Feasibility Study

• Feasibility studies are conducted in conjunction with the development of new or evolving co-op plans or programs as well as when significant changes in curriculum of any course realignments may affect the employability of co-op students.
• An initial discussion between the faculty/department sponsor and CECA representative determines the necessary extent, depending on the nature of the proposal, of the feasibility study.
• CECA representative manages the overall feasibility study process including establishing the lead times necessary to complete the study and implement the proposal. The template checklist suggests the parties responsible for gathering and compiling the necessary information.
• The feasibility study is a collaboration of the proposal sponsor and CECA and the interests of each party are considered equally.

• Feasibility studies are conducted to ensure the viability and longevity of co-op plans for all stakeholders: students, employers, faculty and CECA.
• A feasibility study will only be conducted when the need has been confirmed by the faculty and CECA.
• Feasibility studies are not intended to be an obstacle or onerous to complete, but will involve the degree of due diligence commensurate with the scope of the initiative being proposed.
• Feasibility studies are completed in a timely fashion and regular updates on the status of the study are to be provided to all applicable stakeholders.

1. Initial meeting between faculty/department (sponsor) and CECA to determine the necessary components of this feasibility study.
2. CECA representative completes and submits a study timeline to the proposal sponsor.
3. Study principals complete their respective components concurrently with the development of the proposal itself.
4. CECA delivers a Draft Feasibility Study to sponsor for discussion.
5. CECA delivers a Final Feasibility Study to sponsor for implementation.

The following list of components is considered when conducting a feasibility study. Some components may be required for all studies, while others may vary from study to study depending on the nature of the proposal.

Preface

Name of proposal

• New program or plan
• Amended program/plan including name of former program/plan
• Suggested start date of the new program/plan

Proposal sponsors

• Primary/secondary faculty contact(s)
• Primary/secondary CECA contact(s)
• Other

Executive summary

Timelines/resources

Timelines

• Initial investigation - how much time will be needed to complete the study?
• Job development - how much time does CECA anticipate will be necessary to develop the number of jobs needed to maintain the proposal at steady state?

Resource implications for CECA

• Staffing - will CECA need to recruit additional staff (e.g., coordinators, co-op advisors, etc.) to implement and manage the proposal at steady state?
• Budget - what, if any, projected increase in budget allotment results from the proposal?

Proposal specifics

Proposal objective and rationale

• What are the educational goals of the proposal?
• What is/are its contribution(s) to the learning objectives of the degree?
• Rationale for renaming/restructuring an existing co-op program or plan?

Context/competition

• How does the proposed program/plan fit with other programs/plans within or external to the faculty? (faculty sponsor)
• Are there co-op programs of a similar nature offered at Waterloo or by other post-secondary institutions that may/will provide competition to this proposed program/plan? (CECA representative)

Societal goals/employability expectations:

• What are the dimensions of the societal need for students/graduates (e.g., socio-cultural, economic, scientific, technological, etc.)?
• What is the geographic scope of the societal need (e.g., local, regional, provincial, national)?
• What is the evidence of employment demand for co-op students and graduates of the proposed program (i.e., economic sectors, and the level of support from business and industry in those sectors to employ students in appropriate positions, in which the faculty expects its students to secure employment)?
• Industry/labour analysis (e.g., trends, growth estimates, job market prospects, potential obstacles to growth, etc.)
• Is the proposed/plan congruent with current regulatory requirements of the profession (as appropriate) as well as the current accreditation requirements of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education [CAFCE]?

Admission/enrolment strategy

• Requirements for admission (e.g., grades, special courses, certain academic level, etc.)
• Enrolment target (e.g., what is the enrolment target for this particular program; will enrolment increase or not change at all; what will be the net effect and nature of the change; etc.?)

Proposal Metrics

Enrolment numbers

• Number of students enrolled in program at present (amended programs/plans only)
• Incremental increase, if applicable, in the number of students expected and the rate at which those students will be added to the program
• Enrolment at steady state (including the timing needed to reach steady state)
• Enrolment mix (percentage domestic to international students)

Co-op sequence

• Number of work terms proposed
• Co-op sequence(s) / effective date

Current employment data for students in the program/plan (amended plans only)

• What is the percentage of employment during last six terms (i.e., at all levels)?
• What types of jobs have been secured by current students?
• What is the geographic distribution of employment for current students (i.e., local, regional, provincial, national or international?)
• Other employment-related data?

Other metrics (as applicable and available)

• # of large employers with confirmed interest in employing students
• # of medium-sized employers with confirmed interest in employing students
• # of small employers with confirmed interest in employing students
• # domestic employers
• # international employers
• # existing employers versus # new employers required
• preferred length of work term by employers surveyed
• types of positions available from employers surveyed
• other

Employer feedback (survey responses, about the program and the students who will be available from this program, as applicable)

• Supportable
• Supportable with conditions
  1. Conditions necessary for proposal to be supportable
• Not supportable
• Recommendation rationale
• Endorsements from faculty sponsor(s) and CECA representative(s) (i.e., dates and signatures)