Aurora College has not reviewed its social work program in nearly two decades, despite a policy requirement to do so at least every five years.

Intake to the social work program was suspended earlier this year after GNWT budget cuts threatened its future and threw the programSA国际影视传媒檚 success into question.

The last review of the social work program was in 1999, with a report on the findings produced in 2000, states a request for proposals for a new review.

Now, the college is seeking contractors for a fresh review of the program to determine how well it is meeting studentsSA国际影视传媒� and employersSA国际影视传媒� needs in this day and age.

SA国际影视传媒淲e do try to review our programs regularly and on a rotational basis, and our policy indicates that we try to do that every five years,SA国际影视传媒� said Diane Reed, vice-president of education and training at Aurora College. SA国际影视传媒淲e had decided to go ahead and do a program review of that program, so weSA国际影视传媒檙e just proceeding as planned.SA国际影视传媒�

But the nearly 20-year gap between the current and last review has some people raising their eyebrows.

Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson, who chairs the standing committee on social development, wonders whether other programs have slipped under the radar too.

SA国际影视传媒淚f theySA国际影视传媒檙e supposed to be doing one every five years SA国际影视传媒� that is a concern,SA国际影视传媒� said Thompson. SA国际影视传媒淗ow are you going to improve it? Times change and programs change and training changes.SA国际影视传媒�

Thompson also questioned the timing of the program review.

It comes as a bigger, more expensive examination of Aurora College is underway to carve out the institutionSA国际影视传媒檚 long-term vision.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is spending $412,620 to have a Calgary-based firm conduct a foundational review of the collegeSA国际影视传媒檚 operations, governance and how it maintains programs to meet labour market needs.

The foundational review was announced earlier this year after the college stated it would be ending its social work and teacher education programs due to $1.89 million in GNWT budget cuts.

Those cuts were later put on hold, pending the completion of the foundational review in March 2018.

The review of the social work program is not scheduled to be completed until April 2018, although the contract has not yet been awarded.

It has a budget of $50,000, according to the request for proposals.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 concerned because what is the foundational review actually going to be doing then if theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing this (program review)?SA国际影视传媒� said Thompson.

He added it was his understanding that the foundational review of the college would help assess the social work program as well.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a big concern for me because weSA国际影视传媒檙e spending a whole bunch of money doing a foundational review,SA国际影视传媒� Thompson said.

Education Minister Alfred Moses was unavailable for an interview.  An email from a spokesperson states the two reviews are separate and the minister had no influence in initiating the social work program review.

SA国际影视传媒淥perational reviews are conducted by the college as part of its own management and decision making process,SA国际影视传媒� stated Charlotte Digness. SA国际影视传媒淭his is part of routine business for the college.SA国际影视传媒�

When asked whether the minister was aware the college would be reviewing its social work program when he announced the foundational review in March, Digness said the foundational review would have coincided with at least one of the collegeSA国际影视传媒檚 regular program reviews.

"This is a decision of the college that would not typically be raised with the minister, as providing day-to-day management direction is not his role,SA国际影视传媒� she stated.

Reed also said the college acts independently on program reviews.

A letter obtained by Yellowknifer shows the education minister was aware as of Aug. 10 that Aurora College would be reviewing the social work program.

However, Thompson said the same thing could not be said of MLAs.

He said he learned of the social work program review through a News/North ad this month.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of disappointing to see that,SA国际影视传媒� said Thompson, although he added he has confidence in the instructors of the program. SA国际影视传媒淭o me itSA国际影视传媒檚 not about them, itSA国际影视传媒檚 about how the department and Aurora College are the ones putting up road blocks right now.SA国际影视传媒�

The standing committee on social development is expected to discuss the program review at a meeting in January.

A report on the social work program review is expected to be produced, however the findings will not be public.