Since our March 2026 update on Council activities, Council participated in three e-votes and met once in June. Though Council’s activities usually take place during their regularly scheduled meetings, occasionally they need to make decisions between meetings. These are Council’s activities since our last update:
Adopted
- regulatory performance principles
- Council is responsible for overseeing regulatory performance. The adopted principles will form the basis for a regulatory performance framework. Through the framework, Council will have meaningful information and evidence to inform oversight.
- new Governance Policies
- Updating the Governance Policies is part of our ongoing work to review and modernize all College policies. This new suite of Governance Policies strengthens role clarity, supports more consistent oversight, aligns with our broader policy structure, and reflects contemporary regulatory governance practice.
- The new Governance Policies replace all previous governance policies.
- new Continuing Competence Program Policies
- Updating the Continuing Competence Program Policies is part of our ongoing work to review and modernize all College policies. This new suite of Continuing Competence Program Policies sets a clearer, more defensible framework for how we establish continuing competence expectations, support regulated member participation, audit compliance, determine outcomes, and respond to identified gaps.
- The new Continuing Competence Program Policies replace all previous competence program policies.
- revised bylaws
- Our bylaws establish Council authority, decision-making structures, and organizational accountability. We made the proposed changes available for comment and the feedback was generally positive. In response to what we heard, we made minor grammar and wording changes.
- Key changes include greater independence between Council and council appointments, and clearer Council term limits and committee appointment processes.
- Other changes improve clarity, consistency, and readability rather than change governance structure, authority, or intent.
Approved
- revised Program Approval Policies
- In March, Council accepted recommendations from the Program Approval Review to improve transparency, defensibility, and alignment between education and practice readiness, while reinforcing risk-focused and data-informed governance. The recommendations included transitioning to a new framework for program approval.
- The updated Program Approval Policies support initial stages in the framework transition. We anticipate more policy updates in later stages of the transition.
- Hearings Director appointments
- Council approved engaging a new person for the Hearings Director role. The person was appointed but did not work out as expected. Council then reappointed Carol Collison as Hearings Director.
- Reeves College Dental Assisting Program cohort increase
- Council approved Reeves College’s request to increase from three cohorts, or student intakes, to four per year. Reeves College’s request outlined facility and staffing changes to support the increase. The Program Approval Committee will incorporate outcomes-based evidence into ongoing monitoring.
- University of Alberta Dental Assisting Program cohort decrease
- Council approved University of Alberta’s request to decrease from two cohorts, or student intakes, to one per year. University of Alberta’s request indicates an intake- structure change to simplify operations. The Program Approval Committee will incorporate outcomes-based evidence into ongoing monitoring.
- the Registrar & CEO Performance Management Manual
- The Governance Committee facilitates the Registrar & CEO performance management process with Council responsible for assessment and decision-making. The manual defines the Committee’s role and guides the process. It supports transparency, fairness, and good governance.
- the March 7, 2026, meeting minute
Called for
- letters of intent for officer positions
- The Officers of Council include the Chair, Vice-Chair Governance and Regulation, and Vice-Chair Finance and Risk Management. Each year, Council fills these positions by electing eligible council members. The letters will be considered, and an election take place at Council’s September 2026 meeting.
Discussed
- stakeholder insights and emerging issues impacting professional regulation and dental assisting
Participated in
- a presentation about the program approval project
- a presentation from the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta
- a risk management presentation
- a review of meeting effectiveness after the meeting concluded
Received
- an update on the program approval transition
- The update provides Council with the status and outcomes of key activities to support the transition.
- the Strategic Performance and Projects Update
- The update keeps Council informed about progress toward reaching the goals in the 2025-30 Strategic Plan and key projects.
- the consent agenda items for filing
- These items include financial statements, an update on the use of reserve funds, a summary of Council motions, verification of corporate insurance coverage, and committee activity updates.
Reappointed
- Genevera Hunt for a second, three-year term
- Council Member Hunt has served as a regulated council member since December 1, 2021. This reappointment is for a second and final consecutive three-year term and is effective December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2029.
Rescinded
- governance and competence policies in place up to June 20, 2026
- Council rescinded all governance and competence policies in place up to June 20, 2026, and replaced them with new, updated policies.
