Council Position Profiles

Read the position profiles for different types of CAQC members

Council Roles

See what the role of members and the chair of CAQC entails, including key responsibilities, terms and remuneration.

CAQC members play a number of important roles.

Chair

The Chair guides the 11-person Council in carrying out its duties which include the following:

  • Establishing minimum organizational and program assessment conditions and standards
  • Periodically reviewing and assessing its guidelines and standards
  • Inquiring into and reviewing proposals to offer a program of study leading to any degree (except degrees in divinity) from any resident or non-resident institution
  • Making recommendations to the Minister respecting the approval of programs at public or private institutions leading to an applied, baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree
  • Monitoring of approved degree programs
  • Helping to develop and recommend policies respecting the approval of degree programs offered in Alberta
  • Serving on standing committees and other subcommittees as required
  • Making rules governing the conduct of meetings and reporting

Chair's Council Responsibilities

The Council Chair shares the following responsibilities with all Council members:

  • Ensures that due process is followed in dealing with applicant institutions and with recommendations to the Minister
  • Reviews applicable annual reports and other periodic reports to assess the progress of institutions in meeting any conditions / reporting requirements specified by Council with respect to specific approved degree programs
  • Ensures that Council’s various forms of evaluation are conducted according to the appropriate schedule and according to Council’s guidelines and standards
  • Ensures that decisions and recommendations reached by Council are implemented
  • Ensures that emerging issues in the area of quality assurance are addressed by Council
  • Reviews any matter relating to a proposal to offer a degree program or any other matter the Minister refers to Council
  • Communicates with stakeholders and the post-secondary community
  • Encourages improvement in quality assurance policies and promotes best practices

Chair's Individual Responsibilities

The Chair has the following additional responsibilities:

  • Presides at and leads Council meetings; sets the agenda for meetings, and ensures minutes are recorded
  • May chair standing committees and other subcommittees as required
  • With the assistance of other Council members, recruits academic experts to serve on Council’s external evaluation teams
  • Orients new members and evaluation teams
  • Provides effective leadership and champions Council initiatives at provincial and national levels, including promotion of the recognition of Alberta degrees and Council’s quality assurance processes
  • Places high priority on building and maintaining good communication and working relationships with the Minister and government officials necessary to carry out Council responsibilities and with stakeholder groups including post-secondary institutions, students and related organizations
  • Ensures periodic reports of Council’s activities are provided to the Minister and other stakeholders
  • Submits to the Minister the Annual Report of Council
  • Acts as a spokesperson for Council
  • Carries out various duties on delegated authority of Council
  • Examines the strengths and weaknesses of Council members and provides advice to the Minister on the recruitment and appointment or re-appointment of Council members
  • Acts in an ethical manner and complies with the applicable sections of the Post-secondary Learning Act, the Programs of Study Regulation, and with Council’s Code of Conduct, policies and procedures
  • Prepares appropriately for Council meetings (Council normally meets 4-5 times per year, some of which may be by teleconference; some in-person meetings are two-day meetings)
  • Attends Council meetings on a regular basis, including subcommittee meetings, as required
  • Ensures that the confidentiality of Council proceedings is maintained
  • Develops effective relationships with the Secretariat in order to guide it in fulfilling its role of supporting the work of Council

Terms and Conditions

The Chair is appointed for a term of up to three years and may be eligible for reappointment. The chair is entitled to be paid remuneration in accordance with Schedule 1, Part A of the government’s Committee Remuneration Order (OC 466/2007).

Council Members

Council members, including the chair, are independent experts and are collectively responsible for carrying out the following Council duties, without representing constituencies:

  • Establishing minimum organizational and program assessment conditions and standards
  • Periodically reviewing and assessing its guidelines and standards
  • Inquiring into and reviewing proposals to offer a program of study leading to any degree (except degrees in divinity) from any resident or non-resident institution
  • Making recommendations to the Minister respecting the approval of programs at public or private institutions leading to an applied, baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree
  • Monitoring of approved degree programs
  • Helping to develop and recommend policies respecting the approval of degree programs offered in Alberta
  • Serving on Council’s standing committees and/or other subcommittees as required
  • Making rules governing the conduct of meetings and reporting.

Member's Council Responsibilities

Collectively, members are expected to contribute to the following Council responsibilities:

  • Inquires into and reviews any matter relating to a proposal to offer a program of study leading to the granting of a degree as referred to it by the Minister
  • Ensures that evaluations directed by Council are conducted according to the appropriate schedule and according to Council’s guidelines and standards
  • Ensures that due process is followed in dealing with applicant institutions and with recommendations to the Minister
  • Ensures that decisions and recommendations reached by Council are implemented
  • Reviews applicable annual reports and other periodic reports to assess the progress of institutions in meeting any conditions/reporting requirements specified by the Council with respect to specific approved degree programs
  • Ensures that emerging issues in the area of quality assurance are addressed by Council
  • Encourages improvement in quality assurance policies and promotes effective practices
  • Communicates with stakeholders and the post-secondary community

Member's Individual Responsibilities

Following Council’s principles, a Council member is responsible for:

  • Acting in an ethical manner and complying with the applicable sections of the Post-secondary Learning Act, the Programs of Study Regulation, and with Council’s Code of Conduct, policies and procedures
  • Preparing appropriately for Council meetings (Council normally meets 4-5 times per year, some of which may be by teleconference; some in-person meetings are two-day meetings)
  • Attending Council meetings on a regular basis, including subcommittee meetings, as required
  • Ensuring that the confidentiality of Council proceedings is maintained

Terms and Conditions

A member is appointed for a term of up to three years and may be eligible for reappointment. The members of the council are entitled to be paid remuneration in accordance with Schedule 1, Part A of the government’s Committee Remuneration Order (OC 466/2007).