Get involved! - OACC

 

There are many different ways for members to get involved with the work and activities of the Ontario Association of Career Colleges to promote student success through the provision of quality private education.

 

The OACC Board of Directors has established a number of committees for the 2010/2011 Board year that could benefit from the expertise and experience of volunteers like you.

 

The current committees include:

-          Accreditation Committee

-          Apprenticeship Committee

-          Career College Quality Assurance Committee

-          Conference Committee

-          Employment Ontario/WSIB Committee

-          International Students Committee

-          Marketing/Public Relations/Student Success Committee

-          Membership Committee

-          On Line Programs Committee

-          PCC Act Review/TCAF Committee

 

The following is a brief description of the matters that each of the committees are focused on.  If any of these matters are of interest to you and you have the time to participate as a committee member, contact the OACC office.

 

CCQA Committee:

The committee has developed a 3-phase framework to help PCCs measure their performance and demonstrate their commitment to excellence.  A software development firm has been engaged to build a web-based application for administering student satisfaction surveys, self evaluation surveys, faculty satisfaction surveys, standardized admissions testing, a review of facilities and equipment, and the use of standard course modules.  The committee anticipates launching phase 1 by January of 2011, and there is still a great deal of work to be done on the remaining phases.

 

Conference 2012 Committee:

The committee is busy planning the program for the OACC conference being held at The Rosseau, J. W. Merriott on May 30, 31 and June 1.  The committee would appreciate any assistance that members can provide with the recruitment of speakers and workshop leaders, as well as the promotion of the event that will bring PCC owners, managers and staff together from all across the country.

 

Employment Ontario/WSIB Committee:

The committee is working with the Employment and Training Division of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in an effort to raise the Government's awareness of the contribution of the PCC sector and fight for equitable treatment for career college students within EmploymentOntario programs such as Second Career.  The committee also has a mandate to build closer ties with WSIB.
 

General Accreditation/Apprenticeship Committee:

The committee's goal is to raise the awareness of Government and the new College of Trades in regard to the current and potential contribution of the PCC sector in training Ontario's workforce.  throughout 2010/2011, the committee will be seeking written support from as many employers, employer groups, and PCC grads as possible.

 

The International Students Committee is focusing on achieving policy changes that would permit international students studying at career colleges in Ontario to access post-graduation work permits.  Recent changes in the Federal Government policy have opened the doors for Provincial Governments to make the policy inclusive of international students attending career college programs.

 

Marketing/Public Relations/Student Success Committee:

The committee has identified areas where the association, its members and its students  could benefit from the work of a Government Relations consultant on specific issues such as the Post-secondary TTC Metropass and the training of WSIB clients.  It has also identified the public relations challenges that face the sector and the need for OACC to have a plan to enhance the perception of the sector through the building of the quality capacity of PCCs.

 

Membership Committee:

The committee has identified the need to examine the criteria for membership and set some parameters around adherence to a strong code of conduct, and a demonstrated level of high quality education.

 

This committee has researched some best practices in the realm of delivering programs of study in an on line format, and will be working with Ministry policy staff to develop a framework for approving on line programs at PCCs and make such programs eligible to be designated  for OSAP purposes.

 

PCC Act Review/TCAF Committee:

In anticipation of the fact that the current Act must be reviewed prior to September of 2013, this committee has begun in 2010/2011 to go through the Act and regulations to identify potential improvements.  In 2011, the committee will be consulting the OACC membership on its findings in order to prepare a written submission to Government later in the year. Monitoring the effectiveness of the TCAF fund administration, the Advisory Board, and plans to have input into an actuarial study of TCAF in late 2010/early 2011 that is looking at premiums, financial security, fund level, risk factors, and financial reporting.

 

In past years, this committee has provided the Government with valuable feedback on the development and roll out of program standards and the implementation of an improved and inclusive Ontario qualifications Framework.  this year, the committee provided direct input to the Ministry on the roll out of the Tractor Trailer program standard, the Esthetic program standard, and the Dental Hygiene program policy directive  Through this committee, OACC has been able to place association members on the steering committee and working group for the Hairstyling program standards development project.  It is anticipated that the committee will have similar input into the next program standard initiative relating to the Developmental Services worker programs.

 

To get involved in any of these initiatives, you simply need to contact the OACC office.

 

 

Board of Directors:

The OACC Board has made appointments in 2010/2011 of members of the Board to 2 significant committees known as the Green Advisory Panel and the Deputy Minister's PCC Advisory Committee.

 

The Green Advisory Panel involves representatives from the career college sector, the community college sector, the university sector, and the employer community and is researching the training needs that face the Green sector now and in the future.

 

The Deputy Minister's PCC Advisory Committee meets 3 times per year and is co-Chaired by the Deputy Minister and OACC's Executive Director.  The committee has identified several big  picture postsecondary education issues that impact the PCC sector including program standards, credit recognition, the role of the sector in postsecondary, international students, public awareness and more.

 

For more information about what positions are available and how you can contribute, please contact Paul Kitchin, Executive Director at paulkitchin@oacc.on.ca, (519) 752-2124 Ext 103.