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.
Research Summary: Prepared by Chris Conway, Queen’s University The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is a tool for exploring institutional practices and student behaviours that are known to be associated with good learning outcomes. It is now administered by all Ontario universities as part of their Multi-year Accountability Agreements with the Ministry of Training, […]
Research Summary: Report prepared by Dr. Carol A. Miles, Dragana Polovina-Vukovic, Darcy Litteljohn, Dr. Anthony Marini, Carleton University Carleton University introduced the Peer-Assisted Study Session (PASS) program to assist students who are registered in traditionally difficult or high attrition courses, with combined D, Fail or Withdrawal (WFD) rates of over 30 per cent, to succeed […]
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 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. […]
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. […]
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 […]