Access Reboot: New Directions for Higher Education

The conference keynote will be delivered by Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa who is an accomplished physician, spoken word poet and advocate for racialized and marginalized populations.

How can researchers focused on access ensure their approach to data collection is reflective of the specific populations they engage? This panel will discuss the importance of examining and addressing access issues using methods that embrace principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization (EDID). Attendees will learn what questions to ask to help them gather more meaningful information.

Many roads lead to postsecondary education. This panel will highlight outreach and transition programs that support students at different points along their diverse journeys to college or university. Panelists will provide an overview of these programs and engage in a moderated discussion about successes, challenges and opportunities to allow more students access to PSE.

This panel will share perspectives and experiences from institutions and employers on the future of work-integrated learning (WIL). Topics will cover the importance of inclusion in WIL, changing institutional practices due to remote work and broader economic changes. Panelists will offer lessons on how institutions and employers are adjusting WIL to be better prepared for this future, and what the sector may need to consider moving forward.

PSE students who feel included have improved learning outcomes and report better wellbeing. This roundtable workshop will focus on actions institutional staff can take to help students feel included in learning spaces on campus. Guided by experts in postsecondary equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization (EDID), attendees will workshop solutions to real-world scenarios in a roundtable format and collaborate to develop solutions from an EDID-informed perspective. The session will conclude with a facilitated debrief and discussion.

What can PSE institutions do to better support students’ mental health? In this moderated discussion, practitioners will discuss prevailing challenges and barriers to mental health for students, as well as opportunities and best practices for supporting student wellbeing in postsecondary settings. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with experts and learn from one another.

International students face unique mental and physical health challenges as they adjust to living and learning in Ontario. In this panel session, participants will hear from international students, campus healthcare practitioners and student services staff about barriers to wellbeing, available supports and innovative approaches to helping international students thrive.

Information about each Ontario student’s educational journey from kindergarten to postsecondary is tracked through the Ontario Education Number (OEN). Other jurisdictions use this type of data to inform decision-making and develop policy interventions to increase student success but in Ontario access to this powerful data set is limited. In this moderated panel discussion, attendees will hear from K-12 and postsecondary researchers about the power and potential of linked student data to help us understand the educational trajectories of Ontario students.

With Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in mind, this interactive session will allow multiple means of engaging or disengaging and offer participants the chance to learn about mental health initiatives taking place on campuses. Visit the drop-in stations to chat with others, reflect during quiet time with a puzzle, meet a therapy dog or learn about the potential benefits of a multi-sensory room.