VICTORIA - New measures that will protect students, enhance quality, and strengthen accountability at B.C.'s private post-secondary institutions were announced today by Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell.

"After completing an internal policy review within the ministry, we're taking action to increase protection of students and build on the
improvements introduced in 2004 at private career training and degree-granting institutions in B.C.," Coell said. "All of the measures we're introducing today will encourage excellence in the private
sector."

The new measures announced today will be in effect for September 2007, and will include:

1. Providing information to help students make informed choices. For example, an online registry of private career training institutions that have had registration or accreditation cancelled or suspended is being
created. Entries will stay on the registry for five years, giving potential students access to the school's history.
2. Requiring all private institutions to report on any advertising in B.C. and abroad to ensure programs are represented accurately.
3. Putting an inquiry mechanism in place at the Ministry of Advanced Education that students or the public can use if they have concerns about institutions that have ministerial consent to grant degrees under
the Degree Authorization Act.
4. Developing new annual performance reporting requirements for institutions granting degrees that show how their programs match the approved plans, which will include annual visits to all private
degree-granting institutions.
5. Enhancing reporting requirements for career training schools - for example, how many of their graduates find jobs in the fields in which they trained.
6. Offering greater transparency in the way all private institutions are regulated.
7. Appointing two new members to the board of the Private Career Training Institutions Agency, one of whom will be a student. A
government representative already sits on the board, bringing the number of members from outside the private career training sector to three, recommended by Campus 2020 to enhance accountability and reflect the
broader public interest.

In addition, the ministry will accelerate the recommendation contained in the recent Campus 2020 report, which stated that the government should launch a more comprehensive review of private post secondary governance, legislation and accountability. This review will continue
through the fall and will include private English as a second language schools.

"I believe we must continue to evolve our system so that career students receive the quality training they expect in order to compete in a growing economy," Coell said. "This review will help us ensure B.C.
continues to offer high standard and reliable post-secondary education opportunities for all students."

There are 515 registered private career trainers in B.C., and 14 private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions authorized to provide degree programs here. Almost 70,000 international and domestic
students attend these schools each year.

Ministry of Advanced Education

PRIVATE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Private post-secondary institutions in B.C. offer two main types of education leading to credentials: degree programs, regulated by the
Degree Authorization Act; and career training programs, leading to diplomas and certificates, regulated by the Private Career Training Institutions Act.

Private career training

* The Private Career Training Institutions Act, which came into force in November 2004, regulates private institutions in B.C. offering a broad range of career programs leading to such jobs as auto mechanic, art
therapist, pharmacy technician, practical nurse, long-term care aide and payroll administrator. The act created the Private Career Training Institutions Agency, which registers private career trainers and offers
a voluntary accreditation process.

* The agency also administers the Student Training Completion Fund, which guarantees students a refund of their unused tuition if their institution should close unexpectedly.

* Among the changes announced today are measures to ensure greater transparency in the way private career trainers operate in British Columbia. The Private Career Training Institutions Agency will:
* Publish a list of all registered private training institutions seeking accreditation.
* Report the names and affiliations of those taking part on accreditation teams in the agency's annual report and on its website.
* Work with the ministry and the degree quality assessment board more closely on common issues and concerns.

* New election criteria for future members of the agency's board will ensure a broad base of skills, including business and corporate
governance. Each member will receive a letter outlining the board's mandate and responsibilities.

Degree programs at private institutions

* Under the Degree Authorization Act, which came into force in November 2003, private and out-of-province public post-secondary institutions must receive consent from the Minister of Advanced Education before they
provide, advertise or grant degrees in British Columbia, or use the word "university" for educational purposes.

* Proposals from public and private institutions for new degree programs
- baccalaureate, master's and doctoral - are reviewed by the degree quality assessment board, which advises the minister. The board also reviews associate degrees from private and out-of-province public institutions. This ensures consistent and high-quality education
standards are met and maintained by institutions in the provincial post-secondary system.

* To receive consent to offer a degree program, institutions must post a bond to protect students' unused tuition should the school close, and make arrangements to ensure students' transcripts will be available.

* Private institutions in B.C. offer a range of degree programs, including business administration, economics, linguistics, counselling, education and geography.

* Among the changes announced today are measures to enhance transparency in the degree-granting process:
* For new applications, the full program proposal is now posted on the ministry's website, rather than a summary, to better inform the public about each degree proposal. (Go to www.aved.gov.bc.ca, and click on
Degree Authorization and then Applications Under Review.)
* Summaries of recommendations from the degree quality assessment board are now posted on the ministry's website, along with the minister's decision. (Go to www.aved.gov.bc.ca, and click on Degree Authorization and then Recommendations and Decisions.)

* The ministry will also review the Degree Authorization Act's enforcement and penalty sections.