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2010	2009	2008	2007	2006
2010
June 14, 2010 Report Offers Roadmap to Success for Postsecondary Students with Autism
March 22, 2010 New Book Calls for Improvements in Teaching Quality in Postsecondary Education
March 18, 2010 Ontario's Postsecondary Education System Sound but Challenges Ahead
March 10, 2010 New President Appointed to Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
2009
November 30, 2009 Sustainability of Ontario's Model For Baccalaureate Education Questioned
September 16, 2009 Study Shows Significant Link Between Income and University Application Rates
September 10, 2009 Minister Milloy's Statement on Dr. James Downey's Retirement Announcement
September 10, 2009 President James Downey announces retirement from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
July 27, 2009 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on the utility of the Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey
July 24, 2009 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on student engagement in postsecondary education
February 13, 2009 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on college-university collaboration in Ontario
February 13, 2009 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on institutional differentiation in Ontario's postsecondary system
February 10, 2009 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario charts a research program to help ensure a prosperous Ontario
January 5, 2009 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on apprenticeship training in Ontario
2008
November 14, 2008 New study explores financial barriers faced by postsecondary students with disabilities
November 4, 2008 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario announces program to help Ontario faculty share innovative teaching practices
October 15, 2008 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases two new research papers on teaching and learning quality
October 14, 2008 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases second Annual Report
September 10, 2008 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases two new research papers on higher education accessibility and student financial aid
July 25, 2008 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases three new research papers
2007
November 22, 2007 HEQCO research team takes shape
July 26, 2007 Council sets research priorities to improve higher education in Ontario
July 6, 2007 Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario welcomes two new members to its board of directors
February 28, 2007 Elka Walsh named Director, Executive Services, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
February 8, 2007 Ken Norrie named Vice President (Research)
January 4, 2007 James Downey appointed first President of Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
2006
May 15, 2006 Former Supreme Court Justice to Head Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities news release)
March 8, 2006 McGuinty Government Plan to Improve Quality and Access to Postsecondary Education (Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities news release)

Title: News Releases

Page Content: Letter

 

Minister's Statement

Re:      James Downey, President and Chief Executive Officer
            Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

 

James Downey concludes term as HEQCO president and chief executive officer

On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I want to thank Dr. James Downey for his tremendous contribution to the operation, direction, management and supervision of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario as its president and chief executive officer.

Since 2007, he has ably guided HEQCO staff towards fulfilling their mandate to improve all aspects of the postsecondary education sector, including improving quality, access and the accountability of institutions.

With his extensive experience in the university sector as an academic, a university president, an advisor to governments and the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada on postsecondary education issues, and a representative on international university education bodies, Dr. Downey helped establish HEQCO's credibility in the sector, and helped raise its profile.

My deepest thanks to Dr. Downey for his professional devotion. His efforts have strengthened Ontario's postsecondary education and training system to make it the envy of other jurisdictions.

I wish Dr. Downey all the best as he continues his personal learning adventure.

 

John Milloy
Minister

Title: Minister Milloy's Statement on Dr. James Downey's Retirement Announcement

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario charts a research program to help ensure a prosperous Ontario

Toronto, February 10, 2009 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) today released its Second Annual Review and Research Plan. This document highlights the Council’s research findings over the past year and lays out a comprehensive plan for continuing its research into improving postsecondary education in Ontario.

 “Times of economic uncertainty are fertile opportunities for change,” said the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, Chair of the Council. “We must ensure that our colleges and universities are able to play their part in ensuring Ontario prospers in the new knowledge economy. With the Second Annual Review and Research Plan, HEQCO has laid out a research program that will help policymakers meet short-term needs while striving towards this long-term goal.”

 “The Second Annual Research and Review Plan,” said Dr. James Downey, President and CEO of the Council, “is issued at a time of considerable uncertainty and challenge for our colleges and universities, including a deepening recession, expected large increases in enrolment (especially in the Greater Toronto Area), and the need for expanded educational pathways.  Such challenges necessitate a sound understanding of the system we have in relation to the system we will need in the years ahead.  Our report broadens and deepens that understanding.”

 The Plan will be useful to policymakers attempting to address issues in key areas including: accessibility, educational quality, system design, accountability, and participation and educational attainment. The paper concludes by setting out 16 new projects to be initiated over the next 18 months. Together, these projects represent important next steps in the Council’s ongoing research program.

 “Our Second Annual Research and Review Plan reflects HEQCO’s comprehensive and growing research activities,” said Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the Council. “It answers two basic questions: what do we know about higher education, and what do we still need to know to ensure our system delivers the best possible results to students, families and business?”

 -30-

 About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

 For further information, please contact:

Ainsley Matthews
Events and Communications Coordinator
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212 5248
amatthews@heqco.ca

www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - February 10, 2009

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Elka Walsh named Director, Executive Services, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario TORONTO - James Downey, president of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, today announced the appointment of Elka Walsh as the Council’s director of executive services, effective immediately. “I am delighted that Elka has accepted this position with the Higher Education Quality Council,” said Dr. Downey. “Her enthusiasm and her past experience working with Ontario’s colleges and universities advising on such matters as strategic project management, corporate policy development and academic projects make her an ideal member of our executive team.” As director of executive services, Ms. Walsh will be responsible for providing executive support to the Council members and to the president and chief executive officer. She will also coordinate communications and stakeholder relations. For the past two years, Ms. Walsh has been a principal consultant with Gesink Walsh Consultants, a company that provides project management services and advice to postsecondary institutions Ms. Walsh has also worked as a project manager at Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and as a policy advisor for Ontario government ministries, including the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities. Ms. Walsh is currently a senior Ph.D. candidate at McMaster University. Her research focuses on the influences of policy networks, globalization and internationalization as contributing factors to the adoption of quality assurance in higher education in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an independent Crown agency dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario. The Council’s mandate is to advise the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on improving all aspects of postsecondary education, including quality, access and accountability. The Council will undertake research and help provide enhanced transparency and accountability through regular public reports. -30-

Title: News Release - February 28,2007

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Ken Norrie named Vice President (Research) Toronto - James Downey, President of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, today announced the appointment of Ken Norrie as the Council’s first Vice President (Research), effective immediately. “I am pleased that someone with such a distinguished record of achievements has accepted the position of Vice President (Research),” said Dr. Downey. “Ken Norrie has been a leader in the pursuit of excellence in higher education and is one of Canada’s foremost economists. His enthusiasm and experience in working with colleges, universities, faculty associations and student groups make him the ideal person to lead our research program on higher education.” Dr. Norrie is professor of economics at McMaster University and has served as Provost and Vice President (Academic) at McMaster, where he was active in promoting enquiry-based learning and in developing new partnerships with Mohawk College. Over the course of his career he has been co-Director of Research (Economics) for the Macdonald Royal Commission, editor of Canadian Public Policy, Clifford Clark Visiting Economist in the federal Department of Finance, and Dean of Arts at the University of Alberta. “The social and economic importance of higher education has never been greater,” said Dr. Norrie. “I am looking forward to working with experts from across Ontario and Canada and internationally in pursuit of the Council’s mission.” “I am delighted to welcome Ken Norrie to the Council’s staff,” said the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, chair of the Council. “With Jim Downey as President and Ken Norrie as Vice President (Research), the Council will have the senior leadership we need to do the important work that the province expects of us.” About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an independent Crown agency dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario. The Council’s mandate is to advise the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on improving all aspects of postsecondary education, including quality, access and accountability. The Council will undertake research and help provide enhanced transparency and accountability through regular public reports. -30-

Title: News Release - February 8,2007

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James Downey appointed first President of Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Toronto – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, an independent agency of the Ontario government, today announced that James Downey has joined the Council as its first president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. “I am delighted that an individual of James Downey’s calibre has accepted the position of president,” said the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, chair of the Council. “His proven leadership skills, enthusiasm and experience in working with colleges and universities will be a tremendous asset as we move forward with our plans for conducting research on higher education, establishing targets for improvement, and reporting on outcomes.” James Downey has an extensive record of leadership in higher education across Canada and internationally. He has served as president of Carleton University, the University of New Brunswick and the University of Waterloo, and as chair of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Most recently he has founded and directed Canada’s first centre for the study of co-op education. “I believe the Council has great potential to help make a fine system of higher education even better,” said Dr. Downey. “I look forward to working with colleges and universities and all others who have an interest in strengthening higher education in Ontario.” About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an independent Crown agency dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario. The Council’s mandate is to advise the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on improving all aspects of postsecondary education, including quality, access and accountability. The Council will undertake research and help provide enhanced transparency and accountability through regular public reports. -30- Media Contact Ginette Whitten-Day 416-435-2258

Title: News Release - January 4, 2007

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on apprenticeship training in Ontario

 

Toronto, January 5, 2009 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is pleased to announce the release of a new research paper, Apprenticeship Training in Ontario: Literature Review and Options for Further Research. Prepared by HEQCO research analyst Graeme Stewart, the paper provides a brief overview of the relevant literature on apprenticeship training in Ontario, Canada, and around the world. It is also identifies a series of research questions aimed at developing a better understanding of how apprenticeship in Ontario may be improved and expanded.

