R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has approved a request by Aurora College to begin the process to become a polytechnic university. He has also directed his department to initiate the quality assurance process with Campus Alberta Quality Council.
Campus Alberta Quality Council is a quality assurance agency that reviews and recommends post-secondary degree programs for approval. The quality assurance process is the formal process that Aurora College must undertake prior to receiving formal recognition as a polytechnic university. This process ensures that the programs delivered meet Canadian standards and that students attending the polytechnic university will have all the supports needed to be successful.
Some of the requirements Aurora College will need to demonstrate include:
– Demonstrate that they have the characteristics and governance structure necessary to organize and manage as an institution of higher learning.
– That there are policies in place with respect to the number of, and qualifications of the academic faculty and instructional staff.
– Demonstrate the physical space(s) meet the needs of the programs offered, including laboratories, classrooms, libraries, technology, equipment, etc.
The formal request to the Minister of ECE for the establishment of a polytechnic university is a critical milestone identified in phase 2 of the Aurora College transformation timeline. The completion of this milestone is exciting in that it means the territory is one step closer to having an accredited polytechnic university to support NWT students. Additionally, it marks an important point in the transformation timeline – where the GNWT is no longer leading transformation and shifts primarily to a support role.
