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Student Success Initiatives: What Other Colleges and Universities are Doing
Durham College
University of Ottawa
Seneca College
Durham College has a Center for Success that offers a transition program for high school students who are at risk of not completing their OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma). Under the guidance of a secondary school teacher, students are able to take college courses that help them complete the requirements for a high school diploma. Similar to Algonquin College's Achievement Centre initiative with the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board, the program has proven to be an empowering experience for both students and teachers.
The Student Mentoring Program at University of Ottawa provides students with a support network that allows students to take full advantage of campus resources and make their university experience as enriching and rewarding as possible.
Seneca College promotes student success by an innovative Peer Mentoring Program at their multi-campus college.
“Dropouts are expensive. It is far more cost effective to retain a student that has been admitted than to recruit a new one.”
Dr. Lee Noel, Student Task Force, Nipissing University, March 2006
Peer Mentoring Program goals include:
- Engaging students and providing them with a sense of community
- Helping students fully adjust to college life
- Transfering knowledge of available resources
- Impacting student retention in a positive way
This program was developed in response to student reports of isolation, loneliness and lack of connection to the college community. It was designed to provide opportunities for senior students to have a positive impact on students in transition to College life. It also an intervention strategy to address retention issues faced by the College.
Another retention initiative at Seneca College is The College Coach Approach – an Employee Leadership Program. One to three students are connected with a college employee.
“Everyone in an institution is responsible for student learning – teachers, librarians, counselors, support staff, food service workers, the president….
The shared responsibility for students learning does not relieve the student of responsibility…. It means that everyone has a stake in student success.”
George R. Boggs (1999)
The program is based on the philosophy that all employees can make a valuable contribution to student success. The college coaches are cheer leaders. They are goal-oriented in their relationships with students. They keep students connected to the college, on track, and motivated to successfully complete their academic journey. The coach will meet the student for 20 minutes every two weeks.
The target group of students are:
- Underprepared students
- First generation students (e.g. family members who are the first to go to a post-secondary institution in Canada)
- Mature students
- Students with disabilities
This program requires minimal employee time commitment, but produces a significant impact within the college community.
Nastia Touhlova, Student Success Specialist
School of Business
Woodroffe Campus