 

“Apprenticeship training is an important—but often neglected—postsecondary pathway in Ontario,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the Council. “This paper helps HEQCO better understand the potential challenges facing our province’s apprenticeship system.”

 

After a brief historical and theoretical discussion of apprenticeship training, the paper identifies potential challenges facing apprentices and employers in Ontario, including barriers to pursuing an apprenticeship, deficiencies in system performance, and regulatory and inter-jurisdictional issues. The paper also highlights a variety of future research projects designed to assess the performance of the provincial apprenticeship system, determine promising practices for skilled trades training in other jurisdictions, and improve the responsiveness of apprenticeship training to Ontario’s economic needs.

 

“HEQCO is committed to conducting research on all major aspects of postsecondary education, with a view to discovering ways to improve it,” said Dr. James Downey, president and CEO of the Council. “This paper is an important first step in understanding how Ontario’s apprenticeship system works, and in identifying areas where further research and policy advice are needed.”

 

In the coming months, HEQCO will initiate a series of projects on apprenticeship training. These research papers will include an assessment of how the current apprenticeship system meets Ontario’s economic needs, and an exploration of how the apprenticeship training model can be expanded into new industries and careers.

 

-30-

 

About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Ainsley Matthews

Events and Communications Coordinator

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

(416) 212 5248

amatthews@heqco.ca

 

www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - January 5, 2009

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases three new research papers Toronto, July 25, 2008 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is pleased to announce the release of three new research papers. Dealing with the topics of (a) polytechnic education; (b) postsecondary participation and accessibility; and (c) the data needs of Ontario’s higher education sector, these papers delineate issues relevant to HEQCO’s mandate to conduct research and provide evidence-based policy advice to improve all aspects of higher education in Ontario.  “Today’s release provides vital foundation research on key areas of higher education policy,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice president of research for HEQCO. “The Council will use these papers and other work underway to guide our ongoing research into the quality, accountability, accessibility and design of Ontario’s higher education system.”       The papers released today are:   ·      Accessibility in Ontario’s Postsecondary Education System: An Interprovincial Comparative Analysis by Dr. Torben Drewes of Trent University. This paper reviews the accessibility of Ontario’s higher education system using statistical measures of access by socioeconomic status. ·      “Polytechnics” in Higher Education Systems: A Comparative Review and Policy Implications for Ontario by Dr. Bruce Doern of Carleton University. Through an analysis of polytechnic education in select international and Canadian jurisdictions, this paper examines policy implications of expanded polytechnic education in Ontario. Dr. Doern also highlights important areas for further research into the polytechnic question. ·      Producing Indicators of Institutional Quality in Ontario Universities and Colleges: Options for Producing, Managing and Displaying Comparative Data by the Educational Policy Institute (EPI). Drawing upon EPI’s experience in postsecondary data environment, this paper assesses the data needs of Ontario’s higher education stakeholders, the types of information currently available, and how best to structure Ontario’s data environment to ensure effective monitoring of system performance in the areas of learning quality and accessibility.   As part of its research mandate, HEQCO is currently managing over 40 research projects.  Additional papers will be released regularly in the coming months.   “The Council has embarked on an ambitious research program, and today’s release reflects the breadth of our mandate” said Dr. James Downey, president and CEO of HEQCO. “In the months to come, we will continue to publish high quality and insightful research aimed at enhancing higher education in Ontario.” -30- About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.   For further information, please contact:   Ainsley Matthews Events and Communications Coordinator Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (416) 212 5248 amatthews@heqco.ca   www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - July 25, 2008

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Council sets research priorities to improve higher education in Ontario Toronto – While there have been noticeable signs of progress within Ontario’s postsecondary education system, some key questions related to the overall quality of the system remain unanswered, according to the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. The new arm's-length agency of the provincial government today released its first Review and Research Plan, a multi-year strategy that assesses the existing body of research on higher education in Ontario, identifies information gaps and sets out the Council’s long-term research priorities under the themes of access, learning quality, accountability and inter-institutional cooperation. “70 per cent of all new jobs in Ontario are expected to require education above a high school diploma and all indicators show that number will continue to rise,” said the Council’s Chair Frank Iacobucci. “But it is not just our jobs that are becoming more complex, so too are the requirements of citizenship. It is essential then that we understand how a good system of higher education might be made even better, in order to meet the social and economic challenges of Ontarians.” Some of the Council’s research priorities outlined in the plan include: studying the full range of factors that influence students’ choice to attend higher education; examining ways to identify and promote best practices in teaching and student services; and understanding the factors that have supported the development of successful joint college-university collaboration. “We need to know if the quality of teaching and learning is improving, if students are mastering the skills they require to succeed, and how Ontario compares with the quality of higher education across Canada and around the world,” explained Council President James Downey. “With the Review and Research Plan, the Council has taken an important first step to identify the ways we can build on established research and work with the entire sector to help answer these important questions and support the ongoing improvement of higher education in Ontario.” “Compared to those with only a high school diploma, postsecondary graduates earn more money over their lifetimes, experience fewer and shorter periods of unemployment and are more likely to participate in the community as citizens and volunteers,” said the Council’s Vice President of Research Ken Norrie. “Ensuring the quality of higher education in Ontario will support the continued success and well-being of Ontarians.” -30- Click here to download the complete PDF For information, please contact: Rick Harari Senior Communications Advisor Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario 416-212-3804

Title: News Release - July 26, 2007

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Title: News Release - July 6,2007

