Quality Assurance

Overview

At the highest level, the University of Toronto operates under the Policy for Approval and Review of Academic Programs and Units, approved by Governing Council on June 24, 2010.

More specific guidance and direction is provided by the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP) (PDF revised March 15, 2023). This document was approved by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance and outlines protocols governing:

• the development, appraisal and approval of entirely new academic programs
• the development and approval of proposals to significantly change existing academic programs (major modifications)
• the closure of existing degrees and programs
• the cyclical review of existing Faculties, units and the programs they offer.

The UTQAP ensures that the University of Toronto operates in conformity with the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) for the Province of Ontario. Universities are subject to audit on a cyclical basis for their compliance with the provisions of its Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP). U of T was audited in Winter/Spring 2016-17. The UTQAP was revised in response to the audit recommendations and went to governance for information in Winter/Spring 2019.

Find out about institutional authority in section 1.2 of the UTQAP.

Section 2.4.1 defines the role of the VPAP Office, which “responds to divisional queries and facilitates proposal development with regard to institutional academic, planning and budget, student life, governance and approval aspects of proposals.”

Find out about new program proposal development and submission to the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs in section 2.4.2.

Resources

Policy for Approval and Review of Academic Programs and Units
Ontario Quality Assurance Framework (external link)
University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process (UTQAP) (PDF)

Contact

Lachmi Singh
Director, Academic Programs, Planning & Quality Assurance
416.971.2289