SEM Summit ‘09 INCREASING ACCESSIBILTY: LESSONS LEARNED IN RETAINING SPECIAL POPULATION STUDENTS IN CANADA Susan Gottheil, Mount Royal College Clayton.
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SEM Summit ‘09SEM Summit ‘09SEM Summit ‘09SEM Summit ‘09
INCREASING ACCESSIBILTY: INCREASING ACCESSIBILTY: LESSONS LEARNED IN LESSONS LEARNED IN
RETAINING SPECIAL RETAINING SPECIAL POPULATION STUDENTSPOPULATION STUDENTS
IN CANADAIN CANADA
Susan Gottheil, Mount Royal CollegeClayton Smith, University of Windsor
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Why This Topic? In Canada, changing demographics & increased
competition, as well as social values based on equity, have sharpened efforts to increase PSE participation rates of youth from under-represented/ under-served groups
Provincial governments are funding a variety of targeted initiatives
Holistic retention programs & planning are not well-developed at most institutions
Access to and success in PSE has become an important public issue2
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Low-Income/First Generation Students
One-half of students from low-income families don’t continue past high school vs. one-quarter from high-income families (Baldwin & Parkin, 2007)
81% of 18 to 24 year olds whose parents have a university education participate in PSE, compared to 53% for young people whose parents didn’t go past high school (CMSF)
Both groups are disproportionately minorities, from rural areas, have less than optimal high school preparation or test scores
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Lesson #3 There’s a need for both specialized/targeted programs
& integration of under-represented groups into regular programming
• The latter requires outreach, cultural sensitivity & awareness of specific historical, economic & social barriers faced by special populations
We need to create connectivity between our FYE programs & campus programs/services targeted to specific groups – e.g., holistic first-year experience programs
• Importance of entire campus community working together to support under-served populations & make them feel part of our communities
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Community Partnerships (cont’d) Westview Partnership: between York University and
22 public schools to encourage First Generation students to attend PSE
The Leadership Experience for Academic Directors (LEAD) program: joint effort of University of Windsor and Windsor-Essex Catholic School Board, connects at-risk students entering secondary school with 2 university student mentors
U of T’s junior track team partnered with Toronto Community Housing to provide “scholarships” to housing project youth to practice on campus
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Student & Academic Support Programs
Create learning communities for peer support
Foundations for Success project (funded by CMSF) offers case-managed support services & financial incentives to students at 3 Ontario colleges (Seneca, Mohawk & Confederation)
• Assesses students after admission but before begin, identifying those that would benefit from academic tutoring, mentorship & career counselling
The First Generation Program at Brock University provides both academic and personal support, which includes 1:1 help with school-related issues
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Supportive Campus Environment
Foster a welcoming campus climate to increase comfort, skills & connections among special population students & make campuses more receptive to traditionally underrepresented groups