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McGuinty Government Plan to Improve Quality and Access to Postsecondary Education (Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities news release) Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Student Access Guarantee for Working Families Toronto, March 8 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is providing a student access guarantee that means no qualified Ontario student will be prevented from attending Ontario's public colleges and universities due to lack of financial support programs, said Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "As part of our plan to improve quality and access, our government is making it easier for students from working families to attend postsecondary education - Ontario students will have access to postsecondary education based on their ability to learn and not their ability to pay," Bentley said. The student access guarantee means that students in need will have access to the resources they need for their tuition, books and mandatory fees. Under the guarantee, the government will provide assistance to almost 200,000 students from lower- and middle-income families. Institutions that want to increase fees may do so only if two conditions are met: they participate in the student access guarantee, and any fee increases improve the quality of programs. "We aim to give students the best postsecondary education possible," said Bentley. "Through our Reaching Higher Plan, our government is investing in more spaces, increased student aid and improved quality. "But more needs to be done to enhance quality," the minister added. "To achieve our goal, we need an additional contribution from students. For every $3 extra Ontario invests under Reaching Higher in postsecondary education, we are asking students to contribute $1." The student contribution will come from a regulated tuition framework. Increases will be capped, predictable and linked to improvements in quality and access. Institutions will have more flexibility to set fees, but only within this capped, regulated and predictable framework. Under the plan, average tuition increases for the coming year will be limited to about $100 for almost 90 per cent of college students and about $200 for almost 70 per cent of university students. Increases in tuition fees may vary, but the majority of undergraduate students will see increases below 4.5 per cent. Tuition will be allowed to increase by a maximum average of up to five per cent at each institution. For professional, graduate and certain other programs, institutions may increase fees up to a maximum of eight per cent in the first year of study, but only if the institutional average is five per cent or less, the student access guarantee is in place, and the money buys improvement in quality. Increases will be limited to four per cent in subsequent years of study. "As part of the government's commitment to students and to ensure Ontarians get the best value for their investment in postsecondary education, our government is also creating the Higher Education Quality Council to monitor quality and access," said Bentley. "The council is an independent body that will help us ensure continued improvement of the postsecondary education system by monitoring quality in the sector, access to postsecondary education and the accountability of institutions." Quality improvements and access for students will also be ensured through multi-year accountability agreements that every institution is required to sign. The agreement sets out the institutions' commitments to quality, access, affordability and will include the student access guarantee. Improving the quality and accessibility of higher education are two goals of Reaching Higher, the McGuinty Government Plan for Postsecondary Education. Through the plan, the government is investing $6.2 billion more in the province's postsecondary system over five years - the single largest infusion of funds in the sector in 40 years. This includes $1.5 billion more for student aid. The McGuinty government has also created almost 75,000 more spaces since 2002-03 and is aiming to increase participation further. New government investments at colleges and universities are already improving quality through more faculty, better student services, and access to the best libraries, laboratories and equipment for hands-on learning. "We need to invest in our people. Our province's future depends on it," said Bentley. "This plan will deliver the investments, results and quality needed to ensure Ontarians have access to the best possible postsecondary system, and will finish their education capable of competing with anyone, anywhere in the world." Backgrounder McGUINTY GOVERNMENT MAKING HIGHER EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE The McGuinty government has announced a student access guarantee to help ensure no qualified Ontario student will be prevented from attending Ontario's public colleges and universities due to lack of financial support programs. The guarantee includes more student aid for low- and middle-income students. Through the Reaching Higher Plan, which was unveiled in the 2005 Budget, the government will invest $6.2 billion more in postsecondary education and training over the next five years. This includes $1.5 billion for student financial aid. The 2006-07 improvements made to student aid will benefit about 145,000 college and university students from low- and middle-income families. Overall, improvements mean that students can get more aid in the coming year, but their OSAP debt continues to be limited to $7,000 per completed year through the Ontario Student Opportunity Grant. Since coming into office, the Ontario government has made a series of improvements to student aid. Students from middle-income families who used to have no access to student aid can now qualify for thousands of dollars of assistance and more student aid is being provided through up-front grants for tuition. In addition, the government will work with colleges and universities to better co-ordinate institutional and government aid programs in the coming year. A new website, to be introduced next year, will provide information about all the available sources of financial aid that individual students can qualify for in the institution and program of their choice. 2006-07 Changes to Student Financial Aid In 2005-06, up-front grants were re-introduced to the OSAP program for the first time since 1992-93. These grants, known as the Access Grants, are helping low-income first and second year students to access postsecondary programs. In 2006-07, the government will be further extending eligibility for Access Grants, to students from families earning up to about $75,000 per year - roughly the median income for Ontario families. Students from the lowest-income families face the biggest access barriers and will still get the highest grants. The Access Grants that Ontario offers can cover up to half the cost of tuition for students from low-income families (incomes less than $36,440). If they are in first year, these students also can qualify for matching federal grants resulting in up to their full tuition being covered. Students whose parents earn more - above $36,440 per year but below about $75,000 per year - will now be able to get grants covering from 25 to 50 per cent of their tuition. The percentage covered depends on how much their parents earn. The expansion of the Access Grants to middle-income families is expected to result in 27,000 more students being approved for grants in 2006-07. For 2006-07, book and supply allowances will be updated. These costs have been frozen since the mid-1980s. For example, arts and science text-book allowances will go up to $600 per year - a 54 per cent increase. Text-book allowances for specialized programs will increase by 138 per cent, to $1,050 per year. Updates to various supply allowances will also be made. Updated book and supply maximums will increase the amount of OSAP aid for over 138,000 students. Multi-year Improvements to Student Aid The deterioration in OSAP did not occur in one year, and fixing it will happen over several years. The improvements since 2003-04 are adding up. 2005-06 Introduced Access Grants for first-year and second-year students from low-income families. Increased maximum assistance levels so that single students are eligible for as much as $2,550 more in student aid - a 27 per cent increase. This was the first increase in student loan maximums in over a decade. Reduced the amount of money middle-income parents are expected to contribute to their children's education. For example, a family of four, earning $70,000 with one child in university is saving about $2,000 - a 50 per cent reduction compared to what they were expected to contribute in 2004-05. Introduced an annual allowance for computer and computer-related costs of $500. Helped with loan repayments by increasing the income thresholds for interest relief by five per cent so that more graduates can qualify for this assistance. Ontario Trust for Student Support will make $50 million available every year to match private donations to colleges and universities for student aid endowment funds. 2004-05 Reduced the amount of money parents are expected to contribute to their children's education. Before 2004-05, Ontario expected larger parental contributions than the federal government did, and expected parents earning as little as $30,000 per year to contribute. Considered students independent of parents after four years out of high school, rather than requiring they be out of high school five years before being considered independent. Helped with loan repayments by introducing a debt reduction in repayment program, which reduces debt to an affordable level for those who have long-term difficulties with repayment. Provided $100 million to create endowments at universities that provide fellowships for outstanding graduate students. Provided an additional $50 million to match private donations to college and university student aid endowment funds. Change in Number of College and University Students Qualifying for Ontario Student Loan Assistance ------------------------------------------------------------------------- % Change in Number 2003/04 2005-06 Receiving Ontario Aid university college university college university college 80,597 49,224 97,010 57,410 20% 17% Change in Number Enrolled at University or College ------------------------------------------------------------------------- % Change in Enrolments 2003-04 2005-06 university college university college university college 283,626 150,477 315,504 151,558 11% 1% Number Receiving Aid from Ontario as % of Students 2003-04 2005-06 university college university college 28% 32% 31% 38% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Access Strategy As part of Reaching Higher, the government committed a total of $10.2 million this year - rising to $55 million by 2009 - to create a plan that helps to provide increased opportunities for access to postsecondary education and training programs for Francophones, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, and First Generation students who are the first in their families to attend a postsecondary institution. The funding will be used to undertake research, new programs and outreach in order to improve participation in postsecondary education. As part of the plan, the government has named advisory committees for each of the groups to offer advice to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on how to achieve the government's goals. Since 2002-03, postsecondary enrolment has increased dramatically. Through the Reaching Higher Plan to increase access for students, the government wants the trend to higher participation to continue to support the government's priorities for economic growth and prosperity. Statistics show that only 40 per cent of Ontario's 18 to 24 year olds attend postsecondary institutions, while the federal government estimates up to 70 per cent of all future jobs created in Canada will require some postsecondary education. Increased participation at Colleges and Universities: Full-Time Students ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Universities Colleges Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002-03 247,968 146,088 394,056 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2005-06 315,504 151,558 467,062 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total increase in participation: 73,007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Participation Rate of 18-24-year-olds ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Universities Colleges Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002-03 21.9% 12.9% 34.8% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2005-06 26.3% 12.7% 39.0% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Backgrounder McGUINTY GOVERNMENT INVESTMENTS EMPHASIZE