Legislation
The Yukon University Act establishes the only public University in Yukon. Under the Act, Yukon University is responsible for providing educational programs, services, and activities to meet the needs of people in Yukon and provides certificate, diploma, and degree programming. The board of governors is responsible for the government, conduct, and management of the operations of the institution including educational policies and activities that relate to quality assurance, particularly establishing programs of study and student admission standards. The Act also establishes community campus committees to advise the board of governors on the programs and activities of the community campus, with particular reference to the needs of the community.
The board of governors is accountable to the minister of education. The minister tables the board's report with the Legislature.
External and Internal Review
Yukon University serves a vast, sparsely populated region of the Canadian North. In its program development, the university relies heavily on community input to ensure that community service and graduate employment needs are met.
New programs and significantly changed programs are processed using procedures in which course and program content are developed with input from presidents' committees on programs. These committees are composed of sectorial representatives from outside the university and provide advice on the feasibility of new program proposals as well as content considerations. Coupled with input from campus committees, these committees ensure that university programming remains relevant to community needs. All new and significantly changed courses and programs are approved by the university's academic council to ensure that appropriate rigour and standards are met in areas such as instructor qualifications and learning outcomes.
The Department of Education also provides input into the review of some university programs.
Professional Accreditation
Many of Canada's regulated professions have associations that conduct accreditation reviews of university programs pertaining to their professions. In these instances, accreditation teams from the professions review the reports provided by the university and may conduct on-site visits in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the professions.
Other Organizations Related to Quality Assurance in University and Apprenticeship
Membership in the Universities Canada is not mandatory for Yukon University, although it is a member. Although the association does not perform formal quality assurance functions, it does maintain membership criteria that address the primary mission of institutions; the range of program offerings; the breadth and depth of programs; the nature of members' relationship with parent institutions; the size of enrolment; institutional focus on scholarship, academic inquiry, and research; and compliance with the principles of academic freedom and responsibility. Institutions applying for membership must host an Universities Canada Visiting Committee that reports to the Universities Canada Board of Directors on a variety of items and recommends a decision on whether the applying institution is providing education of university standard.
The Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada (AAAC) is a national organization composed of professional associations involved in promoting good practices by its members in accreditation of educational programs.