External Reviews of Departments and Programs, Overview Amy Mullin, Interim Vice-Principal Academic & Dean

New Quality Assurance Framework A new Quality Assurance Framework has been developed, as required of all Ontario universities. External reviews, governed by this framework, occur at intervals of 7-10 years. Supervised by the new provincial Quality Council, which is responsible for auditing the process.

Role of External Reviews External reviewers are chosen on the basis of administrative experience and wide-respect within their fields. They assist in determining the quality of the program or department, make recommendations for improvement, and raise any significant areas of concern. Often external reviews coincide with a chair’s end of term and help shape the mandate for the new chair.

External Review Process External reviewers are given a self-study prepared by program director or departmental chair in a context of widespread consultation. Increasingly templates and data to be used in self- study will be provided centrally. Focus on programs, research, teaching, governance and plans for the future, along with measures of quality for assessment against national and international peers. External reviewers (typically 2 for a department) visit campus for two days and prepare their report for the Dean. Important that report provides detailed evaluation of programs and curriculum.

Response to the External Review Department chair or program director prepares a response. The external review and unit response are forwarded to the provost’s office. Provost requests decanal response. Review summary and decanal response are shared with Committee on Academic Policy & Programs (AP&P), Academic Board, Academic Affairs and Erindale College Council.

Reviews Department of Anthropology Program in Forensic Science (housed within the Department of Anthropology) Department of Historical Studies

Anthropology Visit November 2009 Chair in : Professor Gary Crawford

Major Findings- Positive Elements Excellent job in course development to reflect diverse subfields within anthropology High praise for faculty and courses they teach Excellent new hires, strong research productivity overall

Major Findings - Concerns Stagnant enrolment Curriculum: complicated prerequisites, sharp division between science and arts degrees, availability of 400 level courses Writing skills of students Space needs Governance – need for more participation and transparency

Response to review Curriculum renewal initiative Increased attention to students’ writing skills, more connection with RGASC Will receive appropriate new space with move to HSC in September 2011 (though planned new teaching lab in Davis Bldg delayed, chairs committed to sharing existing labs) Executive ctte established to advise chair, more consultation with department members and committees

Forensic Science Only 1 reviewer Visit December 2009 Program Director in , Professor Martin Evison (resigned position with university in 2010)

Major Findings- Positive Elements Excellent reputation Good placement record Attracts students of high calibre Support from the Centre of Forensic Sciences, Toronto Police Department, Office of the Coroner and other external stakeholders

Significant concerns Concerns about course content and coordination of courses Concerns about faculty commitment and complement Concerns that program does not meet standards for accreditation

Response Temporarily halted admissions to program (re- opened February 2011) Appointed new director, committed to program and to working cooperatively with other units at UTM, secured faculty commitments to teaching in program Curricular review – anthropology and psychology streams reconfigured so that students can meet requirements of specialist, chemistry and biology streams now meet requirements for accreditation

Response continued Searching for limited term lecturer in Forensic biology or biochemistry, teaching needs to be re-evaluated in 2 years Will pursue accreditation for biology and chemistry streams (only streams eligible for accreditation)

Historical Studies Visit December 2009 Reviewers chosen to reflect multidisciplinary nature of department (Dept. of Religion and Dept. of Classics) Chair in : Professor Robert Johnson

Major Findings – Positive Elements Integration of several disciplines into a single unit has been received enthusiastically by faculty Faculty members are dedicated to their students Curriculum sensitive to interests of students Faculty talented researchers and teachers

Concerns Opportunity for clearer intellectual identity of department Need for more presence of faculty and graduate students at UTM, more teaching by faculty with continuing appointments in large courses Governance – suggest clearer governance structure, more standing committees, increased mentorship of junior faculty Need for increased staffing

Response Intellectual identity of department continues to evolve, new appointments bridge areas of scholarly and teaching interest Clearer governance structure established, more standing committees appointed, terms of reference developed for them Staffing increased 0.5 FTE Director of Intellectual Community appointed to increase faculty and graduate student presence on campus More efforts to ensure faculty with ongoing appointments teach large courses.