QUALITY AT POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS Improving the quality of higher education, increasing access, and ensuring accountability are the goals of Reaching Higher: The McGuinty Government Plan for Postsecondary Education. The $6.2 billion in additional money being invested under the plan is the single largest investment in postsecondary education and training in Ontario in 40 years. The Ontario government is moving forward with its plan to ensure the people of Ontario see results and real improvements for the Reaching Higher investments. In recent months, colleges and universities received $211 million under the Quality Improvement Fund based on the principle that every dollar will result in improvement and that institutions will be held accountable. To ensure this, all postsecondary institutions have signed accountability agreements that set out commitments to quality, access and affordability. Students are already benefiting from improvements as a result of the new funding and focus on quality. New government funding is being spent to hire more faculty so that students will have more time with professors and other teaching staff. Institutions are also hiring more support and administration staff to offer better student support services, more tutoring, mentoring and counselling, and new programs to support students with special needs. Quality of the classroom experience for students is improving through access to the best resources possible such as more and updated labs, new IT equipment and expanded library acquisitions. All of these initiatives will lead to improved student success and higher retention rates in postsecondary institutions. By ensuring a quality postsecondary education system, the government is supporting its goals for strong economic growth now and in the future. The McGuinty government believes it is not good enough to just stay the course on education quality, but that Ontario's institutions must strive to be the best in Canada. Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario To underline this belief, the government has enshrined the link between quality and postsecondary education in law through legislation that establishes the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). This independent body will ensure continued improvement of the postsecondary education system by monitoring quality in the sector, access to postsecondary education and the accountability of institutions. A key part of the council's role will be to monitor and report on performance measurement, and guide the postsecondary education system towards improved quality. It will also monitor and make recommendations on the student access guarantee. The council will undertake research on quality, participation and access, and advise government on the best way to measure performance and institutional collaboration. HEQCO will also help provide enhanced transparency and accountability in the sector through regular public reports on results flowing from the government's investment. Tuition Framework The Ontario government is establishing a new tuition framework, linked to improvements in quality and access. The new capped framework is regulated and allows for predictability. Institutions will have more flexibility to set fees, but all tuition fees will be regulated in public programs and will be tied to the Student Access Guarantee. Under this plan, the government is asking students to contribute $1 for every $3 the government invests in postsecondary education to ensure colleges and universities have enough resources to provide the best education in Canada. Increased tuition fees will lead to better quality, improved learning environments and better access to postsecondary education. University governing boards may choose to increase tuition fees by no more than a maximum, overall, average of five per cent at each institution. For the majority of programs, tuition fees will increase by less than this average rate. For example, university arts and science and selected undergraduate programs may increase by a maximum of 4.5 per cent in the first year of study and four per cent in other years. College governing boards may choose to increase tuition in most programs by up to 4.5 per cent or $100 (whichever is greater) in the first year of study and four per cent for each year after that. Average tuition increases for the coming year will be under $200 for almost 70 per cent of university students and $100 for almost 90 per cent college students. University graduate, some undergraduate professional programs, and high demand college programs may be increased by up to a maximum of eight per cent in the first year of study and four per cent in other years, but only if the institutional average is five per cent or less, the student access guarantee is in place, and the money buys improvement in quality. Students in the majority of undergraduate programs will experience tuition increases of less than 4.5 per cent. Backgrounder REACHING HIGHER IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION Under Reaching Higher: The McGuinty Government Plan for Postsecondary Education, which was unveiled in the 2005 Budget, the government is investing an additional $6.2 billion in Ontario's universities, colleges and training programs and student aid over the next five years. This historic, multi-year investment in postsecondary education - the most significant in 40 years - represents a 39 per cent increase compared to the 2004-05 funding base. With the Reaching Higher Plan, the people of Ontario will see improved access and higher quality in postsecondary education, and colleges and universities will be held accountable for accomplishing these objectives. The results achieved to date and commitments from the Reaching Higher Plan include: Access: Student Financial Assistance Up-front grants re-introduced to the OSAP program to help low-income students access postsecondary programs; Up-front grant assistance being extended to students who come from families with incomes up to $75,000; Allowances for book and supply costs being updated to reflect real costs; Increased maximum student assistance levels so that single students are eligible for as much as $75 more per week in student aid; Introduced an annual allowance for computer and computer-related costs to $500; Reduced amount of money middle-income parents are expected to contribute to their children's education; Increased the availability of interest relief for graduates experiencing difficulties during loan repayment; and Providing $50 million annually to match funds raised by colleges and universities to establish endowments for student financial assistance through the Ontario Trust for Student Support program. Access: Enrolment and Outreach Increased enrolments at colleges and universities by almost 75,000 students since 2002-03; Committed to expand graduate education by 12,000 students by 2007-08 and 14,000 new spaces by 2009-10 through new investments of $220 million annually by 2009-10; Increased the number of new first-year spaces at medical schools by 104 spaces and created satellite undergraduate medical schools in four new communities; Opened 56 new first-year spaces at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in fall 2005; Committed new investments to improve the quality of education for health care professions; Invested $10 million in 2005-06 in new programs that reach out to Francophones, Aboriginal Peoples, people with disabilities and first generation students who would be the first in their family to attend college or university. Advisory committees for each of the four groups have been created to advise the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. The funding will increase to $55 million by 2009-10; Announced $10 million in new funding for small, northern and rural colleges to increase access to high quality programs in these communities. Funding will grow to $20 million by 2007-08; Piloting a new, community-based nursing education program in northern Ontario; and Investing in projects that create stronger links between colleges and secondary school programs to help more students make successful transitions to college and succeed in their course of study. Quality Invested $211 million through the Quality Improvement Fund for colleges and universities to hire more faculty and staff, purchase additional educational resources and technology, and improve student support services; Established an Ontario Research and Innovation Council to advise on and co-ordinate research priorities; Provided $48 million in 2004-05 and $115 million in 2005-06 and ongoing to colleges and universities in tuition compensation to ensure that the costs of the tuition freeze would not be borne by students and that real quality improvements to postsecondary would be made by institutions; Invested an additional $250 million in infrastructure renewal and repairs at colleges and universities; and Developing a strategy to market Ontario as the premier destination for postsecondary education for international students. Accountability Signed interim accountability agreements with all postsecondary institutions that set out each institution's commitments to quality and access. Multi-year agreements will be signed later this year; Made Ontario's universities subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; and Creating the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario to monitor and report on performance measurement, and guide the postsecondary education system towards improved quality. The council will undertake research on quality, participation and access, and advise government on the best way to measure performance and institutional collaboration. Examples of Student Aid Recipients Comparing Assistance Levels in 2003-04 and 2006-07 SCENARIO 1: Next year, 'Susan' will be a dependent university student living away from home in a first year arts and science program. Both parents work, earning a total income of $50,000 and there will be one younger brother still at home. Next year, Susan will be eligible for student aid of $11,227 which is $2,135 or 23% more than she would have received in 2003-04. She will receive $1,263 in an upfront grant which she wouldn't have received even the year before. In summary, Susan's tuition went up by $188 while she received $2,135 more in assistance and her debt remains the same at $7,000. Another comparison shows that while Susan's student assistance is up 23 per cent, her tuition will increase by up to a maximum of 4.5 per cent. SCENARIO 2: 'Mark' will start a first-year college program, living in residence next fall. His parents both work, earning a combined income of $40,000, and have a younger teenage brother still living at home. In 2006-07, Mark will be eligible for $9,184 in total student aid, an increase of more than 19 per cent or $1,451 over 2003-04. This will more than offset a maximum tuition increase of $100. Mark will get $854 of his aid as an upfront grant. His repayable debt will remain at $7,000. SCENARIO 3: Next fall, Brian will leave home to begin his first year in an engineering program at university. Finances could be tight as Brian's parents' earn a combined income of $30,000 and support a younger sibling still at home. But in 2006-07, Brian will receive up to $11,805 in student aid, a 26 per cent increase over the $9,350 he would have been eligible for in 2003-04. What's more, $6,000 of this aid will be an up-front grant, leaving Brian with a repayable debt of $5,805, which is $1,195 less than in 2003-04. SCENARIO 4: Leslie plans to begin a first year engineering program at university next year and live in residence. Her parents earn a combined income of $110,000 and have three children attending postsecondary institutions. In 2006-07, Leslie will be entitled to $7,058 in student assistance, up more than $3,000 over 2003-04 levels, while her tuition could increase by about $500. SCENARIO 5: When he attends a first-year arts and science program at university next fall, Kyle plans to continue living at home with his parents and younger sister to minimize expenses. Together, his parents' income totals $30,000 which makes him eligible for $7,419 in total aid in 2006-07, a 16 per cent increase over the amount he would have received in 2003-04. Since $4,372 of the assistance will come as an up-front grant to cover tuition, he'll be left with just $3,047 in repayable debt or more than 50 per cent below 2003-04 levels. Despite the $188 tuition increase, Kyle will get through school with half the debt he would have been left with in 2003-04. SCENARIO 6: Karen, ready to start her second year of college next fall, lives at home with her parents and sister. Her parents make a combined income of $70,000. In 2003-04, Karen would not have been eligible for any student aid at all. In 2006-07, she'll have access to $1,847 in total aid, of which $480 will be offered as an up-front grant.

