In accordance with the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP), this report is a summary of the Final Assessment Report (FAR) which provides a synthesis of the external evaluation and internal response and assessments of the undergraduate programs offered by the Faculty of Science in BSc Chemistry and BSc Honours Chemistry. The Program Self-Study Reports, which contained the degree level expectations for these programs, an analytical assessment of the programs, course outlines, program-related data, survey data from the Office of Quality Assurance and appendices with sample examinations and curriculum vitae (CVs) of faculty members, were completed in October 2021. Two arm’s-length external reviewers (Dr. Dietmar Kennepohl: Professor of Chemistry, Athabasca University, and Dr. Andrew P. Dicks: Professor, Teaching Stream and Associate Chair (Undergraduate), Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto) were selected from a list of possible reviewers and approved by the Deans of Science. An internal reviewer, Dr. Catharine Marsden, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was also selected for participation on the External Review Committee (ERC). They reviewed the self-study documentation and conducted an on-line virtual visit to RMC from 22 to 24 February 2022. The reviewers submitted their report in March 2022.
In their report, they found that overall, the chemistry degree programs offered at RMC are solid, high quality chemistry programs. The ERC identified a number of strengths of the programs under review including that the laboratory upgrades since the last review are impressive if not amazing, the attention on the learner in these chemistry programs is outstanding, and the faculty and staff in the department appear to work well together as a team. The ERC also identified several areas of concern such as: lack of clarity in summarizing degree level expectations and where program learning outcomes are being met, and concerns with regards to the availability of resources from Library and Computing and AV Services.
The Program Chair, after consultation with faculty and staff in the programs, submitted a response to the ERC Report in June 2022. The Dean of Science prepared this Final Assessment Report in December, 2022. The report contains specific recommendations, action items and a timeline. The report concludes that the RMC is delivering solid, high quality chemistry programs. However, the ERC did identify areas that had room for improvement, and RMC is, or has already taken, taking steps to address the issues raised. RMC will continue to work toward program enhancement and improve student success in chemistry.