2.7 Policy on Continuing Studies Certificate Programs

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This online version is for convenience; the official version of this policy is housed in the University Secretariat. In case of discrepancy between the online version and the official version held by the Secretariat, the official version shall prevail.

Approving Authority: Senate and the Board of Governors

Original Approval Date: March 6, 2013 (Senate); April 18, 2013 (Board of Governors)

Date of Most Recent Review/Revision: n/a

Office of Accountability: Provost and Vice-President: Academic

Administrative Responsibility: Teaching Support Services

Purpose

This policy establishes a framework for the review and approval of continuing studies certificate programs through the creation of a Continuing Studies Advisory Committee.

Definitions

‘Continuing studies certificate program’: a not-for-degree-credit program intended to provide educational opportunities to lifelong learners; such opportunities may include professional development programs for specialized or general audiences and general interest programs for non-traditional learners.

Jurisdiction/Scope

This policy applies only to continuing studies certificate programs offered by Wilfrid Laurier University. Continuing studies certificate programs in existence as of the original approval date are considered approved, but remain subject to the provisions requiring periodic review and approval of significant changes. This policy does not apply to:

• not-for-degree-credit courses which are not part of a certificate;
• not-for-degree-credit certificates administered by the University but awarded under the authority of an external body;
• for-credit certificates, which fall under the University’s legislated degree-granting authority and are governed by Senate processes for the approval and modification of curriculum.

Policy

Types of Continuing Studies Certificate Programs

There are two types of continuing studies certificate programs:

1. those sponsored by an academic unit or sub-unit of the University;
2. those sponsored by administrative or operational units within the University.

Approval Process for Continuing Studies Certificate Programs

Continuing education certificate programs sponsored by an academic unit or sub-unit shall be approved by the head of the academic unit (the Dean, for Faculties; the University Librarian, for the Library), on the recommendation of the Continuing Studies Advisory Committee. Continuing education certificate programs sponsored by administrative or operational units within the University shall be approved by the Vice-President: Academic and Provost, on the recommendation of the Continuing Studies Advisory Committee. All continuing studies certificate programs which involve agreements or partnerships with external organizations, regardless of whether the certificate program is sponsored by an academic or an administrative/operational unit, shall be approved by the Vice-President: Academic and Provost, on the recommendation of the Continuing Studies Advisory Committee.

Continuing Studies Advisory Committee – Membership and Mandate

The Continuing Studies Advisory Committee (CSAC) shall consist of five members:

• 3 faculty members, with no more than one from any particular Faculty
• Associate Vice-President: Teaching and Learning, or designate (ex officio)
• Director of Teaching Support Services, or designate (ex officio)

The committee shall be chaired by the Director of Teaching Support Services. Quorum for the committee shall be four members.

The committee shall have four principal responsibilities:

1. to review proposals for new continuing studies certificate programs and to submit recommendations to the relevant administrator regarding their approval (see attached proposal template);
2. to review and approve proposals for significant change to continuing studies certificate programs;
3. to periodically review continuing studies certificate programs against evaluation criteria and according to a schedule to be determined by the committee;
4. to identify opportunities for new continuing studies certificate programs and to seek opportunities for collaboration and cooperation within and outside the University.

Status of Registrants

Registration in continuing studies certificate programs does not confer “registered student status” on program participants. However, registered students may enrol in continuing studies certificate programs.

Registration Fees

Registration fees for continuing studies certificate programs are set by the sponsoring unit in consultation with the Office of Continuing Studies and the approving authority (the Dean, University Librarian, or Vice-President: Academic and Provost). These fees fall outside provincial tuition and operating grant regimes.