Title: News Release - March 8, 2006

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Former Supreme Court Justice to Head Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities news release) Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities McGuinty Government On the Side Of Students by Ensuring Best Quality Education TORONTO, May 15 /CNW/ - Frank Iacobucci, former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and former interim president of the University of Toronto, has been named chair of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO), Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced today. "We are on the side of hard working Ontario families who want their sons and daughters to find opportunity through access to the highest quality postsecondary education," Bentley said. "That's why I'm very pleased that Frank Iacobucci will help us reach our goals by guiding quality improvements at colleges and universities." HEQCO has been created to ensure continued improvement of the postsecondary education system by monitoring quality in the sector, access to postsecondary education and the accountability of colleges and universities. The council will also monitor and make recommendations to the government on the new student access guarantee. The guarantee means no qualified Ontario student will be prevented from attending Ontario's public colleges and universities due to lack of financial support programs. HEQCO is the latest way the McGuinty government is working to provide opportunity for Ontario's students. Other initiatives include: Creating 75,000 more spaces in postsecondary education for qualified students. Doubling student aid so families can afford higher education. Bringing back grants for students who need help the most, including 60,000 students who are getting grants this coming year. "We're working to ensure every Ontarian has a fair shot at success," said Premier Dalton McGuinty. "We're on the side of Ontario families who want the best opportunities for their kids to gain a postsecondary education and prepare for their future." Under the Reaching Higher Plan, the Ontario government is making an historic $6.2 Billion multi-year investment to support postsecondary education - the largest in 40 years - to rebuild Ontario's colleges and universities. "Ontario's students deserve to have access to the best postsecondary education in Canada," said Bentley. "Our province's future depends on it." Backgrounder ------------------------------------------------------------------------- MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT EMPHASIZES QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AT POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS Frank Iacobucci has been appointed chair of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Iacobucci has been deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of Canada, chief justice of the Federal Court of Canada and justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. He was interim president of the University of Toronto from September 2004 to June 2005. In addition to other positions, Iacobucci has also served as vice-president of the National Congress of Italian Canadians, vice-president and governor of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies and chair of Ontario law deans. He has received numerous awards in Italy and from Italo-Canadian communities in Canada. He has also received 11 honorary degrees in Canada and Italy. As well, he is an honorary fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. Iacobucci holds law degrees from the University of British Columbia and from Cambridge. A member of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law from 1967 to 1985, he served as dean from 1979 to 1983 and vice-president and provost from 1983 to 1985. Improving the quality of higher education, increasing access, and getting results for public investments are the goals of Reaching Higher: The McGuinty Government Plan for Postsecondary Education. The $6.2 billion in additional money being invested under the plan is the single largest investment in postsecondary education and training in Ontario in 40 years. As chair of HEQCO, Iacobucci will ensure continued improvement of the postsecondary education system by monitoring quality in the sector, access to the system and the accountability of public colleges and universities. A key part of the council's role will be to monitor and report on performance measures, and guide the postsecondary education system towards improved quality. It will also monitor and make recommendations on the student access guarantee. The council will undertake research on quality, participation and access, and advise government on the best way to measure performance and institutional collaboration. HEQCO is an independent body that will also help provide enhanced transparency and accountability in the sector through regular public reports on results flowing from the government's Reaching Higher investment. By ensuring a quality postsecondary education system, the government is supporting its goals for strong economic growth and greater prosperity for Ontarians now and in the future.

 

Title: News Release - May 15, 2006

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New study explores financial barriers faced by postsecondary students with disabilities

Toronto, Nov. 14, 2008 – For students with disabilities the cost of attending college or university often exceeds the price of tuition and textbooks.  Sign language interpretation, alternative format course materials, adaptive software, tutors and personal support workers are just a few of the significant expenses that can stand in the way of higher education for many Canadian students.

 

A new research project, jointly launched today by the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation and the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, seeks to shed light on the range of financial barriers facing postsecondary students with disabilities.

 

“This study promises to uncover valuable information that can be used to improve access to postsecondary education for students with both physical and learning disabilities,” said Norman Riddell, executive director and CEO of the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

 

 “Equipped with a more complete understanding of the financial realities of students with disabilities, service providers and policymakers will be able to make more informed decisions and better meet the needs of all students,” added James Downey, president and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario.

 

The multifaceted research will include an online survey, interviews, focus groups, and analysis of existing data.  It is being conducted in collaboration by researchers from the University of Toronto’s Centre for Study of Students in Postsecondary Education, the National Educational Association of Disabled Students, and the Canadian Association of Disability Service Providers in Postsecondary Education.

 

“Of all student groups, students with disabilities incur the second-highest levels of debt.  This suggests some Canadians may be kept out of higher education due to the financial burdens associated with their disabilities,” explained Tony Chambers of the University of Toronto.

 

“To access general student assistance and even many programs specifically for disabled students, students with disabilities must meet the same socio-economic requirements as other students, despite the considerable added costs they must incur,” added Mahadeo Sukhai, president of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students. 

 

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For more information, please contact:

 

Graeme Stewart

Communications Advisor

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

416-212-5242

 

OR

 

Jaime Frederick

Communications

Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation

514-284-7240

Title: News Release - November 14, 2008

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HEQCO research team takes shape Toronto – With the addition of its newest research director and three research analysts, the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario has significantly enhanced its research capacity. Officially assuming the position of research director on December 3, Fiona Deller brings to the Council ten years of experience from across the postsecondary education sector. She has held positions with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and most recently with the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. Reporting to Vice President of Research Ken Norrie, Ms. Deller will work alongside the Council’s two other research directors, Andrew Boggs and Ursula McCloy. Mr. Boggs and Ms. McCloy joined the Council in summer 2007 from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and Colleges Ontario respectively. The Council also welcomes three research analysts, Graeme Stewart, Nasrin Fatima and Shuping Liu. Prior to joining the Council, Mr. Stewart was a research policy analyst with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Ms. Fatima was a research consultant with Canchem Dealings Limited. At present, Ms. Liu is a Ph.D. student of economics at Queen’s University. “This high calibre team has the right combination of skills, expertise and broad experience in postsecondary education to support the success of the full range of research projects planned by the Council,” said Dr. Norrie. -30- For more information, please contact: Rick Harari Senior Communications Advisor Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario 416-212-3804

Title: News Release - November 22, 2007

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario announces program to help Ontario faculty share innovative teaching practices

Toronto, November 4, 2008 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is pleased to announce a research program to help Ontario’s leading university and college teachers share teaching practices. This Research Program in Knowledge Mobilization for Exemplary Teaching & Learning is led by Dr. Thomas Carey, a noted expert in teaching quality.

 

“Ontario’s postsecondary system is the home of many fine instructors” said Dr. Carey.  “This project will explore how to mobilize their knowledge to ensure every university and college faculty member can maximize their teaching effectiveness.”

 

The new research program includes a series of pilot projects to enhance the learning experience and student success in particular courses and programs; identify, adapt, and share exemplary teaching practices; document the pedagogical content to support knowledge exchange between colleagues; and develop more effective ways for educators to mobilize knowledge for the enhancement of teaching and learning.

 

As a first step in this program, HEQCO today released Dr. Carey’s paper, Research Study on a Knowledge Exchange Network for Exemplary Teaching in Ontario Higher Education. This paper explores the idea of knowledge exchange networks for exemplary teaching as a means to identify and promote exemplary teaching practices in Ontario. It also examines how networks that employ powerful telecommunications tools can act as catalysts for identifying, promoting, and applying exemplary teaching practices.

 

 “Identifying and sharing exemplary teaching practices are essential steps in ensuring our postsecondary education system delivers the highest possible level of teaching and learning,” said Dr. James Downey, president and CEO of HEQCO. “Dr. Carey brings extensive experience in knowledge exchange networks from his work with the University of Waterloo and the California State University system, and we are excited to have him lead this project.”

 

In the coming months, HEQCO will continue its research into aspects of educational quality, with projects in student engagement, strategies for promoting student success, and developing an Ontario-wide postsecondary quality framework.

 

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhancing the quality, access, and accountability of postsecondary education in Ontario.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Ainsley Matthews

Events and Communications Coordinator

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

(416) 212 5248

amatthews@heqco.ca


www.heqco.ca 

Title: News Release - November 4, 2008

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases second Annual Report

Toronto, October 14, 2008 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is pleased to announce the release of its 2007-08 Annual Report. The report, released today on HEQCO’s website, details the Council’s staff, infrastructure and research growth. It also contains audited financial statements for the 2007-08 fiscal year.

 

 

“The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario has embarked upon an ambitious research program with the goal of strengthening higher education in Ontario,” said James Downey, president and CEO of the Council. “This report illustrates our efforts to ensure we have access to the appropriate tools and expertise to fulfill our mandate.”

 

The Annual Report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in October, 2008. To obtain a hard copy of the report, please contact Ainsley Matthews at 416 212 5248 or amatthews@heqco.ca.

 

 

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Click here to download the entire report.

About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhancing the quality, access, and accountability of postsecondary education in Ontario.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Ainsley Matthews

Events and Communications Coordinator

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

(416) 212 5248

amatthews@heqco.ca


www.heqco.ca 

Title: News Release - October 14, 2008

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases two new research papers on teaching and learning quality

Toronto, October 15, 2008 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is pleased to announce the release of two commissioned research papers. The first, by the University of Toronto’s Pamela Gravestock and Emily Gregor-Greenleaf, explores the use of student course evaluations as a measure of teaching quality. The second, by Janet Halliwell, is a high-level overview of current research on the relationship between research and postsecondary teaching. Together, these papers represent an important contribution to HEQCO’s ongoing research on the education quality of Ontario’s higher education system.

