructional hours and consist

of at least three (3) required Courses. Required Courses may be prescribed

or a series of options from which a specified number may be selected.

2.2.3 An extension certificate has a rigorous curriculum and assessment that

adheres to the University grading scale.

2.3

Micro-Credential

2.3.1 A micro-credential is awarded to recognize skills or knowledge that meet a

specific function within an industry, community, or educational program.

2.3.2 A micro-credential may be supplementary, alternate, or supportive to a

component of other post-secondary credentials.

2.3.3 A micro-credential is short in duration, normally less than 45 instructional

hours.

2.3.4 A micro-credential has a rigorous curriculum and assessment that adheres to

the University grading scale.

2.4

Certification and Professional Designations

2.4.1 A Course or Program may qualify for external certifications and professional

designations.

3. COURSE AND PROGRAM APPROVAL PROCESS OVERVIEW

The following overview outlines the curriculum submission approval paths for non-ministry

approved curriculum.

3.1

Extension Certificates and Micro-Credentials

3.1.1

New Program and Terminate Program

The steps below outline the approval steps for creating a new Program or

terminating a Program that leads to an extension certificate or micro-

credential.

3.1.1.1 Originator (submit proposal)

3.1.1.2 Systems Support Analyst (review)

3.1.1.3 Senior Program Manager (recommend for approval)

3.1.1.4 Dean (recommend for approval)

3.1.1.5 Provost and Vice-President, Academic (

final approval)

3.1.1.6 Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee (for information

only)

3.1.1.7 General Faculties Council (for information only)

3.1.2

Program Modifications and Suspend Program

The steps below outline the approval process for a change to a Program or

suspension of a Program that leads to an extension certificate or micro-

credential.

Non-Ministry Approved Curriculum Policy – May 28, 2024 Page 3 of 5

3.1.2.1 Originator (submit proposal)

3.1.2.2 Systems Support Analyst (review)

3.1.2.3 Senior Program Manager (recommend for approval)

3.1.2.4 Dean (

final approval)

3.2

Certificate of Completion

3.2.1

New Program, Suspend Program, Terminate Program, and Program

Changes

The steps below outline the approval process for creating a new Program,

suspending a Program, terminating a Program, or making a change to an

existing Program that leads to a certificate of completion.

3.2.1.1 Originator (submit proposal)

3.2.1.2 Systems Support Analyst (review)

3.2.1.3 Senior Program Manager (recommend for approval)

3.2.1.4 Dean (

final approval)

3.3

Courses

3.3.1

New Course and Course Changes

The steps below outline the approval process for creating a new Course or

making a change to an existing Course.

3.3.1.1 Originator (submit proposal)

3.3.1.2 Systems Support Analyst (review)

3.3.1.3 Senior Program Manager (

final approval)

4. CURRICULUM APPROVAL PROCESS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following overview outlines the responsibilities of the roles involved in the curriculum

approval process outlined in section 3.

4.1

Originator is responsible for:

4.1.1 determining the appropriate approval path;

4.1.2 consulting with the appropriate individuals or groups;

4.1.3 completing the curriculum proposal form;

4.1.4 ensuring the information contained in the curriculum submission is accurate

and complete; and

4.1.5 resolving feedback collected during the approval process.

4.2

Systems Support Analyst is responsible for:

4.2.1 ensuring the curriculum submission is following the correct approval path;

and

4.2.2 ensuring the data on the curriculum submission is accurate and complete.

4.3

Senior Program Manager is responsible for:

4.3.1 assessing the content, budget implications, and cross impacts (e.g., student,

other programming, etc.);

4.3.2 identifying opportunities for collaboration outside of the Faculty; and

4.3.3 providing budget approval for the Course or Program offerings.

4.4

Dean is responsible for:

Non-Ministry Approved Curriculum Policy – May 28, 2024 Page 4 of 5

4.4.1 identifying and assessing overall budget implications and cross-impacts;

4.4.2 identifying opportunities for collaboration outside of the Faculty;

4.4.3 ensuring potential impacts on programs and courses outside of the Faculty

have been addressed; and

4.4.4 ensuring the Course or Program aligns with the goals of the Faculty and the

University.

4.5

Provost is responsible for:

4.5.1 ensuring that potential impacts on programs and courses outside of the

Faculty have been addressed;

4.5.2 identifying opportunities for collaboration outside of the Faculty; and

4.5.3 ensuring the Course or Program aligns with the goals of the Faculty and the

University.

4.6

Academic Program and Curriculum Committee is responsible for:

4.6.1 reviewing curriculum submissions for information; and

4.6.2 highlighting potential areas of opportunities.

4.7

General Faculties Council is responsible for:

4.7.1 reviewing curriculum submissions for information; and

4.7.2 sharing information on new and terminated programs to the Board of

Governors via General Faculties Council meeting minutes.

5. QUALITY ASSURANCE

5.1

Course and Program information is reviewed and validated for quality assurance

purposes by the programming area and applicable experts from advisory committees,

subject matter experts, and industry professionals.

5.2

The process of reviewing and validating Course and Program information occurs at

the time a new Course or Program is being developed, during the program review

process, and at any time student evaluation of instruction, student demand, or market

demand warrants it.

5.3

A timeline for the review of a Program will be established as appropriate to the

content of the Program and approved by the Dean (or delegate) as a departmental

operating procedure.

DEFINITIONS

(1)

Board:

refers to the Board of Governors of Mount Royal University.

(2)

Course:

in the context of this Policy, refers to any learning experience that is

packaged as an offering under a specific course prefix and number.

(3)

Dean:

refers to the person holding the position of Dean in the Faculty.

(4)

Faculty:

refers to The Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension.

(5)

Originator:

refers to the individual who submits the curriculum submission for

approval in the curriculum proposal system, normally the Program

Coordinator or Program Administrator from the programming area.

Non-Ministry Approved Curriculum Policy – May 28, 2024 Page 5 of 5

(6)

Policy:

refers to the Non-Ministry Approved Curriculum Policy.

(7)

Program:

in the context of this Policy, refers to a defined course or number of

courses, in an area of study, that results in the issuance of a

parchment or digital badge.

(8)

Review:

refers to the process of ensuring the curriculum submission is

correct and complete.

(9)

Senior Program

Manager:

refers to the senior manager responsible for the program offerings

and budget in the Faculty, normally the Director or Vice Dean from

the programming area.

(10) Systems

Support

Analyst:

refers to the person holding the position of Systems Support

Analyst in the Faculty.

(11) University:

refers to Mount Royal University.

RELATED POLICIES

RELATED LEGISLATION

RELATED DOCUMENTS

REVISION HISTORY

Date

(mm/dd/yyyy)

Description of

Change

Sections

Person who

Entered Revision

(Position Title)

Person who

Authorized

Revision

(Position Title)

05/28/2024

New Policy

Board of Governors