In accordance with the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) the program Self-Study Reports were completed in October 2019 by representatives from the three academic departments of the Faculty of Science, referred to as “the BSc(Gen) IQAP team”. 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. One arm’s-length external reviewer, Dr. David Law, Department of Biology, Lakehead University, was selected from a list of possible reviewers and approved by the Deans of Science. An internal reviewer, Dr. Robert St. John, Department of Military Psychology and Leadership, was also selected for participation on the ERC. They reviewed the self-study documentation and conducted a site visit to RMC on 21 and 22 November 2019. During the site visit, the ERC met with the Vice-Principal, Academic, Dr. Phil Bates, the Dean of Science, Dr. Gregg Wade, the Associate Dean of Arts, Dr. Erika Berisch-Else, the Dean of Engineering, Dr. Greg Phillips, the Dean of Division of Continuing Studies, Dr. Grace Scoppio, the Head of Mathematics and Computer Science, Dr. Gord Simons, the Head of the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dr. Cecile Malardier-Jugroot, the Head of Physics and Space Science, Dr. Jean-Marc Noel, the Head Librarian, Ms. Sarah Toomey, as well as several members of faculty and RMC staff. The ERC also had the opportunity to meet with several students currently enrolled in the program. The ERC subsequently produced a Report based on the Self-Study and site visit.
The ERC identified several strengths of the BSc (General) Program, including positive survey feedback from graduates, current students and course instructors, excellent facilities for both teaching and research, and that the presence of military faculty teaching in the program enhanced student learning and relevancy to graduates seeking a future career in the CAF. Three main concerns were also raised by the ERC: there is no requirement for science courses beyond the first year level, low program awareness was present among the course instructors and students interviewed, and the number of full-time faculty in the three science departments at RMC that contribute to the program is much lower than ~15 years ago.
Following consultation with the program faculty and staff, the BSc (Gen) IQAP Team responded to the Reviewers’ Report and the Dean of Science prepared a Final Assessment Report (FAR). Specific recommendations, follow-up actions and timelines provided are provided in the FAR. In the FAR, it was concluded that the Faculty of Science is delivering an academically rigorous program to its students and that its standards meet those of similar programs in Ontario.