           

“Today’s release is further evidence of HEQCO’s leadership in the scholarship of teaching and learning in postsecondary education,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the Council. “These papers enhance our knowledge of how scholarly research relates to an instructor’s performance in the classroom, and how student course evaluations can be used to improve teaching.”        

 

The papers released today are:

 

• Student Course Evaluations: Research, Models and Trends is a review and summary—the first of its kind from a Canadian perspective—of existing research on student course evaluations. The study aims to capture and synthesize the key issues and findings regarding the validity and utility of student course evaluations from the substantial body of research in this area. 
• The Nexus of Teaching and Research: Evidence and Insights from the Literature provides a high-level review of the existing literature on the connection between teaching and research and provides recommendations for next steps and future research options for the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO).

“The classroom experience of students and their teachers is an essential piece of the overall quality puzzle,” said Dr. James Downey, president and CEO of the Council. “These papers assist us to understand better the forces and factors that influence teaching, learning, and the research that informs both.”

 

In the coming months, HEQCO will continue its research into teaching and learning quality, with important projects in student engagement, retention, and strategies for promoting student success. The Council will also be initiating a pilot project to develop an online network that allows Ontario’s exceptional faculty to share their teaching expertise. 

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Ainsley Matthews

Events and Communications Coordinator

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

(416) 212 5248

amatthews@heqco.ca

 

www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - October 15, 2008

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases two new research papers on higher education accessibility and student financial aid

Toronto, September 10, 2008 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) is pleased to announce the release of two commissioned research papers by the Educational Policy Institute (EPI). The first deals with access and persistence within Ontario’s postsecondary system. The second, a joint project with the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation (CMSF), explores the financial grants and awards for students provided by colleges and universities. Together, these papers represent an important contribution to HEQCO’s ongoing research on the accessibility of higher education in Ontario. 

“Today’s release provides important foundation research on postsecondary access and persistence, as well as on the student financial aid provided by colleges and universities,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice president of research for HEQCO. “These papers enhance our knowledge of the barriers to participation in higher education, and how postsecondary institutions are working to provide financial support to their students.”         

The papers released today are:

·         Access, Persistence, and Barriers in Postsecondary Education: A Literature Review and Outline of Future Research serves as an overview of the current state of social science research on access to, and retention within, postsecondary education systems. It identifies gaps in our present knowledge and recommends ways in which they can be filled through a program of research.

 

·         Institutional Student Financial Grants in Ontario analyzes the need- and merit-based financial awards provided to students by Ontario colleges and universities. Ontario leads the country in both the value and number of institutional need-based grants, thanks to the influence of several key government policies.

 

This paper represents one part of a joint project with the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation (CMSF) to study need- and merit-based grants at Canadian postsecondary institutions.

 

“The Council is pleased to work with the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation on this important project” said Dr. James Downey, president and CEO of HEQCO. “The participation of The Foundation has enriched the depth and breadth of our research into institutional student financial aid in Ontario and Canada.”

 

In the coming months, HEQCO will conduct research into postsecondary access for Aboriginal individuals, first generation students, and students with disabilities. The council will also be conducting a major study into how financial awards can be used to improve student performance and persistence in higher education.

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Ainsley Matthews

Events and Communications Coordinator

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

(416) 212 5248

amatthews@heqco.ca

Title: News Release - September 10, 2008

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on college-university collaboration in Ontario

Toronto, February 13, 2009– The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) today released a new research paper, Making College-University Cooperation Work: Ontario in a National and International Context.  Written by Andrew Boggs and David Trick, this paper suggests that a new way of looking at college-university cooperation is needed.  Instead of asking: “why don’t institutions cooperate more?”, we should ask: “of the various ways to satisfy the demands of students, why do some institutions choose to partner with others rather than to expand their own capacity?”

 “Examining the design of Ontario’s postsecondary system is a key component of HEQCO’s mandate,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the Council.  “Ontario’s higher education system will play an important role in positioning Ontario for economic recovery. College-university collaboration is a potential tool in expanding student opportunities, increasing access to higher education, and coping with enrolment demand. This paper is a first step in understanding the various types of inter-institutional cooperation and how the system might benefit from their use.”

 Making College-University Cooperation Work finds that there are many examples of successful and innovative institutional collaborations in Ontario. There are some trends that can be discerned from existing arrangements.  Much of the success of these partnerships has depended on the partners’ ability to overcome significant hurdles and to develop and execute an agreed plan. Government capital funding has provided an essential incentive in some cases. Collaborations have several purposes: some are primarily intended to offer opportunities for college students to complete a university degree, while the primary purpose of others is to offer innovative programming or to improve geographic access to university degrees.

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

 For further information, please contact:

Ainsley Matthews
Events and Communications Coordinator
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212 5248
amatthews@heqco.ca

 www.heqco.ca 

Title: News Release - February 13, 2009

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on institutional differentiation in Ontario’s postsecondary system

Toronto, February 13, 2009 – The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) today released a new research paper, Degrees of Opportunity: Broadening Student Access by Increasing Institutional Differentiation in Ontario Higher Education. Prepared by higher education scholars Glen Jones and Michael Skolnik, this paper was commissioned to determine whether there are significant gaps in Ontario’s postsecondary education system with respect to education and research activities and, if so, how these gaps might be addressed.

 “Examining the design of Ontario’s postsecondary system is a key component of HEQCO’s mandate,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the Council.  “Ontario’s higher education sector faces several significant issues, including growing enrolment demand, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and the need to provide educational opportunities that respond to the province’s economic needs. Degrees of Opportunity is an initial attempt to tackle these challenges by examining the current design of the postsecondary system.”

 Jones and Skolnik conclude that Ontario’s higher education system could benefit from several new types of postsecondary structures including: teaching-oriented institutions that focus on undergraduate education; collaborative programs; an ‘open university’ that enables learners to combine credits from different institutions and learning experiences; and greater pathways for college students to attain a bachelor’s degree and continue on to graduate study.

 “In today’s economy, we can’t rest on our laurels.  Our research is aimed at ensuring we know how our system of higher education is working and what needs to be done to keep it working well,” said Dr. Norrie.  “Our review of the system will look at the full range of opportunities that Ontarians need in order to be competitive in the knowledge economy.” 

 This paper is the first of a series of research projects and stakeholder consultations that HEQCO plans before developing its advice to the Minister on system planning issues.   

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 About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

 For further information, please contact:

Ainsley Matthews
Events and Communications Coordinator
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212 5248
amatthews@heqco.ca

 www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - February 13, 2009

Page Content: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on student engagement in postsecondary education

Toronto, July 24, 2009– The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) today released a new research paper, Measures of Student Engagement in Postsecondary Education: Theoretical basis and Applicability to Ontario’s Colleges.  Prepared by CCI Research Inc for the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, this report starts by assessing the theory of student engagement and then discusses various surveys that can be used to gather information about the student experience. 

“Student engagement surveys have been recognized as a tool to measure educational quality in our postsecondary education system,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the Council. “It’s important that our colleges and universities have good measurement tools that will enable them to focus their efforts in areas that will promote student success and help them to deliver higher quality education both inside and outside the classroom.”

Higher levels of student engagement have been found to be directly linked to better outcomes for students.  The Council has been working with colleges and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to assess various student engagement survey instruments. Measures of student engagement as an indicator of quality have been part of the Ministry’s bilateral Multi-Year Accountability Agreements since 2006-2007.  

To request a copy of the report, annotated bibliography and/or the survey questions, please email info@heqco.ca.  

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Ainsley Matthews
Events and Communications Coordinator
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212 5248
amatthews@heqco.ca

www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - July 24, 2009

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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario releases new research paper on the utility of the Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey

Toronto, July 27, 2009– The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) today released a new research paper, Exploring the Utility of the 2007 Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey: Student Satisfaction at the University of Western Ontario.

Prepared by Dr. Nicholas Spence for HEQCO, this report analyses the results of the 2007 Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey of 1,354 University of Western Ontario students.  Information was collected on a wide range of issues, including:

·         general satisfaction with the university, advisors, and field of study;

·         satisfaction with the program, quality of interactions and coursework;

·         professional skills development and research experience; and

·         university resources and student life.

“Monitoring and evaluating graduate level education is a significant initiative led by the universities,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the Council.  “This survey is an important indicator of the quality of graduate programs and is a good tool to help universities improve the learning experience.”

