Review - Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Transnational
application
Comment
Nil information.
A number of lessons were learnt from completing the inspections of the original risk
list:
• not all colleges in targeted programs required inspection
• private career colleges are more of a danger to student (consumer) protection
when issues of financial viability arise
• chronic violators need chronic inspections
• compliance issues with other regulators are a good indicator, especially in areas
such as licensing
• ignorance of or poor attention to regulation can be worse than wilful disregard
• some indicators are symptoms of others.
The Private Career Colleges Compliance Unit, in concert with the Internal Audit unit
of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities conducted a rigorous
assessment of the results of inspections, as well as a review of college closures and
other sector-wide issues.
This review brought about the following risk factors which have been incorporated
into the next iteration of the risk framework:
• illegal operators (historical and known)
• financial viability
• chronic violators
• targeted programs
• renewal issues
• international students
• advertising issues
• information from other regulatory/government bodies.
Current
developments
Private career colleges were mapped against these criteria using a points-based
system that also featured weighted categories.
New standards (both program and quality standards) are being developed for private
career colleges in Ontario.
The current changes brought in by the new Act consist of a progressive series of
steps that escalate according to the seriousness of the infraction, the college’s history
of infractions and the response of the college to prior notices of non-compliance.
1. The first step to be taken by the superintendent to bring colleges into compliance
with the new Act and regulations is education, including organised training
sessions, facts sheets that provide information about the new Act and regulations
in plain language, and guidance provided by program consultants.
2. Education is followed by a series of compliance steps that the superintendent
may take, depending on the issue.
3. For repeat or serious infractions, the superintendent may choose to use
suspension or revocation of registration or even prosecution. While employing
these escalating steps, the superintendent always has the flexibility to apply a
more serious response first, depending on the seriousness of an infraction.
Publication is another tool under the Act that aims to deter non-compliance.
The superintendent may post notices at college campuses or on the ministry website
of infractions and non-compliance. The superintendent can also issue notices and
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