In accordance with the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) the program Self-Study Reports were completed on 31 July 2024 by program Chair. For the program under review - the BSc General - it 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 CVs of faculty members. Two external reviewers, Dr. Xu (Sunny) Wang, Professor of Mathematics and Deputy Director of MS2Discovery at Wilfrid Laurier University, and Dr. Olena Zenkina, Associate Professor in Chemistry and Materials at Ontario Tech University, were selected from an approved list and vetted by the Dean of Science. An internal reviewer, Dr. Ali Karime from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was also chosen to participate in the External Review Committee (ERC). They reviewed the self-study documentation and conducted a site visit to RMC from 20-21 November 2024. During their visit, the ERC met with the Vice Principal of Academics, the Vice Principal of Research, the Director of Quality Assurance, the Dean of Science, and faculty and staff from each of the three Science departments. They also held online meetings with alumni and current students enrolled in the program. Additionally, the reviewers met with representatives from the library, writing center, and math help center, and toured the physics, chemistry, and biology labs, the observatory, and the Slowpoke Nuclear Reactor. The ERC subsequently submitted their report on 31 December 2024.
The ERC identified several strengths of the BSc (General) Program, including that its structure and requirements provide students with a strong foundation in science, the program provides flexibility, diversity, and the option to pursue minors to students, and that There is a strong and positive relationships between students and instructors. Three main concerns were also raised by the ERC: the need to address the lack of upper-year core science courses specified within the program requirements; the need to provide a clear rationale for the program and the program variations; and the need to fully inform students about the specific military occupations that align with a BSc(Gen) degree.
The Program Chair and Dean of Science prepared a Final Assessment Report on 29 May 2025. Specific recommendations, follow-up actions and timelines provided are provided in the FAR. In the FAR, it was concluded that the objectives of the program closely align with RMC's mission and academic vision, and the program offers a comprehensive educational experience that reinforces the institution's goals of student success and retention in the CAF. However, the ERC identified areas with room for improvement, and RMC has already taken steps to address some of the issues raised. RMC will continue to work toward program enhancement and improve student success in the ECC program.