In accordance with the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), the Program Self-Study Report was completed on 6 Aug 2024. For the Master of Public Administration program, the report contained the program degree level expectations, an analytical assessment of the program, course outlines, program-related data, survey data from the Office of Quality Assurance and appendices with sample examinations and CVs of faculty members.Two arm’s-length external reviewers (Dr. Justin Longo, University of Regina, and Dr. Stéphane Roussel, École Nationale d'Administration Publique) were selected from a list of possible reviewers and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. An internal reviewer, Dr. Jennifer Shore, Department of Physics and Space Science, was also selected for participation on the ERC. They reviewed the self-study documentation and conducted a virtual site visit to RMC from 17-18 Feb 2025, with a follow up session on 5 Mar 2025.They submitted their report on 20 Mar 2025.
In their report, the ERC expresses the opinion that the MPA program at RMC aligns very well with the RMC mission and provides a structured curriculum that ensures graduate develop a comprehensive expertise in public administration. The ERC identified several strengths of the MPA program including a flexible Program Structue that accommodates diverse student needs and circumstances, an online delivery model that is highly valued by students, and the program occupies a distinctive niche within Canadian public administration education through its security and defense orientation. The ERC also identified several areas of concern such as: the program faces significant challenges with limited dedicated faculty and heavy reliance on contract instructors; insufficient administrative staff creates operational burdens for program leadership; and Distance learning students face operational and informational obstacles in pursuing research-based completion options.
The Program Chair, after consultation with faculty and staff in the program, submitted a response to the ERC Report on 16 May 2025. The Dean of Graduate Studies prepared a Final Assessment Report on 8 July 2025. The Dean concuded that the MPA program aligns well with RMC's mission and academic plans, providing a robust educational experience that supports the goals of the institution. However, he also concluded that there is room for improvement, and RMC has taken steps to address the issues raised. RMC will continue to work toward program enhancement and improve student success in the MPA program.