Directives

PURPOSE

1. To formalize a process for the suspension of program intakes and course offerings based on student demand and financial viability.
2. To formalize a process,as part of the College’s strategic program planning requirements, for the suspension/cancellation of programs based on program performance indicators including student demand, retention and graduation rates, financial viability and program quality and relevance. The objective is to make best use of the college’s resources while offering a regularly updated mix of programs that serve the needs of students, employers and the community.

SCOPE

All programs offered by the College

DEFINITIONS

POLICY

1. The College decision to suspend a program intake or a course offering is based on student demand and financial viability.
2. A minimum number of students must be registered in a program intake or course offering in order for the College to offer it. This number is set by the College and is known as the Registration Minimum.
3. The College will make the decision to suspend program intakes and course offerings and to suspend/cancel programs as early as possible in order to minimize the impact on prospective applicants.
4. The College decision to suspend a program, with the intent to cancel, is based on program performance indicators which include student demand and retention patterns, financial viability, and program quality and relevance.

   Program Intake and Course Offering Suspension during an Application Cycle
   

5. Program intakes and course offerings that have difficulty attracting sufficient candidates to meet their Registration Minimum during an application cycle may be suspended for that term.
6. As the Fall program intake receives the greatest number of applications, review of the admission data  will take place and program intakes may be recommended for suspension after any one of these dates:

   -  April 15 following receipt of March 1 applications;
   -  June 1 following receipt of Confirmation Notices;
   -  July 15 following receipt of Full Fees.

7. The program intake reviews for the Winter and Spring will take place by December 1 and April 1, respectively, following receipt of full fees.
8. A decision to suspend a program intake will normally be taken as late as one month prior to the start date for Fall Term programs, and one week prior to the start date for Winter and Spring Term programs.
9. Any program intake that is not suspended by the above dates will be offered, regardless of not meeting the minimum enrolment targets.
10. Students will be advised when a program intake is suspended and offered admission in other available programs.
11. Students will be advised when a course offering is suspended and offered registration in other courses.

    Program Suspensions Prior to the Start of an Application Cycle
    

12. The Deans, in conjunction with the Academic Administrators, will review programs which are not meeting performance indicators prior to the start of the application cycle and will make recommendations as to their suspension/cancellation by November 15th to the Vice President, Academic for the coming academic year. Programs recommended for suspension or cancellation that are allowed to continue will form the list of programs under consideration for possible suspension/cancellation (programs at risk) at a later date.
13. Advisory committees for programs being recommended for suspension/cancellation will be consulted on possible strategies to improve the program performance.
14. For programs that are to be suspended/cancelled, the Vice President, Academic will seek approval from the President. The recommendation(s) for program suspension/cancellation will then be brought to the Board of Governors for approval.
15. Normally, the College will provide students enrolled in the program being suspended the opportunity to complete the program within the normal time period as outlined in policy AA 39.
16. The Board of Governors will notify the Chair of the appropriate Program Advisory Committee of its decision to suspend the program.
17. The Board of Governors will notify the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities of the decision to suspend the program.          

PROCEDURE

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
AA 39    Program Progression and Graduation Requirements

RELATED POLICIES
None

RELATED MATERIALS
None