George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
The Office of Academic Excellence (OAE) plays a key role in George Brown’s ongoing commitment to advancing and improving the quality of its academic programs. A team of experienced staff works collaboratively across the institution to support academic excellence through:
- Supporting the development of new academic programs
- Organizing annual and comprehensive academic program reviews
- Supporting accountability for the completion of program review recommendations
- Providing curriculum support during program planning
- Assisting with academic policy development, revision, and implementation
- Managing George Brown’s participation in the College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP)
Mission Statement, Values, and Scope of Work
Our Mission
The OAE is committed to supporting quality student learning across all fields of study and credentials. Our goal is to continuously improve George Brown’s programs, academic policies, and quality assurance processes to ensure graduates possess the knowledge and skills required to be effective practitioners, meet employer and community needs, and pursue future studies.
The Values That Inform Our Work
Our work is guided by the following values:
- Fostering learning communities through reciprocal exchange of ideas with a wide range of stakeholders
- Applying sound research methodologies and pedagogical practices
- Respecting and responding to the diversity within our institution and broader community, including the unique qualities of individuals, programs, and disciplines
- Using diverse, verifiable data and research sources to strengthen the accuracy and credibility of our work
Scope of Work and Responsibilities
The OAE’s mandate includes four principal areas of responsibility:
New Program Development
Support for the design and approval of new academic programs. The Office of Academic Excellence works collaboratively to ensure new programs align with institutional priorities, labour market needs, and provincial quality assurance requirements.
Program Review
Leadership and coordination of cyclical and annual program review processes. Program review supports continuous quality improvement, curriculum alignment, and responsiveness to student, industry, and community needs.
Program Change
Oversight of significant program-level changes to ensure alignment with academic policy, provincial frameworks, and external quality assurance standards. The OAE supports coordinated implementation of major curriculum and structural modifications.
Academic Policy
Development, renewal, and stewardship of the George Brown’s academic policy framework. The OAE leads collaborative policy processes and administers the academic appeals system to support principled and consistent decision-making.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)
The OAE ensures college-wide WIL policy compliance, champions best practices, and delivers dedicated support to WIL students, partners, and faculty.
Academic Quality Assurance and Program Lifecycle Oversight
The Office of Academic Excellence provides leadership in ensuring academic quality throughout the full lifecycle of George Brown’s programs, from development and renewal to ongoing review and, where appropriate, closure. Through a robust and integrated academic quality assurance framework, the OAE supports evidence-informed decision-making, continuous improvement, and accountability across all credentials and fields of study.
Working in collaboration with academic programs and institutional partners, the OAE establishes and administers college-wide quality assurance protocols that align with provincial legislation, Ministry Binding Policy Directives, and external quality assurance standards, including those of the College Quality Assurance Audit Process (CQAAP), the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS), and the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB).
This work includes supporting new program development, major program modifications, credential validation, degree consent renewal, and comprehensive and annual program reviews. The OAE also provides leadership in curriculum development, program quality self-assessment, and the tracking and reporting of program review outcomes to support academic planning and continuous quality improvement.
By analyzing academic quality data and identifying emerging themes and trends, the OAE informs institutional decision-making and helps ensure that George Brown’s programs remain relevant, rigorous, and responsive to student learning outcomes, employer expectations, and community needs.
Download the Program QA Overview infographic in PDF format: