Academic Operational Policies
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Policy Title: |
General Education |
Number: |
AOP 233 |
|
Supersedes Existing Policy: |
Yes |
Policy Sponsor: |
Senior Vice-President Academic and Chief Learning Officer |
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Supersedes Existing Policy: |
Yes | Policy Owner: | Dean, Interdisciplinary Studies |
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Next Review Date: |
April 2025 |
Date Last Approved by the CET: |
April 17, 2024 |
General Education
1. Purpose
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities’ Binding Policy Directive: Framework for Programs of Instruction, requires all Ontario College Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs to include discrete general education courses in their program of study.
2. Application
This policy applies to all Ontario College Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs.
3. Policy
The purpose of general education courses is to provide students with the skills to contribute thoughtfully, creatively and positively to the society in which they live and work.
General education courses fall under the following five themes:
• Arts in society
• Civic life
• Social and cultural understanding
• Personal understanding
• Science and technology
General education courses must not meet any vocational outcomes in a specific program, have any pre-requisites or co-requisites tied to them, or constitute training in essential employability or other skills.
Students must successfully complete three distinct general education courses. General education learning opportunities include a combination of required and elective courses. Elective course selection is subject to course space and availability. General education courses may be offered in-class or online.
The Advisor, Quality Assurance and Academic Projects is responsible for ensuring all new programs and curricular changes being reviewed comply with MCU’s Binding Policy Directive. They will notify the Dean, Interdisciplinary Studies of approved program changes impacting general education courses.
Mandatory and elective general education courses will be reviewed on a cyclical basis to ensure alignment with Ontario College Quality Assurance Service, the Ontario Credential Framework, and best practices in academic quality. General Education electives are independent of programs.
4. Related Documents
• AOP 225 Post-Secondary Registration & Graduation
• AOP 241 Non-core/Breadth Curriculum
5. References
• Framework for Programs of Instruction (MCU)
• GNED Transfer Credit Assessment Rubric
6. Links
Evaluation of Student Performance – AOP 224
Post-Secondary Admissions, Registration and Graduation – AOP 225