College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP)

Durham College (DC) participated in the College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP) during the 2022-2023 academic year, exemplifying how DC is leading the way with our quality assurance (QA) processes. We are pleased to report that DC received an exemplary review, achieving “mature” status for our QA approaches and procedures. This rank is the highest standard that a college can achieve.
 
We would like to extend our gratitude to the over 180 members of the DC community who met with the auditors during our site visit, and the countless others who contributed to the initial self-study submission.
 

About CQaap

CQAAP is a provincially-mandated external review of the QA processes and mechanisms that DC has in place to ensure high quality academic programming. DC recognizes the value of CQAAP to support our commitment to transparency and accountability in all aspects of our operations and business. Each of Ontario’s 24 colleges of applied arts and technology participate in CQAAP every six years.
 
The CQAAP standards provide the framework for Ontario colleges in assessing how our QA mechanisms meet established standards. The audit’s purpose is developmental and its intent is to ensure continual improvement.
 
The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) leads DC’s CQAAP efforts. Members of the CTL team work with Faculties and departments to create the self-study package that includes descriptions of how QA is embedded in and across our programs and services. This is reinforced with a two-day site visit where a panel of auditors meet with DC representatives from all areas of the college including students, administration, support staff, frontline support, faculty, governors and Program Advisory Committee members. The final audit report, approved by the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS) Board, is shared publicly on the OCQAS website.
 

Important CQAAP Dates

  • March 31, 2023 – Final self-study report and supporting evidence submitted to OCQAS
  • May to June – College stakeholder site visit preparatory meetings
  • June 19-21 – CQAAP Site visit
  • July 21 – Preliminary audit report received by DC
  • August 8 – College response to preliminary audit report submitted to OCQAS
  • October 3– CQAAP audit report approved by OCQAS Board
  • October 13 – Final audit report submitted and signed by both OCQAS and DC
  • October 29 – Publication of OCQAS Board approved CQAAP audit report
  • February to April 2025 – CQAAP 18-month follow-up report due from DC to OCQAS