The Information Systems and Technology Accreditation Council (ISTAC) is the lead Council in CIPS responsible for formulating and maintaining high educational standards for Canadian colleges offering programs of study in the areas of Information Systems, Information Management and the application of Computer Technology to the solution of organization and business related problems; and to assist those institutions in planning and carrying out educational programs.
The ISTAC was formed in June 2003 resulting from a merger of the College Program Accreditation Council (CPAC) and the Information Systems Accreditation Council (ISAC). The former was responsible for college diploma type programs, the latter for undergraduate Information Management type programs. Both CPAC and ISAC shared common objectives and goals, and the synergies between the two bodies has not only streamlined the accreditation efforts, but also has built a larger knowledge base within the Council. The merger has created a new and stronger independent voice for Information Systems and Technology programs. For information on the review and accreditation of I.S. and I.M. undergraduate programs please visit the Information for University Programs.
"Education is a foundational component of the Information Systems Professional (I.S.P.) designation. Information Systems practitioners view their training and its quality as a strong thread stitching the pieces of their professional experiences together. Hence, it is important for educational programs to meet minimum standards and assure that they are keeping current within a rapidly evolving profession/industry."
Gerald Caissy, I.S.P., ITCP
Chair, Information Systems and Technology Accreditation Council
Detailed Information
Template
Web Template for Accreditation Materials (ZIP file)
(Note: we prefer that this web template is used to host the accreditation materials. If you are unable to use this template, please contact the CIPS Secretariat at accreditation@cips.ca)
The purpose of the questionnaire is to assess the program's compliance with the Council's criteria.
When completing the questionnaire, the educational institution should ask itself:
- Does the program documentation provide sufficient evidence that the program meets the accreditation criteria?
- Can evidence be shown that the program follows the provided documentation?
- Have all sections of the questionnaire been completed as indicated?
The criteria must be met in order for a program to be deemed accreditable. The questions in the questionnaire are associated with the criteria. If one or more criteria are not satisfied, it is incumbent upon the institution to demonstrate and document clearly and how the criteria are met in some alternative fashion.
The questionnaire needs to be submitted by the educational institution at least six weeks prior to the team's visit.
The questionnaire should be submitted electronically. Where possible, questionnaire related background materials (i.e. course outlines, faculty profiles) should also be submitted in electronic format. When only hardcopy format is available, four copies of these documents should be submitted. One full copy of the accreditation materials should remain in the team's review room at the educational institution.
