Rationale for Proposed Changes. In 2007, the Ontario College-University Consortium Council (CUCC); now the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer: ONCAT) funded the Smoothtrack consortium (University of Windsor, Lambton College, St. Clair College) that developed Disability Studies, Psychology and Social Work degree completion programs for St. Clair Child and Youth Worker graduates and a Disability Studies degree completion program for graduates of all Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) human service programs (e.g., Child and Youth Worker, Developmental Services Worker, Early Childhood Education, Social Service Worker). In 2009, CUCC issued a Call for Participation (Appendix B) to which the University of Windsor responded with the support of University of Windsor President Xxxxxxxx (Appendix C). This proposal, essentially an extension of the Smoothtrack model, was accepted, and the University of Windsor became the lead institution on the Community Services Project (Appendix D). Working with Ontario university and college partners, University of Windsor Department of Psychology and School of Social Work faculty members undertook an extensive comparative analysis of Ontario provincial program standards (learning outcomes) for Ontario CAAT Child and Youth Worker, Developmental Services Worker, Early Childhood Education, and Social Service Worker diploma programs, and discipline-specific learning outcomes and program curricula for Ontario university Psychology and Social Work degree programs, as described in the Community Services Project Final Report (Appendix E). On the basis of that analysis, it is proposed that the current articulation agreement with Lambton College be revised to enable graduates of all Ontario CAAT Social Service Worker diploma programs to receive a block transfer of credits into BA and BSW programs. As indicated in the CUCC Call for Participation, Senate approval of this revised agreement is required for fulfillment of the University of Windsor commitment to the project funder (Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities) to implement Community Services Project agreements. Consistent with Community Services Project terms of reference and recommendations, the revised Social Service Worker agreement • retains the basic nature of the previous agreement (a certain number of transfer credits if specified conditions are met); • expands the agreement to cover all Ontario CAATs; • grants block transfer credit on the basis of completion of th...
Rationale for Proposed Changes. Deletion of “two year” specification General Arts and Science diploma programs and Liberal Arts and Science diploma programs are by definition two year programs. (One-year General Arts and Science programs are certificate programs.) Addition of “equivalent program” specification Some Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology diploma programs are equivalent in content and learning outcomes to General Arts and Science diploma programs but have different names. The inclusion of this specification ensures that students are evaluated for transfer credit on the basis of course and program content and learning outcomes and not excluded on the basis of variations in program name. Addition of approved course lists to current agreement Prospective students transferring from other postsecondary institutions have an increasing array of institutions from which to choose, including not only other Ontario universities but also online options such as Athabasca University. As a result, they have become more discerning “comparison shoppers,” checking out the transfer credit possibilities before making their decision. The inclusion of approved course lists on the University of Windsor Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences website will provide prospective students with sufficiently detailed and accessible transfer credit information that their chances of choosing the University of Windsor should increase.
