Program Plan Goals Regarding VLOs and PDI
On Annual Program Plans through the S61 - Program Renewal Application in myCambrian, under section G: Program Strategies you may see the following notes:
- For VLOs, the notes might say “[Course is/Multiple Courses are] only mapped to one VLO. Each course should be mapped to at least 2 VLOs to meet compliancy...”
- For PDI, the notes might say “PDI hours are [# hours] short of the minimum requirements for [credential]…” or “PDI hours are on the low end…”
We have an update from Sylvie Mainville at OCQAS regarding this.
Sylvie has advised:
- For VLOs - Each course should map to minimally one VLO. Each VLO should be mapped minimally twice in a program.
- Previously Cambrian would map each course to minimally two VLOs but exceptions are now made for courses that truly only map to one VLO (ex: some ENG courses).
- We must still at minimum map each VLO twice in a program. VLOs need to be aligned to assessments that demonstrate students attainment of the VLO.
- For PDI – It is acceptable for program hours to fall within the recommended range for the credential type and there is a +/- 10% allowance where it does not fall exactly in this range.
- Sylvie’s example: “An Advanced Diploma should have between 1800-2100 with +/- 10% so the range ends up being 1620-2310 hours.”
- Changing the hours significantly (25% or more) or adding or removing a semester, would matter and this would require a program modification through CVS.
- Be aware of the number of hours for your accrediting body as changes outside the acceptable range may affect accreditation.