June 2026 Conference Report
Read the report for a summary of key discussions, insights, and outcomes from the June conference.
Past Event Program
Title Sponsor
Design. Governance. Marketing. Reviews. Accreditation. Mapping. Student Advising. Curricular Analytics.
Partner
Virtual Event - June 15, 2026 (12 - 3 PM EDT)
| 12:00 PM | Welcome & Land Acknowledgment | Organizing Committee | ||
| 12:10 PM | Opening Plenary Presentation by Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy | Keynote Speaker | ||
| 12:55 PM | Break (5 minutes) | |||
| 1:00 PM | Concurrent Sessions (select one track) | |||
| TRACK A — Practitioner-Focused Session (60 min) | ||||
| 1:00 PM | Beyond Outcomes: QA Considerations for Demonstrated Competence in Competency-Based Programming | A. Ripley | Bow Valley College | |
| 1:15 PM | Accelerating Evidence-Based SWOT Analysis Through Curated AI Tools: Lessons Learned | E. Zahedi | University of Ottawa | |
| 1:30 PM | Locating Micro-Credentials Within Undergraduate Degrees: QA Challenges and Opportunities | M. Chaktsiris | York University | |
| 1:45 PM | Audience Q&A | Moderated discussion | ||
| TRACK B — Research-Focused Session (60 min) | ||||
| Breakout Room B | ||||
| 1:00 PM | Quality Assurance in Ontario Schools of Nursing | E. Guest | University of Ottawa | Presentation PDF |
| 1:15 PM | Engaging Students and Improving Program Quality: Student Voice in the Program Review Process | J. Chamberland | Sheridan College | Presentation PDF |
| 1:30 PM | Lessons from Testing AI in Quality Assurance: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Next | K. Belfer; S. Mainville | Ontario College Quality Assurance Service | |
| 1:45 PM | Audience Q&A | Moderated discussion | ||
| 2:00 PM | Break (10 minutes) | |||
| 2:10 PM | Networking Activity | Small-group introductions | ||
| 2:30 PM | Closing Discussion: Toward a National QA Community | Facilitated dialogue on feasibility of a national QA community (30 min) | ||
| 3:00 PM | Closing Remarks and Adjourn at 3:10pm |
In-Person Event - June 16, 2026 (9 AM - 4:30 PM)
The event will be held at 1 James North, Hamilton, ON. One James North (OJN), formerly McMaster Continuing Education, is located on James Street North between King and King William Streets. Directions are available here.
| 8:30 AM | Registration | Light breakfast will be available | ||
| 9:00 AM | Welcome & Land Acknowledgment | Organizing Committee | ||
| 9:15 AM | Opening Plenary Presentation by Dr. Christine Bovis-Cnossen | Keynote Speaker | ||
| 10:00 PM | Networking Break | Refreshments (15 minutes) | ||
| Practitioner-Focused Session (60 min) | ||||
| 10:15 AM | The Connections Between Financial Viability and Quality Assurance at Canadian Universities | B. Dickson, D. Kotsopoulos, J. Groen | Western University | |
| 10:30 AM | Improving Timeliness in Cyclical Program Reviews: Lessons Learned | S. Lublink | Queen's University | Presentation PDF |
| 10:45 AM | From the Ground Up: Building Quality Assurance Without a Provincial Blueprint | L. Cliplef, C. Munn | Assiniboine College | |
| 11:00 AM | Audience Q&A | Moderated discussion with all three sets of presenters | ||
| 11:15 AM | Networking Break | 15 minutes | ||
| Research-Focused Session (60 min) | ||||
| 11:30 AM | Evaluating Temporal Constraints of QA: Chronopolitical Analysis of Program Review in Vocational Education | C. Sauve, A. Hoare | Simon Fraser University/Vancouver Community College; Thompson Rivers University | |
| 11:45 AM | A Review of Cyclical Reviews of Programs Identified for Closure | D. Kotsopoulos, B. Dickson, C. Masciantoino | Western University | |
| 12:00 PM | Doing Quality: The (Often) Invisible Work of Quality Practice | K. Siedlaczek | British Columbia Institute of Technology | |
| 12:15 PM | Audience Q&A | Moderated discussion with all three sets of presenters | ||
| 12:30 PM | Networking Lunch | 60 minutes | ||
| Concurent Panels (select one track) | ||||
| 1:30 PM | TRACK A - Panel (45 min) | Room A | ||
| Connecting Quality Assurance (QA) to Teaching and Learning: Stories from a Faculty-Engaged QA Community | A. Hoare, B. Woodford, R. McCreight, C. Ives, C. Dishke Hondzel | Thompson Rivers University; Key Ed. Consulting | ||
