Publications

HEQCO conducts and commissions studies and evaluations, often in partnership with Ontario’s colleges and universities, on key issues in accessibility, quality and accountability. Various organizations and individuals have considerable and valuable expertise in postsecondary education research. The research publications below reflect this collaboration with some of the best thinkers on issues related to higher education. Join our mailing list and keep current with the latest HEQCO research.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

At HEQCO, we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. To request HEQCO material in alternate formats, please contact info@heqco.ca​​.

The Effectiveness of the Writing Proficiency Assessment WPA in Improving Student Writing Skills at Huron University College

Research Summary: The Effectiveness of the Writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA) in Improving Student Writing Skills at Huron University College Huron University College is a federated liberal arts college within the University of Western Ontario.  Its writing Proficiency Assessment (WPA) was developed to  introduce first year students to the culture of academic writing in university, and […]

Discovering the Benefits of a First Year Experience Program for Under-represented Students: A Preliminary Assessment of Lakehead University’s Gateway Program

Discovering the Benefits of a First Year Experience Program for Under-represented Students: A Preliminary Assessment of Lakehead University’s Gateway Program  Prepared by Sarah Browne and Heather Doyle, Lakehead University Research indicates that non-traditional students –  including first generation students, students with disabilities, visible minorities, and mature students – are becoming the majority on many campuses.  […]

First Year Transitions: An Evaluation of Nipissing University’s Univ1011

Research Summary: As early as 1998, it was clear that some students entering Nipissing University were not fully prepared for the academic demands or the life transitions of university.  As a result, the student services department and the faculty of arts and science developed a program to help first year students adjust to university life.   […]

Promising Practices Increasing and Supporting Participation for Aboriginal Students in Ontario

Research Summary: This paper is the result of a review of over 40 programs in Ontario colleges and universities that were designed to increase recruitment, participation and retention of Aboriginal students in postsecondary education. It involved a literature review, site visits to 6 postsecondary institutions and qualitative interviews with program administrators and coordinators at 28 […]

Identifying Trends and Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning into Postsecondary

Research Summary: This paper has two goals: 1) to identify the numbers of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who will be graduating with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and entering postsecondary studies in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and 2) to perform a gap analysis comparing the services provided in secondary schools with those currently […]

The High Education Low Income Paradox College and University Graduates with Low Earnings-Ontario

Research Summary: According to the 2008 report, Education at a Glance from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the percentage of university- and college-educated workers who earned at or below half of the national median employment income (or $16,917) was higher in Canada (and Ontario) in 2006 than most, if not all, key […]