Key findings from the report suggest that:

·         The role of the advisor is significant in promoting and maintaining student satisfaction;

·         The amount of coursework, overall quality of teaching and availability of courses are important drivers for satisfaction;

·         Advice and workshops on career opportunities within academia are indispensable (although advice and workshop for career opportunities outside academia appeared of lesser importance);

·         Students place higher value on library services than other university resources such as health and regestrarial services; and

·         Degree type had some effect on student satisfaction whereas debt load, work and financial commitments, graduate division, year of study, sex, publication record and funding for conferences appeared to have little effect.

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Ainsley Matthews
Events and Communications Coordinator
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212 5248
amatthews@heqco.ca

www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - July 27, 2009

Page Content:

 REPORT OFFERS ROADMAP TO SUCCESS FOR POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS WITH AUTISM

Toronto, June 14, 2010 – A new report released today estimates that 5,800 students identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are currently in Ontario’s publicly funded secondary schools. School staff expect that approximately 1,100 of these students will seek to enter college or university between 2009 and 2011.

The report, “Identifying Trends and Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning into Postsecondary” makes a number of suggestions for postsecondary institutions to support students with ASD based on successful practices at the secondary school level. These include:

• more specialists and staff who are trained in meeting the needs of students with ASD working in postsecondary institutions, especially in institutions where there are large numbers of students identified with ASD;
• active partnerships with parents where designated disability service staff, students and their families can work together to build an effective support plan;
• adjustments to the learning environment to make it more accommodating to students with ASD,
• close monitoring of social-emotional needs particularly during transitions periods; and,
• training for staff at postsecondary institutions in ASD-specific learning strategies and flexibility for support personnel to work more intensively with students during transition periods.

The full report is available online at: http://www.heqco.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ASD.pdf.

 “Having the appropriate supports in place to ensure that students with ASD and other disabilities succeed is an important area of focus for postsecondary institutions," said Susan Alcorn-MacKay author of the report and Director of the Northern Ontario Assessment & Resource Centre. “We know from our experience with secondary schools in Ontario that with well-trained staff and the necessary supports in place students with ASD can flourish.”

Postsecondary institutions in Ontario report that 400 students are currently enrolled and have ASD. Enrolment numbers and recommendations from the report are garnered from a survey of publicly funded school boards and school authorities and colleges and universities in Ontario.  Of school boards and school authorities 86 per cent responded to the survey along with 15 of Ontario’s 19 universities and all 24 of Ontario’s colleges.

“Identifying Trends and Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning into Postsecondary” was commissioned by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) and adds to the work they support to improve accessibility in postsecondary education. HEQCO has sponsored other research in this area including a Quantitative Assessment of Financial Barriers Affecting Students with Disabilities in PSE and an Employment Follow-up: Success of Graduates with Learning Disabilities from Ontario's Colleges and Universities which will be released later in the year.

About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:
Jeff Rohrer
Communications Manager
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212-5242
jrohrer@heqco.ca
www.heqco.ca 

 

 

Title: News Release - June 14, 2010

Page Content:

New President Appointed to Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

Toronto, March 10, 2010 – Dr. Harvey Weingarten, a distinguished academic and administrator, has been named President of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Dr. Weingarten was President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary from 2001 to 2010. During his time at the University of Calgary he was instrumental in a $1.5 billion capital expansion, a significant increase in the profile and revenues of the university, and an enhancement of the quality of the student experience. 

“Dr. Weingarten brings with him a wealth of experience as a researcher, professor and administrator in both Ontario and Alberta,” said Frank Iacobucci, chair of the Council. “His skill, experience, and reputation will enable him to give effective leadership to HEQCO and make a valuable contribution to postsecondary education system in Ontario.”

For over 20 years Dr. Weingarten held several positions at McMaster University, including Provost and Vice-President (Academic) and Professor in the Department of Psychology. He holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University and a Ph.D. from Yale University. Dr. Weingarten will begin his new role on July 1^st.

“I am delighted to join HEQCO.  There are few things in society that are more important than the quality of the postsecondary institutions we offer our students and the public,” said Dr. Weingarten. “Using the research, analysis and policy advice offered by HEQCO, Ontario can sustain one of the finest postsecondary systems in the country with quality institutions of higher education that rival any others in the world, all in the service of the social and economic needs of our province and country.”  Dr. Weingarten succeeds HEQCO’s founding President, Dr. James Downey, who is retiring on March 31st.  Dr. Ken Norrie, HEQCO’s Vice-President of Research, will serve as Acting President in the interim.

“I commend Dr. Downey for his many contributions to postsecondary education and research in Ontario and Canada,” said Mr. Iacobucci. “HEQCO could not have had a better founding president.  It has been a privilege and pleasure to work with him.”

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Jeff Rohrer
Communications Manager
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212 5242
jrohrer@heqco.ca
www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - March 10, 2010

Page Content: ONTARIO’S POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM SOUND BUT CHALLENGES AHEAD
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Releases Annual Review of Postsecondary Education

Toronto, March 18, 2010 – Ontario has made significant advances in postsecondary participation and compares favourably to its peers in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development jurisdictions, according to a report released today by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). The Third Annual Review and Research Plan provides an evaluation of postsecondary education in Ontario and summarizes HEQCO’s research to date.

The report highlights a number of achievements related to postsecondary participation and quality.

• Enrolment in Ontario’s postsecondary education system has grown significantly. In 2008-09 total full-time enrolment in Ontario’s colleges was 193,420 compared to 182,404 in 2004-05. For universities, total enrolment in 2008-09 was nearly 364,000 students, compared to 330,374 in 2004-05.
• Based on projections, we expect that approximately 70 per cent of those aged 18-24 in Ontario will obtain a postsecondary credential.
• Student Satisfaction Survey results show that over 90 per cent of employers of college students consistently report that they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their employees’ preparation. Graduates reported satisfaction rates ranging between 80 per cent and 85 per cent.

“Considerable progress has been made in improving participation in postsecondary education in Ontario,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, Vice-President of Research for HEQCO and the author of the report. “Our report demonstrates that we have one of the most educated workforces in the world.”

The review also highlights significant gaps in data which make research and decision-making difficult for government and postsecondary institutions.

• There are no official tallies of the number of first generation students or Aboriginal students enrolled in postsecondary education programs in Ontario. Estimates exist, but they are based on different definitions and survey methodologies. Without this information, it is impossible to calculate meaningful participation and graduation rates.

“While much success has been realized, significant challenges still face higher education in Ontario,” said Dr. Ken Norrie. “More work is necessary in order to develop a strategy to accommodate expanding enrolment and to secure adequate funding for the future needs of the system all while maintaining the high level of quality that Ontarians expect of their postsecondary education system. ”

The Third Annual Review and Research Plan is a comprehensive report on evidence-based research in higher education related to human capital, accessibility, educational quality, accountability and system design that is used by policymakers in Ontario and beyond. The review also outlines research priorities for the year ahead including supporting the government with evidence-based research as they implement the Ontario Online Institute and a significant increase in the number of international students accessing postsecondary education in Ontario.

 

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 About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Jeff Rohrer
Communications Manager
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212-5242
jrohrer@heqco.ca
www.heqco.ca

 

Title: News Release - March 18, 2010

Page Content: NEW BOOK CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN TEACHING QUALITY IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
System-wide Changes Needed to Improve Student Learning Outcomes

Toronto, March 22, 2010 – A new book released today argues that postsecondary institutions need to enhance faculty teaching practices in order to improve student learning outcomes. A compilation of essays by internationally renowned experts in teaching and learning, Taking Stock: Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education draws on evidence suggesting that common teaching practices do not adequately respond to the diverse learning needs of students.

 “It is important for government and postsecondary institutions to create the context in which faculty are encouraged to use teaching methods that will lead to high quality educational outcomes for more of their students,” said Julia Christensen Hughes co-editor of the book and dean of the College of Management and Economics at the University of Guelph. “Overwhelming evidence suggests that when faculty adopt active-learning pedagogies students become more engaged in their learning and are better able to master skills and concepts.”

The book cites practices of convenience, such as the traditional lecture and multiple choice exams that test for short-term recall as being particularly problematic.  Undervaluing effective teaching, a lack of expectation for continuous improvement of one’s teaching skills, and scarce resources are suggested as some of the barriers to teaching-practice reform.

