UWaterloo IQAP

The University of Waterloo Senate is the final authority for ensuring the quality of all academic programs, including cyclical program reviews, new program proposals and major modifications to existing programs. 

The Vice-President, Academic and Provost has responsibility for the Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) and is the primary contact with the Quality Council (QC). The Associate Vice-President, Academic (AVPA) and the Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (AVPGSPA) have delegated authority for the IQAP on behalf of the Vice-President, Academic and Provost.

Oversight of undergraduate program reviews, new undergraduate programs and major modifications to existing undergraduate programs rests with the AVPA.  Responsibility for graduate program reviews, new graduate programs and major modifications to existing graduate programs rests with the AVPGSPA. Responsibility for combined (or augmented) reviews of undergraduate and graduate programs is shared between the respective portfolios.

In 2016, the Quality Assurance (QA) Office was established to support the AVPA and AVPGSPA in the oversight and monitoring of the IQAP (pdf). The Office is now called the Academic Quality Enhancement (AQuE) Office and is the primary contact for campus stakeholders regarding cyclical program reviews, new program proposals, and major modifications to existing programs. The AQuE Office operationalizes the IQAP and provides timely support to programs undergoing cyclical review, developing new programs and proposing academic program changes.

IQAP documentation (e.g., self-studies, external reviewers reports, final assessment reports etc.) is retained in accordance with the University of Waterloo’s institutional records retention schedule and QC guidelines.

Scope of the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF)

The QAF guides quality assurance processes in the following four areas:

Cyclical reviews of existing programs

Cyclical program reviews are “aimed at assessing the quality of existing academic programs, identifying ongoing improvements to programs, and ensuring continuing relevance of the program to stakeholders.” (QAF 5)

Cyclical program reviews culminate with a Final Assessment Report (FAR) – a concise synthesis of the program’s overall quality and recommendations to improve or maintain its status – submitted for evaluation and approval by SUC or SGRC and then Senate. A list of programs that underwent cyclical review and their Final Assessment Reports are submitted annually to the Quality Council for their review.

Note: Programs which have been closed or for which admission has been suspended are out of scope and will not be included in a cyclical review.

New program approvals & expedited approvals of new programs

Proposals for new degree programs and Type 2 and 3 graduate diplomas are required to follow the QAF protocol for proposing new for-credit programs. (QAF 2)

New program proposals are submitted for evaluation and approval at SUC or SGRC and then Senate. Following Senate approval, new programs are submitted to the Quality Council’s Appraisal Committee for their review and approval. The Appraisal Committee has the authority to approve or decline new program proposals. In addition, new programs, where applicable, are submitted to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) for approval of tuition rates and grant funding.

Major modifications to existing programs

To assure program quality of existing programs, any major substantive change made to an existing program (such that the changes are not significant enough to constitute a new program), is considered a major modification to the program (QAF 4).

Major modifications are vetted within the program’s home Faculty prior to submission to SUC or SGRC and Senate for approval.

A list of major modifications is submitted annually to the Quality Council for their review.

Audit of the Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP)

The University of Waterloo is subject to regular audit by the Audit Committee of the Quality Council (QAF 6).

The panel examines each institution’s compliance with its own IQAP.

The audit is to be conducted every eight years and the auditor’s report and subsequent institutional response is posted on the Quality Council's Audit Schedule and Reports website.

Latest Documents

Below is the latest version of the IQAP (to be approved by Senate) and the latest documentation pertaining to the UWaterloo Quality Assurance Audit. Next audit begins in 2027-2028.