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FAQS
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How do I know if my environmental program is eligible?
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How does an environmental program effectively prepare a Self Study Report (SSR)?
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How can a program ensure that they are on the right track when preparing a SSR?
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Who do Site Visit Evaluators want to interview during the Site Visit (SV)?
RESOURCES
Application Phase
Self-Study Phase
Q: How do I know if my environmental program is eligible?
A: To be eligible for accreditation, a program must:
Be located at a public institution that has authorization from the appropriate provincial/territorial/national agency to grant the credential (certificate, diploma, degree, advanced/post-graduate advanced certificate, etc.).
Be sponsored by a post-secondary institution that has a formally constituted and effective governing board.
Have an administrative or academic person (e.g., dean/director/program chair/VP academic/coordinator) whose full-time or major responsibility is to the program.
Be located at an institution that has its financial records externally audited annually by an external and independent certified public/chartered accountant or an authorized provincial auditing agency. The audit report must include a financial statement with an opinion about the fiscal integrity of the institution.
Have policies and practices consistent with Canadian occupational health & safety standards as well as human rights and immigration policies when dealing with students, staff, and faculty.
Have physical and learning resources available that are appropriate for effective delivery of the program.
Have an admissions policy that assesses student suitability for environmental programs, and adheres to that policy in its admission practices, subject to provincial/federal policies.
Q: How does an environmental program effectively prepare a Self Study Report?
A: Ample time and resources are vital to effectively prepare a Self Study Report (SSR). Ideally, a steering committee will be formed which broadly represents the program. This committee’s task is to prepare the SSR under the leadership of a coordinator who: plans the work, appoints task forces when appropriate, supervises the work, suggests alternative approaches, and monitors the editing of the final report.
The committee also needs enough time to prepare the SSR. The following is a general guide for SSR preparation time allocation:
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Steps of SSR Preparation
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Time
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Forming a SSR steering committee
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2-3 weeks
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Planning the process of preparing a SSR
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3-4 weeks |
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Reviewing the 7 Requirements of Accreditation
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1-2 weeks |
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Writing the SSR
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8-12 weeks |
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Gathering support documents
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3 weeks |
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In-house approval of SSR
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3-4 weeks |
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Editing the SSR
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2 weeks |
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Formatting the SSR
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2 weeks |
Q: How can a program ensure that they are on the right track when preparing a SSR?
A: ECO Canada’s Accreditation Staff will work closely with all programs preparing their Self Study Report. A web based teleconference meeting will be set up with the programs to provide guidance and support for programs preparing their reports.
Q: Who do Site Visit Evaluators want to interview during the Site Visit?
A: During the Site Visit (SV), Site Visit Evaluators want to interview individuals who broadly represent the program, such as:
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Primary Interviewees
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Secondary Interviewees
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President
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Full-time laboratory/field technicians
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Dean
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Student employees |
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Chair
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Non full-time faculty |
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Full-time professors
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Other staff |
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Program advisory committee members
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Students
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Alumni
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Employers
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Internship Association/Companies
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For more information, please contact Mel Griswold, Registrar at accreditation@eco.ca