Documentation:Curriculum Development/Committees/PMAC

PMAC - Program Market Analysis Committee

Terms of Reference

(updated March 2013)
The Committee is tasked with: Making recommendation to the OL-Leadership Team concerning the following topics:

• The creation of new OL courses and/or programs,
• The suspension or cancellation of OL courses and/or programs,
• The major revision of OL courses and/or programs.

In making these recommendations the Committee is tasked with taking into account:

• The availability of human and physical resources,
• The fit with TRU-OL’s strategic commitments – provided by the OL Leadership Team,
• The fit with TRU’s strategic direction – provided in the institutions strategic plan,
• The Broad Market Research results - provided by the Planning, Metrics, and Analytics department (PMA),
• The specific market potential – provided by the PMA,
• The impacts on enrolment, students, and partners.

Membership: The Committee will have representation from each of the academic and vocational areas covered by Open Learning. Normally this representation will take the form of OL Academic Directors and/or Program Coordinators and/or Senior Open Learning Faculty Members but may also take the form of representation from TRU-f2f departments and/or Divisions/Schools/Faculties. The Vice Provost, OL; the Director, Curriculum Development; the Manager, Planning Metrics and Analytics and Manager, Enrolment Services are also members of the Committee. Operation: The Committee will meet bi-weekly. The Committee will be chaired by the Vice Provost, OL. In the absence of the VP-OL the Committee will be chaired by the Director, Curriculum Development. Administrative Support: Office of the Vice Provost, Open Learning. Confidentiality: The agenda will be posted on the OLTRUin2007 Bulletin. Meetings are open to the TRU community.

Decision Criteria

Any mode requires PMAC, OL-Leadership, Senate, and PCOL approval (development normally only begins once the proposal has passed as far as EPC – and never without OL-Leadership approval). Under exceptional circumstance PMAC may be bypassed.

Developing an additional mode

• Online to Independent Study – Requires PMAC only
• Independent Study to Online – Requires PMAC and OL-Leadership

Closures

• Close a method of delivery (meaning another method is available; print, web, dynamic web, online) – Requires PMAC and the Vice-Provost’s approval.
• Closing a course (all methods of delivery) - Requires Senate and PCOL.

Adding a method of delivery within independent study (print, standard-web, and dynamic web)

• Adding Dynamic Web requires OL-Leadership approval .
• Adding Print requires Director of Curriculum Development approval (would rarely occur).
• Adding Standard Web requires Director of Curriculum Development approval.

OL PMAC Course/Program Approval Procedures

===New programs, new courses, major course revisions===
Stage 1
Ideas and concepts go to Program Coordinator or Academic Director/Associate Dean.
Stage 2
Program Coordinator or Academic Director/Associate Dean develops preliminary proposal including:

• What
• How
• Why
• Implications (yes or no)
• Fills out OL Program Market Analysis Committee (PMAC) Course/Program Approval Form
  

Stage 3
Proposal comes to PMAC for preliminary review and decision to proceed based on:

• Resource availability ($, staff, available expertise)
• Market
• Priorities

If proposal requires market analysis, go to Stage 4, otherwise go to Stage 6 should PMAC recommend proceeding with proposal.
Stage 4 Proposal may go to Market Research Analyst for detailed market analysis if deemed necessary.
Stage 5 Proposal comes back to PMAC for review and decision as to whether or not to recommend proposal to OL Executive.
Stage 6 Formal recommendation is provided to OL Leadership Team regarding committing funds to proposal. OL Leadership Team determines if OL will commit development funds for this proposal should all non-OL approvals be given. If successful proceed to Stage 7. Open Learning PMAC Course/Program Procedures

Stage 7 Proposal goes back to Program Coordinator or Academic Director/Associate Dean to develop into formal proposal for approval process, with input from OLFMs, Faculty, and other experts.
Stage 8 Formal proposal goes to Faculty Council (some courses/program changes approved at this level).
Stage 9 Formal proposal goes to Education Programs Committee (EPC) or Graduate Studies Committee if required.
Stage 10 Formal proposal goes to Planning Council for Open Learning for information or action if required.
Stage 11 Formal proposal goes to Senate for information.
Stage 12 Formal proposal goes to Board of Governors if required.
Stage 13 Formal proposal goes to DQAB if required.