| TRACK B - Panel (45 min) | Room B | |||
| Panel on Student Engagement in Postsecondary Quality Assurance | M. DeCampos, J. Orogun, G. Van Gastel, J. Groen | Western University; Mohawk College; McMaster University | ||
| 2:15 PM | Networking Break | Refreshments (15 minutes) | ||
| Concurrent Themed Discussions (select one track) | ||||
| 2:30 PM | TRACK A - Themed Discussion (45 min) | Room A | ||
| Curriculum as Evidence: Improving QA Through Digitized Curriculum Management | C. Miles | Global IT Factory | Presentation PDF | |
| TRACK B - Themed Discussion (45 min) | Room B | |||
| Learner Mobility Isn’t a Bonus — It’s a Signal of Quality | D. Bonar | Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer | ||
| 3:15 PM | Networking Break | |||
| 3:30 PM | Closing Discussion: Toward a National QA Community | Facilitated dialogue on interest and feasibility of a dedicated national community for postsecondary quality assurance (30 min) | ||
| 4:15 PM | Closing Remarks & Adjourn at 4:30pm |
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy
Following a long career in academia and United States federal government, Sonny Ramaswamy retired after serving for almost seven years as president of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which accredits higher education institutions.
Previously, President Barack Obama appointed Sonny to direct the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which catalyzes transformative discoveries, innovations, and education to address societal challenges impacting food, nutrition and health, agriculture, and natural resource systems.
Dr. Ramaswamy served as dean of Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, director of Purdue’s Agricultural Research Programs, university distinguished professor and head of entomology at Kansas State University, and professor of entomology at Mississippi State University.
Sonny is the recipient of grants for his research on insect reproduction, mating, and host finding behavior and physiology from various United States federal agencies and commodity groups. He has mentored numerous high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, along with postdocs and visiting scientists, and has published extensively.
Dr. Ramaswamy’s BSc (Agriculture) and MSc (Entomology) are from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India; his PhD (Entomology) is from Rutgers University. He undertook postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and is a graduate of Harvard’s Management Development Program.
Sonny is an avid reader, writer, and loves to travel with his family.
Dr. Christine Bovis-Cnossen
President Christine Bovis-Cnossen brings to Brandon University more than 30 years of leadership experience from universities in Canada and the UK — but she is equally passionate about people, community, and building an inclusive future together.
Her career has taken her across the globe: she has been Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of East Anglia in England, Interim President at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, and Vice President Academic at OCAD University in Toronto. Along the way, she has led major projects to strengthen student success, expand research, and grow international opportunities. At UEA, she helped guide the institution back to financial health and expanded recruitment into new markets. At TRU, she championed open learning, supported Indigenous education, and helped secure accreditation that put the university on the world stage.
Christine is also a sociologist by training, with research focusing on equity, gender, and military service. She has been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is a lifelong advocate for transparency and collaboration in academic leadership. She also admits to being a self-confessed quality assurance geek.
Outside the office, Christine has a love of theatre, film, and art, and is happiest when exploring a new exhibition. She also has a soft spot for classic cars and motorcycles. Whether she’s at a graduation ceremony, walking through campus, or joining a community event, she brings warmth, openness, and a genuine interest in the people around her.