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Academic Excellence

Administration and Governance

At Lakeland College, Academic Excellence means supporting the whole student.

We strive to guide every student's growth through real-world learning and comprehensive supports. By fostering innovative education, academic excellence and a culture of belonginess, we prepare our students to excel in the classroom, the workplace and their communities.

We created a plan to ensure we’re addressing every aspect of the student experience. This plan has two components:

  • Academic Framework, which highlights the student experience inside the classroom
  • Enrolment and Student Success Roadmap, which addresses the journey from prospect to student to alumni
Decorative

Student success is the cornerstone of what we do at Lakeland. To create the Academic Framework, we looked at how we already provide students with the best possible academic experience, and sought ways to standardize and elevate it. 

Our main goal is to create resources that make it easier for our team to consistently deliver the academic experience Lakeland is known for.

Goals

  • Create consistent and transparent quality expectations for faculty and staff.
  • Build a shared teaching and learning culture based on sound pedagogical practices.
  • Create equity and transparency in student expectations.
  • Develop processes that help us move swiftly to ensure programming meets the current and emerging needs of industry.

Pillars and elements

Three key pillars form the building blocks of the framework. Within each pillar, there are the foundational elements that come together to create the classroom experience.

Course and program governance ensures Lakeland College’s programs are designed, delivered and reviewed through clear, consistent and accountable processes. It’s essential for maintaining quality, relevance and transparency, so students can trust their education and succeed in a changing world.

Element Definition
Course outlines

Course outlines are the foundation of every class at Lakeland College, clearly outlining what students will learn, how they’ll be assessed, and what’s expected for success. Developed and reviewed by subject matter experts through a formal quality assurance process, they ensure consistency, transparency and alignment with industry standards.
Credit and credential framework Lakeland’s credit and credential framework creates clear, consistent pathways for learning, so students always know what their education means and where it can take them next. This approach supports lifelong learning, making it easier for students to build on their education, transfer between programs and continue growing their skills over time.
Program advisory committees Program advisory committees connect Lakeland directly with industry, ensuring our programs reflect current and emerging workforce needs. Made up of industry partners, these committees guide the development of new programs and the ongoing review of existing ones, helping us stay relevant and responsive.
Program lifecycle  Lakeland programs follow a clear lifecycle that takes them from idea to development, review, renewal and, when needed, suspension. This ensures our offerings stay relevant and effective, guided by consistent processes and informed by data and industry needs.
Scheduling At Lakeland, scheduling is intentionally designed to support student success, considering both when and where learning happens. Courses are planned to match the needs of the learning environment, instructional approach and student progression, helping reduce barriers and create clear paths forward.
Standardized academic calendar Lakeland’s standardized academic calendar provides clear, consistent timelines for programs, semesters and key dates so students always know what to expect. Published in advance and aligned across programs, it supports planning, transparency and flexibility in how students progress through their studies. 

 

Teaching and Learning Excellence at Lakeland ensures every student benefits from high-quality, engaging and relevant learning experiences. By focusing on strong curriculum, real-world learning and continuous improvement in teaching practices, it prepares students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed.

Element Definition
Curriculum development, refresh and renew At Lakeland, curriculum development is a thoughtful, collaborative process that shapes what students learn and how they learn it. Courses and programs are intentionally designed, regularly reviewed and continuously refreshed to stay relevant, aligned and high quality.
Co-curricular learning At Lakeland, learning goes beyond the classroom and we acknowledge both lessons learned in the classroom and outside of it. Co-curricular experiences like clubs, leadership roles and community involvement play a vital role in student growth. 
Employability skills At Lakeland, employability skills are embedded across student experiences, ensuring graduates are ready for today’s complex and connected workplaces. From communication and teamwork to problem-solving and intercultural competence, these skills are developed alongside program-specific knowledge. As a result, graduates are job-ready and equipped to adapt, contribute and succeed in a changing world.
Teaching scholarship Scholarly teaching is at the heart of effective, high-quality education at Lakeland. Instructors continuously build their expertise and apply evidence-informed practices to enhance teaching, assessment and the student experience. This ensures programs stay current, engaging and impactful.
Work-integrated learning At Lakeland, students don’t just learn, they live the learning through hands-on, real world experience. Work-integrated learning is build into programs, connecting classroom knowledge with industry practice and helping students develop job-ready skills.

 

Student learning pathways at Lakeland create flexible, accessible routes for students to start, explore and advance their education. By offering multiple entry points and opportunities to build on prior learning, these pathways help students move forward with confidence.

Element Definition
Common courses Common courses at Lakeland create flexible learning pathways, giving students more choice and access to expert instruction across programs. Designed to bring learners together, they encourage collaboration across disciplines and reflect the increasingly interconnected nature of today’s workplaces. 
Dual-credit courses Dual-credit at Lakeland gives high school students a head start, earning post-secondary credit while exploring career pathways. It creates smoother transitions and shortens the path to graduation. 
Microcredentials Microcredentials offer flexible, targeted learning that helps students and professionals build new skills and stay current in their fields. These short, competency-based courses can be recognized on transcripts and, in may cases, ladder into further education, creating clear pathways for lifelong learning. 
Open studies Open studies give students the flexibility to explore courses without committing to a full program. It’s an accessible way to sample post-secondary, upgrade skills, or pursue personal and professional interests. It helps students discover the right path forward with confidence.
Recognition of prior learning At Lakeland, we recognize that valuable learning happens before students arrive and we make it count. Through clear, transparent processes, prior learning can be assessed and applied towards programs to help students move forward without starting over. This creates more flexible pathways, supports diverse learner backgrounds, and helps student reach their goals faster.

 

 

The Enrolment and Student Success Roadmap focuses on slow and steady, year-over-year sustainable growth. This approach:

ensures that enrolment growth enhances institutional resilience
advances academic excellence
strengthens the college's capacity to meet the needs of learners and the communities it serves

Two pillars make up the roadmap, which has five end goals.

Pillar Definition
Prospect to alumni journey

We care about students before they arrive, throughout their time here and long after they graduate. Learning is lifelong and we're committed to being a partner every step of the way.
Student-focused supports

We provide comprehensive support to help students thrive – academically, personally and beyond.

  • Increase access and enrolment pathways
  • Foster student life and engagement
  • Develop student-first focus
  • Integrate student success and career readiness
  • Optimize enrolment and sustainability