Private applicants undergo both an organization review and, should the organization review by positive, a program review. For organization reviews, the Board appoints an Organization Review Panel to assess the submission against the Board’s criteria for organizations offering degrees in Ontario.

Organization Review Committee

The Organization Review Committee (ORC) is a standing committee established by the Board to review the organizational soundness and capacity of private applicants. Members of the Organization Review Committee are selected by the Board to reflect the several dimensions of consumer protection and organization quality, including but not limited to financial analysis, admission processes, registrarial functions, learning resources, and educational management. The Organization Review Committee may include persons with several of the following qualifications:

• accounting certification and experience in corporate financial management
• experience in admissions/registrarial roles, including admissions policies and academic records management in a degree granting institution
• experience in managing learning resources
• senior management experience in a degree granting institution
• experience with professional, accrediting and regulatory bodies for higher education within and outside of Ontario.

For current membership, see PEQAB Annual Report.

Organization Reviewers Panel

The Board strikes a panel from among the members of the ORC to review each application from a private organization. The Organization Review panel members must be free of any conflict of interest and be recognized by their peers for having a broad outlook, open mind, and sound judgement. Depending on the nature and complexity of the application for a private organization, the Organization Review Panel will normally have between one and three members.