Terms of Reference for the Canadian Forces College Board of Visitors

AIM

The aim of this document is to describe the Terms of Reference for the Canadian Forces College Board of Visitors. 

TERMINOLOGY

The Canadian Forces College Board of Visitors shall hereafter be referred to as the Board.  The Canadian Forces College shall hereafter be referred to as the College.  The Commandant of the College shall hereafter be referred to as the Commandant.

BACKGROUND

The Board traces its origins to the approval of accreditation by the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies of the Command and Staff Course for a Master of Defence Studies degree from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), which reinforced the importance of graduate education in the professional development of the Canadian Officer Corps. 

The initiation of the Master of Defence Studies programme at the College in 2001 indicates the level of commitment of the College towards both increasing the academic rigour of its curricula of officer professional development as well as adapting its instructional methodologies to meet the challenges of both more complex academic and operational environments, and the demands on the leadership of the Canadian Forces.

The establishment of a Board therefore reflects the intention of the College to seek advice from external authorities on its activities to ensure that its programs meet these challenges.

AUTHORITY

The Board derives its authority from the Commandant and the corporate goal  that the College be a "centre of excellence" in Officer Professional Development.  Furthermore, the Board also derives its legitimacy from the recommendations contained within the report of the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies which approved the accreditation of the Master of  Defence Studies degree granted by RMC and based on the curricula of the Command and Staff Course.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Board will report to the Commandant, providing advice and making recommendations on all matters pertaining to the College curricula and methods of instruction.  The Board assists the Commandant in ensuring that the College's curricula are appropriate in their design, delivery and quality.  The Board will also provide advice on the means by which the necessary high standards of academic conduct in College educational programmes can be maintained.

The Board is  specifically responsible to the Commandant for reviewing and commenting on:

  • the academic programmes offered at the College;

  • the instructional and assessment methodologies of the College;

  • the use and development of the College's academic staff;

  • the operation and development of the Information Resource Centre; and

  • the use of both official languages in College curricula.

Further, the Board will provide assistance to the Commandant for improving the lines of communication and cooperation between the College and other Canadian academic bodies.

ORGANIZATION

The Board is composed of a Chair and six additional members for a total of seven members.  Members of the Board are academic authorities in fields of study related to the curriculum taught at the College, and in development and administration of such programmes. 

The Commandant appoints the Chair for a term of four years.  The Commandant, with the advice of the Chair and Commander of the Canadian Defence Academy, appoints the remaining members for a period of three years.  Membership may be renewed at the discretion of the Commandant.  Members of the Board, should reflect, as much as possible, the regional and linguistic diversity of Canada.

ADMINISTRATION

The Board will convene twice a year at the call of the Chair, usually following the June graduation and convocation and again at an appropriate time in the winter term.  The Board shall use its winter meeting to initiate its reviews and its summer meeting to conclude them.

Board decisions will normally be made through consensus, however, votes may be taken at the discretion of the Chair.  Members of the Board may formally advise the Commandant if they are not in agreement with a decision taken by the Board provided they inform the Chair of their intention beforehand.

The Commandant may direct the Board to examine specific issues from time to time.  However, the Board is free to examine any and all issues that fall naturally under its area of responsibilities.  The Board shall be free to interview any and all College staff members and students in the course of its duties, as well as have access to any and all College institutional bodies and associated unclassified documentation to assist in its review.

The Board will produce an annual report for the use of the Commandant detailing its observations and recommendations following its summer meeting.

Members of the Board are volunteers but will be entitled to a modest honorarium as determined by the Commandant of the College.  Members will also be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in the conduct of Board meetings.

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