• Site Map
• Search
• Contact Us
• Français
• Privacy Statement

 

CAUT Policies

Policy Statement on Assessment of Academic Courses and Programs

Academic programs are assessed for a variety of reasons. Governments may seek to satisfy demands for accountability. Professional associations and licensing bodies regularly monitor compliance with provincial, national and international standards. Internal assessments are done for budget allocations and for quality assurance.

Assessments of courses or programs should have reference only to academic quality. Preëmptive imposition of quantitative indices, such as minimum course or program enrolment thresholds, may systematically marginalize innovative and non-traditional teaching and research. Assessment that contributes to academic quality includes monitoring for compliance with accreditation or licensing standards, and permits accountability.

Regardless of the initiating body, program assessments must not be used to evaluate performance of academic staff.

Assessment of individual performance is a separate issue, and must follow procedures and criteria set out in the collective agreement.

Academic staff associations should secure provisions in their collective agreements on the parameters and limits of all program assessments.

Negotiated provisions should ensure open and fair procedures that allow full participation by members of the program being assessed, and all other relevant academic staff.  The provisions should also give due regard to academic diversity and protect academic freedom. They should specify the procedures for appointing assessors, the terms of reference, procedures that assessors must follow, provisions for circulating draft and final reports, and the mechanisms and timelines for implementing recommendations.