Food Insecurity and Educational Outcomes: A Focus on TDSB Students

Food security has positive effects on high school grades and enrolment in postsecondary education A new study published by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) has found that inadequate quantity and quality of food, also known as food insecurity, has significant impacts on both the academic success and postsecondary education participation of high […]

Helping Youth Pursue Education (HYPE): Exploring the Keys to Transformation in Postsecondary Access and Retention for Youth in Underserved Neighbourhoods

Centennial outreach program encourages underrepresented students to enrol in postsecondary Almost half of participants in a Centennial College outreach program to support Toronto-area marginalized and underrepresented students enrolled in a postsecondary program either at Centennial or elsewhere. However, the program participants fared worse when it came to academic performance, persistence and completion than non-participants, likely […]

Academic Advising: Measuring the Effects of “Proactive” Interventions on Student Outcomes

More Robust Student Outreach Could Reduce Drop-out Rates First-year students who received repeated emails encouraging them to participate in advising services — particularly in group advising sessions — were less likely to drop out, finds a new report published by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). The study was conducted by researchers at […]

Using Predictive Modelling to Inform Early Alert and Intrusive Advising Interventions and Improve Retention

Researchers develop a model to forecast dropout rates, better support students Can a mathematical equation predict which students are most likely to drop out? Yes, according to the findings of a new report published by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Researchers at Mohawk College and the Education Policy Research Initiative (EPRI) developed […]

Data Infrastructure for Studying Equity of Access to Postsecondary Education in Ontario

​​Access data in Ontario is incomplete and disconnected , limiting research potential While Ontario has a high proportion of citizens with postsecondary credentials , there are still certain groups underrepresented in the higher education system. Within the province there is a large pool of information on factors that may be important in developing policies and […]

Q Success: Supporting underrepresented students in transition

Queen’s transition program of significant interest to underrepresented students First-year undergraduate students can benefit from programs designed to smooth their transition into postsecondary education and such programs are of particular interest to students who are underrepresented in higher education, according to a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Initially piloted […]

Understanding the Gaps in Postsecondary Education Participation Based on Income and Place of Birth: The role of high school course selection and performance

Foreign-born students more likely to pursue postsecondary education A new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) finds that students born outside of Canada are more likely to pursue college and university than Canadian-born students. Understanding the Gaps in Postsecondary Education Participation Based on Income and Place of Birth: The role of high […]

What are Ontario’s Universities Doing to Improve Access for Under-represented Groups?

Identifying under-represented groups a challenge for college and university access programs Colleges and universities across Ontario are engaged in many outreach , recruitment and retention efforts to improve access to postsecondary education for under-represented groups. However , two new reports from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) find that defining which students are […]

The Recruitment of Under-represented Groups to Ontario Colleges: A Survey of Current Practices

Identifying under-represented groups a challenge for college and university access programs Colleges and universities across Ontario are engaged in many outreach , recruitment and retention efforts to improve access to postsecondary education for under-represented groups. However , two new reports from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) find that defining which students are […]