Taking Stock identifies a number of strategies for improved teaching and learning, including;

• support for the scholarship of teaching and learning (research on the effectiveness of teaching practice), including the provision of grants and the establishment of teaching chairs;
• faculty recruitment, selection, promotion and tenure processes where teaching and learning competence and scholarship are properly assessed and valued;
• professional-development opportunities that are offered in collaboration with educational developers and local teaching centres and that encourage faculty to engage with discipline-specific pedagogical literature, to identify threshold concepts, and to participate in research projects relevant to their own pedagogical practice;
• effective pedagogical leadership at all levels of the academy;
• encouraging the creation of departmental cultures in which teaching and learning are valued, and in which an ethos of pedagogical creativity and experimentation is encouraged;
• pedagogically-sound physical and virtual learning spaces; and,
• a focus on curriculum assessment and development.

“A lack of attention and not being sufficiently prepared for class are common concerns faculty voice about their students,” said Dr. Joy Mighty, co-editor of the book and president of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. “However many students would approach learning differently if more faculty were to change their teaching practices and create learning environments that engage students in deep learning processes.”

Taking Stock was commissioned by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) and adds to the work they fund to enhance teaching and learning, including pilot projects at 10 institutions where faculty who teach college math and university languages and literatures courses share their best practices online. HEQCO is also sponsoring a self-assessment by faculty of their teaching development needs and opportunities. This report will be released in the spring.

“Improved teaching and learning ensures that Ontarians are getting the best value for the money spent on higher education,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president research of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. “This analysis provides a solid foundation on which to improve student outcomes in order to ensure that Ontario has a postsecondary education system that allows us to prepare students for prosperous careers and fulfilling lives.”

The book is available for purchase at http://mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=2425.

About the editors

Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes is dean of the College of Management and Economics at the University of Guelph. She is a past-president of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. For 10 years, Dr. Christensen Hughes was director of Teaching Support Services at the University of Guelph.

Dr. Joy Mighty is director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning and a professor in the School of Business at Queen’s University. She is president of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Jeff Rohrer
Communications Manager
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212-5242
jrohrer@heqco.ca
www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - March 22, 2010

Page Content: Sustainability of ONTARIO’S MODEL FOR Baccalaureate Education questioned
New Book Offers Solutions for Improvements in Postsecondary Education

Toronto, November 30, 2009 – A new book released today argues that Ontario’s model for providing baccalaureate education is no longer sustainable.

Academic Transformation: The Forces Reshaping Higher Education in Ontario finds that the standard model of undergraduate education in Ontario is based on the belief that students should be taught only by faculty members who are actively engaged in original research. Such full-time faculty are expected to spend about 40 percent of their time and effort on research, 40 percent on teaching, and 20 percent on service to the university and the community.

Two developments over the past two decades have made it impossible to maintain this model of  education. One is the increased expectation from the public and the government for universities to produce knowledge that will enhance Canada’s economic well-being and international competitiveness. The other is the pressure to dramatically increase accessibility to baccalaureate level education.

The authors find the high costs associated with the research-university model have led to chronic financial strain. “With foreseeable levels of government funding and tuition, it is simply not affordable to have undergraduates taught only by faculty who devote the same amount of time and effort to research as to teaching,” said Michael Skolnik, Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

“In addition to the cost problem, reliance on this research-university model provides insufficient variety in the types of baccalaureate experience available to students who have diverse backgrounds, situations, aspirations and learning styles,” said David Trick, President, David Trick and Associates.

Academic Transformation: The Forces Reshaping Higher Education in Ontario makes the following recommendations for improving Ontario’s postsecondary system:

• Use the expected growth in demand for university enrolment as an opportunity to create a new sector of baccalaureate institutions that focus on teaching. Faculty would be expected to be current in their fields but would not do discovery research.
• Encourage universities to create or maintain a high-quality three-year undergraduate degree.
• Provide each university and college with an agreed amount of money each year to continue teaching and research operations at current levels, and then consider how much additional funding is required to increase enrolments, expand research and scholarship, or undertake other new priorities.
• Foster increased efficiency by encouraging differentiation among existing universities through a combination of regulation and financial incentives.
• Encourage balance and differentiation in the college sector. A small number of colleges should become substantial providers of baccalaureate education, while some focus on trades training and serving under-prepared learners.
• Improve opportunities for college to university transfer. Develop specific programs in universities aimed to facilitate transfer from college career programs.
• Develop an Open University of Ontario that would offer high-quality learning based on flexible credit recognition, open admissions, and access for learners who are unable to attend the existing universities.
• Rethink ideas about quality to ensure they support innovative practices in higher education that are appropriate for the 21st century.
• Recognize the need for more effective provincial policy leadership in higher education.

As the funder for this project, the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario will evaluate these findings and provide policy recommendations to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. “These recommendations will be useful to the Council as we work with our partners in higher education to provide advice to the government on the best design for Ontario’s postsecondary education system,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, Vice-President Research of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario.

The book is available for purchase at http://mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=2363.

About the authors

Ian D. Clark is a professor in the School of Public Policy and Govern­ance, University of Toronto, a former federal deputy minister, and past-president of the Council of Ontario Universities.

Greg Moran is a professor and member of both the clinical and develop­mental groups within the Department of Psychology, University of West­ern Ontario, and a former Chair of Psychology, Dean of Graduate Studies, and Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Western.

Michael L. Skolnik is professor emeritus in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto and held the William G. Davis Chair in Community College Leadership in the University of Toronto from its establishment in 1999 until 2007.

David Trick is president of David Trick and Associates, consultants in higher education strategy and management, and is the former assistant deputy minister for post-secondary education in the Government of Ontario.

About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Jeff Rohrer
Communications Manager
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212-5242
jrohrer@heqco.ca
www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - November 30, 2009

Page Content: President James Downey announces retirement from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

 

Toronto, September 10, 2009 – Dr. James Downey has announced that he will not seek re-appointment as president of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) at the end of his term this year.

As HEQCO’s founding president, Downey effectively guided the Council through its start-up phase, assembled a first-rate staff, oversaw the development of the Council’s ambitious research agenda and established constructive relations with the higher education community.

Downey was able to draw upon his extensive experience of higher education in Ontario, Canada and the Commonwealth.  That experience included three university presidencies (Carleton, New Brunswick and Waterloo), and terms as chair of the Council of Ontario Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Speaking for the Council’s board of directors, its chair, the Honourable Frank Iacobucci said, “We are grateful for Jim’s many contributions to the organization.  Jim has been a pleasure to work with and while we would prefer that he stayed on, we understand his decision to spend more time with his family and wish him well in the future.”

 “I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to play a part in the creation of such a unique and essential agency, one devoted to conducting research into all vital aspects of postsecondary education and providing evidence-based policy advice to the government,” said Downey.

The search for a new president will begin immediately.  Dr. Downey will stay on until his successor is able to take office.

 

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About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Jeff Rohrer, Communications Manager, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, (416) 212 5242

jrohrer@heqco.ca; www.heqco.ca

 

Title: News Release - September 10, 2009

Page Content:

Study Shows Significant Link Between Income and University Application Rates

Toronto, September 16, 2009 – Students in low income neighbourhoods are 13 per cent less likely to apply to university than those in high income neighbourhoods according to a report released today by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). The study found that the gap in application rates over the last decade has remained relatively constant and perhaps has increased slightly. The report attributes this to the deregulation of tuition rates in the 1990s and scholarships based primarily on entry grades.

“This report puts concrete numbers behind what many in the field have long said – that family income plays a significant role in determining who applies to university,” said Dr. Ken Norrie, vice-president of research for the HEQCO. “This is important information that will help guide government and postsecondary institutions in ensuring opportunity for all of our young people.”

The study, University Participation and Income Differences: An Analysis of Applications by Ontario Secondary School Students, produced by McMaster University professors Martin D. Dooley, A. Abigail Payne and A. Leslie Robb and funded by HEQCO also found that living in a rural area reduces the likelihood of university application. Being close to a university was found to lead to higher application rates along with attending a school with higher level performance on the grade 9 math EQAO test results. Application rates are also slightly higher for students attending Catholic schools along with areas with a large East Asian population.

The study looks at students applying to university from publicly funded English secondary schools in Ontario from 1995 to 2005 along with socio-economic characteristics found in the Censuses from Statistics Canada from 1991 to 2006.

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 About the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is an arm’s-length agency of the Government of Ontario dedicated to ensuring the continued improvement of the postsecondary education system in Ontario.  The Council was created through the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act, 2005. It is mandated to conduct research, evaluate the postsecondary education system, and provide policy recommendations to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with a view to enhance the quality, access, and accountability of Ontario’s higher education system.

For further information, please contact:

Jeff Rohrer
Communications Manager
Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
(416) 212-5242
jrohrer@heqco.ca
www.heqco.ca

Title: News Release - September 16, 2009