Accreditation 15 July 2022

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of one higher education course of study offered by Tabor College Incorporated

On 15 July 2022, a delegate of TEQSA:

• accredited, under section 49 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the following course offered by Tabor College Incorporated, for a period of seven years until 15 July 2029:
  • Diploma of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care
• imposed, under section 53 of the TEQSA Act, one condition on the accreditation of the Diploma of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care.

Condition 1: Staffing

1. Within 60 days of the notice of decision, Tabor College Incorporated must provide TEQSA with a rectification plan that details how Tabor College Incorporated will ensure that staff with responsibilities for academic oversight and those with teaching roles in the course of study will:
   
   1. Engage and continue to engage in sufficient scholarship or research or advances in practice so as to maintain their knowledge of contemporary developments in disciplines or fields relevant to the course.
   2. Provide education, scholarship, training or other suitable activities to maintain skills in contemporary teaching, learning and assessment principles in disciplines relevant to the course.
2. The rectification plan referred to in 1(a) must be supported by adequate resources and include, at a minimum, the following:
   
   1. the scope of the rectification plan
   2. clearly articulated outcomes and activities directed toward achieving those outcomes
   3. the allocation of responsibilities for delivering activities and outcomes
   4. timeframes for the completion of each activity and for the achievement of each outcome, as well as for the completion of the rectification plan
   5. details of monitoring and reporting arrangements to ensure regular oversight of the implementation of the rectification plan.
3. Within 60 days of the notice of decision, Tabor College Incorporated must provide TEQSA with evidence that the rectification plan referred to in 1(a) and 1(b) has been considered and overseen by Tabor College Incorporated's peak academic governance processes and considered and approved by Tabor College Incorporated's governing body.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply a condition to the accreditation of the course is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Tabor College Incorporated is at risk of not complying with the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021:

1. Standard 3.2.3 of Part A, in relation to Staffing, as TEQSA is not assured that academic staff with oversight and teaching roles:
   
   1. have, and will continue to engage in sufficient scholarship or research or advances in practice to ensure knowledge of contemporary development in disciplines relevant to the course (Paragraph 3.2.3a).
   2. have, and will continue to engage in current and sufficient activities, such as education, scholarship or training, to ensure skills in contemporary teaching, learning and assessment principles in disciplines relevant to the course (Paragraph 3.2.3b).
2. Standards 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 of Part A, in relation to Staffing, as the risks to Standard 3.2.3 are such that it is not evident that the proposed academic staffing complement have or will have knowledge of contemporary developments in disciplines relevant to the course and relevant skills in contemporary teaching, learning and assessment principles to meet the educational needs of student cohorts (Standard 3.2.1) and lead students in intellectual inquiry suited to the nature and level of expected learning outcomes (Standard 3.2.2).

Application to withdraw conditions

In accordance with section 53 of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the accreditation of a higher education course of study, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.