In accordance with the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), this Final Assessment Report (FAR) provides a synthesis of the external evaluation and internal response and assessments of the Bachelor of Science (General) program offered by the Faculty of Science. This report identifies the significant strengths of the programs, together with opportunities for improvement and enhancement, and sets out and prioritizes the recommendations that have been selected for implementation.
This report includes an Implementation Plan that identifies who will be responsible for approving the recommendations set out in the Final Assessment Report; who will be responsible for providing any resources entailed by those recommendations; any changes in organization, policy or governance that will be necessary to meet the recommendations and who will be responsible for acting on those recommendations; and timelines for acting on and monitoring the implementation of those recommendations.
Overview of Program Review Process:
The Program Self-Study Reports were completed in October 2019 by representatives from the three academic departments of the Faculty of Science, referred to as “the BSc(Gen) IQAP team”. For the programme under review - the BSc General - it contained the degree level expectations for these programs, an analytical assessment of the programs, course outlines, program-related data, survey data from the Office of Quality Assurance and appendices with sample examinations and CVs of faculty members. One arm’s-length external reviewer, Dr. David Law, Department of Biology, Lakehead University, was selected from a list of possible reviewers and approved by the Deans of Science. An internal reviewer, Dr. Robert St. John, Department of Military Psychology and Leadership, was also selected for participation on the ERC. They reviewed the self-study documentation and conducted a site visit to RMC on 21 and 22 November 2019. During the site visit, the ERC met with the Vice-Principal, Academic, Dr. Phil Bates, the Dean of Science, Dr. Gregg Wade, the Associate Dean of Arts, Dr. Erika Berisch-Else, the Dean of Engineering, Dr. Greg Phillips, the Dean of Division of Continuing Studies, Dr. Grace Scoppio, the Head of Mathematics and Computer Science, Dr. Gord Simons, the Head of the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dr. Cecile Malardier-Jugroot, the Head of Physics and Space Science, Dr. Jean-Marc Noel, the Head Librarian, Ms. Sarah Toomey, as well as several members of faculty and RMC staff. The ERC also had the opportunity to meet with several students currently enrolled in the program. The ERC subsequently produced a Report based on the Self-Study and site visit. The report was circulated to faculty members and discussed at a faculty meeting.
The reviewers submitted their report in January 2020. In their report, they found that the program follows a common structure focused on a broad exposure to science fields that is found in other BSc (General) programs at Ontario universities and that the overall structure of the undergraduate program appears appropriate to meet the learning outcomes of the program.
Significant Strengths and Areas of Concern of the Program:
The ERC identified a number of strengths of the BSc (General) Program:
- The feedback from graduates in surveys, current students and course instructors was positive overall. Particularly appreciated by all were the generally small class sizes and resulting positive contact with faculty and staff.
- The program has excellent facilities for both teaching and research, including well-equipped undergraduate labs.
- The presence of military faculty teaching in the program enhances student learning in ways that are relevant to graduates seeking a future career in the CAF.
The ERC identified a number of areas of concern for the BSc (General) Program, and suggestion for program enhancements:
- There is no requirement for science courses beyond the first year level. One recommendation will thus be to specify year levels for the remaining 12 required science credits in the program.
- Low program awareness was present among the course instructors and students interviewed. The need for the program and future direction was a point of discussion with many faculty members. RMC should undertake a study to assess the needs and future direction of the BSc (General) program.
- The number of full-time faculty in the three science departments at RMC that contribute to the program is much lower than ~15 years ago. Hiring more full-time faculty may increase research opportunities for students, improve course variety, and provide the opportunity to present the program as an on-line offering to achieve a greater CAF benefit.
The BSc (Gen) IQAP Team, after consultation with faculty and staff in the program, submitted a response to the Reviewers’ Report in 31 Jan 2020. The Dean of Science prepared this Final Assessment Report in August, 2022. Specific recommendations are discussed, and follow-up actions and timelines provided.
Summary of the Reviewers’ Recommendations with Dean’s Responses
The ERC identified a number of areas of concern or issues that require attention. These issues are discussed in the order that they appear in the ERC Report:
Recommendation 1
Simplify the Core Courses for Science Programs. Since graduates possessing a BSc (General) are eligible to become commissioned officers, just like graduates of a disciplinary honours BSc, the same non-science courses should be required of students all Science.
Departmental Response:
There is a standard set of core Social Science courses required for all RMC programs, which most students take. However, the IQAP Report was unclear on this, since it also listed all alternative courses that fulfilled the requirements. We appreciate the need to allow straightforward pathways between the BSc programs.
Dean’s Response: Essentially all students graduating with the BSc(Gen) degree have completed the same mandatory non-Science courses as ROTP students graduating with other Science degrees. These courses constitute the “Common Core” of Arts courses for students in Science and Engineering.
Recommendation 2
Specify year levels for courses at year 2 and above. The IQAP Cyclical Review Self Study suggests that 10 of the 30 credits required to graduate from the program must be at the senior level (i.e., year 3 and 4). However, this requirement is not listed in the calendar.
Departmental Response:
This recommendation includes interesting options for increasing the BSC (General) accessibility. The recommendations are beyond the scope of this committee and impact both RMC and DND policies. However, this recommendation will be passed on the Vice Principal of Academics.
Dean’s Response: The Dean will review the programme’s formal requirements for junior/senior courses to ensure appropriateness and consistency, using the ERC’s proposal as a starting point. We will ensure that the calendar is clear that 10 of the 30 credits required to graduate must be at the senior level.
Recommendation 3
Assess the need for the program beyond RMC. Given the disparate views in the RMC community around the program, we recommend three possible directions the program could take going forward, all of which include keeping it as a non-direct-entry program.
- Status quo.
- Increase program accessibility.
