11(1)In carrying out its duties, the Commission shall give first consideration to improving and maintaining the best possible service to students as lifelong learners by
(a)
taking measures intended to ensure that programs of study are of optimum length and best quality,
(b)
stressing prior learning assessment and recognition, and credit transfer, to implement the principle that duplication of effort is not required in order to gain credit for learning which has been successfully accomplished,
(c)
promoting smooth transitions between learning and work,
(d)
promoting equitable and adequate access to learning opportunities, including making those opportunities available at times and places convenient to the student, and
(e)
taking measures intended to ensure teaching quality.
11(2)The Commission has the following principal duties:
(a)
to undertake measures intended to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of academic programs and of teaching at institutions, which may include the review of institutional programs and practices for assuring that improvement and making recommendations to institutions and the Provinces;
(b)
to ensure that data and information is collected, maintained and made available for assuring the public accountability of institutions, and to assist institutions and the Provinces in their work, which may include but is not limited to
(i)
establishing data and system standards,
(ii)
establishing public reporting requirements and producing public reports, and
(iii)
carrying out studies in regard to public policy, institutional concerns and issues related to post-secondary education, and providing advice to institutions and the Provinces on these matters;
(c)
to take initiatives to stimulate cooperative action among institutions and the Provinces if that action is likely to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the post-secondary education system in the Provinces, which may include but is not limited to
(i)
encouraging initiatives for institutions to offer joint, complementary and regional programs, and
(ii)
encouraging administrative, financial and common service arrangements which reduce the overhead cost of programs and the overall cost to students and the Provinces;
(d)
to continue to develop and administer funding transfers among the Provinces for regional programs, which may include developing and administering funding arrangements for programs outside the region, as required to provide additional educational opportunities for students from the region; and
(e)
to undertake any other duties that the Ministers may assign.
11(3)The Commission may
(a)
provide the services and functions that may be agreed on by the Ministers to one or more institutions or to one or more of the Provinces,
(b)
provide the advice and services that may be agreed on by the Ministers to one or more of the Provinces to determine their post-secondary education funding policy, and
(c)
recommend to the Ministers the names of post-secondary educational institutions that may be added to or deleted from those prescribed by regulation for the purposes of the definitions “institutions” and “universities” in section 1.
11(1)In carrying out its duties, the Commission shall give first consideration to improving and maintaining the best possible service to students as lifelong learners by
(a)
taking measures intended to ensure that programs of study are of optimum length and best quality,
(b)
stressing prior learning assessment and recognition, and credit transfer, to implement the principle that duplication of effort is not required in order to gain credit for learning which has been successfully accomplished,
(c)
promoting smooth transitions between learning and work,
(d)
promoting equitable and adequate access to learning opportunities, including making those opportunities available at times and places convenient to the student, and
(e)
taking measures intended to ensure teaching quality.
11(2)The Commission has the following principal duties:
(a)
to undertake measures intended to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of academic programs and of teaching at institutions, which may include the review of institutional programs and practices for assuring that improvement and making recommendations to institutions and the Provinces;
(b)
to ensure that data and information is collected, maintained and made available for assuring the public accountability of institutions, and to assist institutions and the Provinces in their work, which may include but is not limited to
(i)
establishing data and system standards,
(ii)
establishing public reporting requirements and producing public reports, and
(iii)
carrying out studies in regard to public policy, institutional concerns and issues related to post-secondary education, and providing advice to institutions and the Provinces on these matters;
(c)
to take initiatives to stimulate cooperative action among institutions and the Provinces if that action is likely to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the post-secondary education system in the Provinces, which may include but is not limited to
(i)
encouraging initiatives for institutions to offer joint, complementary and regional programs, and
(ii)
encouraging administrative, financial and common service arrangements which reduce the overhead cost of programs and the overall cost to students and the Provinces;
(d)
to continue to develop and administer funding transfers among the Provinces for regional programs, which may include developing and administering funding arrangements for programs outside the region, as required to provide additional educational opportunities for students from the region; and
(e)
to undertake any other duties that the Ministers may assign.
11(3)The Commission may
(a)
provide the services and functions that may be agreed on by the Ministers to one or more institutions or to one or more of the Provinces,
(b)
provide the advice and services that may be agreed on by the Ministers to one or more of the Provinces to determine their post-secondary education funding policy, and
(c)
recommend to the Ministers the names of post-secondary educational institutions that may be added to or deleted from those prescribed by regulation for the purposes of the definitions “institutions” and “universities” in section 1.