Master of Business Administration (Financial Services)

Assessment Report of Dalhousie University’s Quality Assurance Policies and Procedures 11RECOMMENDATION 3: Improve the timeliness of the processPossible ways to achieve this include:iiiiThat the review cycle not extend past seven years, and ideally be completed within five years.That the timing of the different types of reviews be more effectively managed in order to minimiseduplication and maximise resources.That the Senate review guidelines be modified to identify any item that may be more appropriatelyreviewed at the Faculty level.That a time frame for the completion of each review be established, including a deadline forsubmission of a follow-up report to the recommendations.RECOMMENDATION 4: Include a provision in the policy to evaluate the University’s existing qualityassurance policy on a regular basisRECOMMENDATION 5: Increase community involvement and awarenessPossible ways to achieve this include:iiThat greater effort be made to include members of the community including students, professionalgroups and the general public in the review process; andThat information about the university’s quality assurance policy and the results of reviews becommunicated to the university’s immediate community (students, faculty, etc.) and to the generalpublic.6. CONCLUSIONThe Monitoring Committee compliments Dalhousie for recognizing early on that a quality assurance policyis key to ensuring quality academic programmes. Almost two decades have passed since Dalhousie firstimplemented its Guidelines for Unit Reviews in1985, allowing sufficient time for the notions of qualityassurance to become ingrained into the University’s culture. Those who are most directly involved in theprocess (senior administration, faculty and staff) appear to support the process and its outcomes. TheMonitoring Committee believes that this is an opportune time for Dalhousie to review and update its policies,particularly as the University moves to integrate the review of support services into its quality assuranceprogramme, and hopes that this report serves as a useful guide to facilitate a review of Dalhousie’s qualityassurance policies and procedures.105