- Offer the entire BSc (General) degree online.
Departmental Response:
The purpose and long-term direction of the BSc (Gen) program are significant existential issues that must be addressed, particularly in the new era of the 4-Pillar Degree.
Dean’s Response: Of the potential directions proposed by the ERC, a. and b. are feasible and aligned with the Dean’s vision of the program. Increasing program accessibility by offering more advanced non-lab courses through RMC Online would be an obvious route forward. Were these courses also selected to be program core courses with relatively high failure rates, this would have the additional benefit of providing on-site students with the potential to catch up or to avoid issues with schedule conflicts. The Dean will strike a committee from across the Faculty of Science to examine the role of the BSc (Gen) program and its requirements in the context of the new 4-Pillar degree structure.
Recommendation 4
Consider changing the name of the program to reflect its military focus. Given the program’s target audience of future and current CAF members, this might make it more attractive to both RMC students who are forced to switch into it and to CAF NCMs and officers considering it to boost their military career.
Departmental Response:
This is an interesting idea to provide focus for the BSc (General) program. However, such a name change may cause confusion with the Bachelor of Military Arts and Sciences. Retaining the name BSc (General) also anchors this program with other such similar programs at Universities across Ontario.
Dean’s Response: The Dean concurs that such a change would likely introduce confusion.
Recommendation 5
Increase the variety of courses offered. Encourage faculty delivering year 3 and 4 elective courses to alternate these to maximize the variety of courses available.
Departmental Response:
This Committee supports this recommendation. RMC is exploring additional modes of offering courses that benefit both distance and on-site students that more efficiently use resources, e.g. hybrid delivery of courses with synchronous or asynchronous distance delivery in combination with on-site offering.
Dean’s Response: Due to lower enrolments in some programs, alternation of senior elective courses already occurs. As pointed out by the ERC, this has the additional benefit of effectively increasing the number of electives available to students who plan their academic programs carefully. Experience with hybrid delivery of courses during the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that this delivery mode is significantly more demanding than providing either an on-site-only or remote-only course. Nevertheless, hybrid delivery will be discussed in the context of the decanal committee discussed in the response to Recommendation 3.
Recommendation 6
Increase the transparency of the program. This will enable students, especially those in Year 2 and above struggling in a disciplinary science program, to plot a pathway to their graduation from RMC and reduce their stress about their academic requirements.
Departmental Response:
As discussed above, in fall 2020 RMC implemented a new degree structure for undergraduate degrees that formalizes the four pillars. As discussed above, the role of BSc (Gen) within that context is unclear. This will be studied and clarified by a new decanal committee. Whatever the outcome of that investigation, it is clear that care must be exercised so that students do not gravitate towards the BSc (Gen) programme as an easy pathway to graduate sooner with a lower workload.
Dean’s Response: The Dean concurs that the BSc(Gen) program is not, and should not be viewed to be, a less academically rigorous route to graduation and commissioning. Nevertheless, advertising of the program outside RMC to non-ROTP learners would be valuable. As discussed above, the role of BSc (Gen) within the 4-pillar degree context will be studied and clarified by a committee to be struck during the coming year.
Recommendation 7
Hire more full time faculty to support the program. Hiring new full time faculty will increase the breadth of senior courses that are regularly offered, spur innovation in the delivery of these courses by alternate methods that meet the needs of distance learners, and provide more research opportunities to students within the program.
Departmental Response:
This recommendation is whole-heartedly supported by the Faculty of RMC and will be passed along to the VP of Academics.
Dean’s Response: Hiring of indeterminate UTs must be justified by the requirements of the 4-year BSc programs. Moreover, it is a fallacy that hiring more faculty will result in more courses being offered, particular at the senior level, since some programs have insufficient students to justify such offerings. Currently, new indeterminate faculty are hired as faculty retire.
Implementation Plan
| Recommendation | Proposed Follow-up | Responsibility for Leading Follow-up | Timeline for Addressing Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Simplify the Core Courses for Science Programs. | This appears to have been a misinterpretation. Essentially all students graduating with the BSc(gen) degree have completed the same mandatory non-Science courses as ROTP students graduating with other Science degrees. | N/A | N/A |
| 2. Specify year levels for courses at year 2 and above. | Review requirements in the context of ERC recommendation. Add a statement to the calendar that 10 of the 30 credits required to graduate must be at the senior level. | Dean of Science | Dec 2023 |
| 3. Assess the need for the program beyond RMC. | Strike a decanal committee to study the role of the BSc (Gen) program in the 4-pillar context and perform a cost/benefit study of offering additional courses via RMC Online. | Dean of Science, Dept Heads | Dec 2024 |
| 4. Consider changing the name of the program to reflect its military focus. | As discussed, changing the name would be likely to cause confusion. | N/A | N/A |
| 5. Increase the variety of courses offered. | As discussed, alternation of elective courses already occurs due to programmatic requirements. | N/A | N/A |
| 6. Increase the transparency of the program. | Potentially increase courses available to non-ROTP learners. Advertise the BSc(Gen) program to non-ROTP learners. | Dean of Science, Registrar | May 2023 |
| 7. Hire more full time faculty to support the program. | As discussed, hiring of faculty must be justified by the requirements of the 4-year BSc programs. Currently, new indeterminate faculty are hired as faculty retire. | N/A | N/A |
Conclusion:
The ERC Report provided positive feedback on the outcomes of the BSc (General) program. It confirmed that the Department is delivering an academically rigorous program to its students and that its standards meet those of similar programs in Ontario. However, the ERC did identify several recommendation in areas that had room for improvement, and RMC is, or has already taken, taking steps to address the issues raised.
The Dean of Science, in consultation with the BSc (Gen) IQAP Team, is responsible for monitoring the Implementation Plan.