New courses are developed with a commitment to comprehensive quality programming, and the expectations related to academic pathways and external transferability. This procedure describes the process for the development of new courses. Course development at Conestoga ensures the appropriate level of learning is reflected in the course outline structure, in alignment with the Ontario Qualifications Framework and in accordance with the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002 and/or the Postsecondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000 and associated directives, guidelines, and operating procedures. Learning outcomes, from program level (where applicable) to the unit of learning, are weaved into the curriculum and support the delivery of courses.

Consideration of external accrediting bodies will be factored into the development of courses as required.

Each course has one course code regardless of delivery, method or location.  This ensures the alignment between outcomes, evaluation and content.

Conestoga College maintains a glossary of terms specific to the institution. The terms in use for this document are defined below.

Academic Teams

• Where a new course is a part of a program, ensure the course supports the appropriate program learning outcomes as recorded in a mapping document.
• Ensure all courses adhere to course development processes and procedures, including related policies and procedures on grading and evaluation.
• Assign an outline lead with appropriate subject matter expertise to develop the outline/course.
• Advise Program Planning and Pathways and, if applicable, the Online Learning Centre of the intent to develop a new course and the assigned outline lead.
• Complete and submit all required documentation to Program Planning and Pathways upon confirmation of approval.
• Work collaboratively with the Program Planning and Pathways to ensure the course complies with internal and external requirements including, where appropriate, program learning outcomes, general education themes, essential employability skills (EES), or degree breadth outcomes.
• Manage the timeline for course development deliverables, which include: course outline, evaluation elements, instructional plan, course curriculum, and the creation of course model shells.
  

School of Interdisciplinary Studies

• Ensure new general education/breadth courses support the General Education themes or Degree Breadth outcomes.
• Ensure all general education courses adhere to course development processes and procedures, including related policies and procedures on grading and evaluation.
• Define expectations for general education and degree breadth.
• Assign an outline lead with appropriate subject matter expertise to develop the outline/course delivered by Interdisciplinary Studies. Confirms courses delivered by other schools are appropriate elective options, as required.
• Consult with Program Planning and Pathways to develop the course outline according to requirements.
• Complete and submit all required documentation to Program Planning and Pathways upon confirmation of approval.
• Work collaboratively with Program Planning and Pathways to ensure appropriate general education themes, essential employability skills (EES), or degree breadth outcomes (if applicable) are supported by the new course.
• Ensure that degree breadth courses will be developed and offered to provide more than an introductory level of knowledge in a discipline outside the core field of study to meet PEQAB requirements.

Program Planning and Pathways

• Work collaboratively with the Academic Teams in Conestoga's academic schools to support the course development process to ensure course curriculum aligns with pedagogical best practices, program learning outcomes, general education themes, EES, or degree breadth outcomes where applicable, as well as all internal and external requirements.
• Review course outline submissions to ensure adherence to identified protocols and in accordance with the Academic Management Calendar.
• Create a new course code or a new version of an existing course as per document submission and in alignment with the Assignment of Course Code work instructions.
• Inform the Academic Team when a course code has been assigned, in accordance with Academic Management Calendar
• Maintain all course outline development documentation.
• Notify the Academic Team when the new course development is complete and ready for approval.

Online Learning Centre (OLC)

• Work collaboratively with the Academic Team and Program Planning and Pathways in the development of new courses intended for blended or on-line delivery.
  

1. The Academic Teams submit a New Program Design Form, a Program Design Change Form or a New Course Approval Form to Program Planning and Pathways to trigger the creation of a new course.
1. Course development activities attached to a program should be the result of Academic Team decisions captured in Annual Program Reflections or Comprehensive Program Review with the support of Institutional Quality Management.
2. When a request for course development attached to a program is submitted outside of an Annual Program Reflection or Comprehensive Program Review, Program Planning and Pathways will communicate the request to Institutional Quality Management for documentation purposes.
2. Program Planning and Pathways will communicate with the Academic Team when the program or individual courses have been created. Academic Teams assign the course to an Outline Lead.


3. Academic Team connects the Outline Lead with Program Planning and Pathways and begins the development of the course outline, which includes:
1. course description development or review, to ensure alignment with program outcomes and/or general education themes, degree breadth outcomes, or program themes,
2. course outcomes development, in alignment with program outcomes and/or general education themes, degree breadth outcomes, or program themes,
3. An evaluation plan, including type, number, and weighting, are selected, in alignment with course learning outcomes, best practices, and policies and procedures,
4. units and unit outcomes development, in alignment with course outcomes,
5. essential employability skills or degree level standards mapping, as applicable,
6. resource selection, as appropriate.
4. The course outline is considered finalized when all the elements are complete, and the evaluation plan has been reviewed with Program Planning and Pathways.


5. Program Planning and Pathways notifies the Academic Team that the course outline development is complete and ready for approval and provides the final copy of the course outline for the Academic Team to review and confirm suitability.


6. Once approved by the Academic Team, the Outline Lead will submit the approved outline to the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system which will prompt the formal Academic Team approval and the release of the outline from Program Planning and Pathways.


7. The Academic Team and Outline Lead continue the course development process which includes the development of the Instructional Plan, the creation of course content, the detailed evaluations and other curriculum elements, including model course shells. The Academic Team establishes deliverables and timelines for the completion of the course development process in consultation with the Online Learning Centre, and other delivery stakeholders, as appropriate.