# BACKGROUND The Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002 provides Ontario's colleges with a mandate to autonomously govern their own programs by adhering to established quality assurance standards. The Act requires: | | | |---|---| | Type | PDF | | Size | 175 KB | [Open original PDF →](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/07/VPA1_Quality-Assurance-QA.pdf) Referenced from: [Policies & Procedures](/pages/academics/policies/) ## Document text SUBJECT ## BACKGROUND The Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002 provides Ontario's colleges with a mandate to autonomously govern their own programs by adhering to established quality assurance standards. The Act requires: - o Quality assurance at the individual college level; and, - o A self-regulating process at the level of the college system. Quality assurance processes are essential to College operations and lead to optimal student experiences. Program review activities form a major part of the College's compliance with the Act's requirements. ## POLICY Northern College meets or exceeds the established quality assurance standards and requirements set out in the College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP) or Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB), as appropriate. Through its regular program review processes, student and other stakeholder feedback, the College engages in continuous improvement to ensure its offerings meet the expectations of our students, community, and industry partners. ## SCOPE This policy applies to all programs leading to an Ontario College credential (certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, and graduate certificate) or degree. ## DEFINITIONS: Accreditation: Accreditation can refer to a status obtained by the College, or an audit process undertaken in order to achieve this status. As a status, accreditation provides public notification that an institution or program meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting agency. Audit: Audits evaluate the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of the institution's quality assurance system, expressing some level of confidence, based on the evidence provided, as to whether the institution's system does what it says it is doing. | ISSUE DATE | SUPERSEDES | MANDATORY REVIEW DATE | REFERENCE | SECTION | PAGE OF | PAGE OF | | --- Source: [https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/07/VPA1_Quality-Assurance-QA.pdf](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/07/VPA1_Quality-Assurance-QA.pdf)