Heaslip House, Ryerson University
Home of The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
Spanning the Gaps -­‐ Increasing Access and Retention for Non-­‐Traditional Students Presented by: Janice Pinto MSW, RSW Erin Riley LLB, MPP February 10th, 2015 Toronto, Ontario Largest city in Canada •  2,615,060 million residents* •  Multi-­‐ethnic city •  45.7 percent of the population is born outside of Canada* •  Over 140 languages and dialects spoken •
*Based on the 2011 Census *Based on the 2006 Census 2 Ryerson University •  Located in downtown Toronto •  Leader in innovative career-­‐focused education •  A student population from 146 countries •  38,000 students, 2,300 in master’s and PhDs •  Offerings: •  10 PhD programs •  42 master’s programs •  Close to 60 undergraduate programs •  The Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University (DMZ) is one of Canada's largest incubators for young entrepreneurs. 3 The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education MISSION To be a leader in innovative, quality, lifelong learning that empowers adults to reach their life and career goals •  Canada’s leading provider of university-­‐based adult education offers: •
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Approximately 70,000 enrollments 1,400 courses, seminars, and workshops 350 distance education courses 77 career-­‐related Certi[icate programs Courses toward 13 Part-­‐Time degrees Approx. 80% of courses are degree-­‐credit 4 The Chang School’s Collaborative Model Chang School Program Areas Arts Business Communica0on and Design Community Services Engineering Architectural Sciences Sciences Community Engagement and Accessibility Spanning the Gaps-­‐
Access to Post-­‐
Secondary Programs for 50+ Gateway for Interna0onal Professionals 5 Spanning the Gaps – Access to Post-­‐
Secondary Education MISSION Based on the belief that education can break the cycle of inter-­‐generational poverty and social exclusion, that higher education transforms lives and contributes to social cohesion, social stability and a civic society, we are committed to playing a role in the Greater Toronto community in terms of expanding educational opportunities and building educational capacity. Capacity 10000+ Information and Academic Advising Students 92 Courses offered 265 Bridges to Ryerson Students 1,255 Ryerson University Now (RUN) Students 125 Road to Ryerson Students 160 Bridging Graduates in Ryerson Undergrad 205 Completed Bridges to Ryerson and went on to Undergraduate degrees *Since program inception seven years ago •
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Step by Step Program Development •
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Support from the University Administration Acquired government funding Donor support Internal infrastructure Human resources Community Engagement Curriculum Development Program Evaluation 7 Demographics-­‐Who We Serve •
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80% First Generation Students 65% Self-­‐Represented as Visible Minorities Average Age is 26 61% are male Many are members of Latino, Caribbean and Aboriginal Community Student Example: Tracy 8 Characteristics of Spanning the Gaps Students Barriers •  Prerequisite courses for Undergraduate programs •  Finances •  Balancing competing responsibilities •  Lack of knowledge on how to navigate post-­‐
secondary institutions and opportunities •  Lack of advocates and supporters for pursuing education •  Systemic barriers for underrepresented and marginalized groups •  Past negative experience with education Student Example: Chris Issues May not have completed High School Lacks con[idence in academic skills Negative self image Lacks key academic, and multi-­‐tasking skills such as time management, organization, research and writing •  Tendency to self sabotage •  Dif[iculty in believing good grades are possible •  May have undiagnosed Learning Disability •
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9 Access-­‐ Creating Universal Accessibility Outreach through community partnerships and marketing •  Academic advising to any prospective student •  Partnerships with individual Faculties and Admissions •  Intake process including: •
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Information sessions Assessments Interview Post-­‐secondary advising Orientation Student Example: Lara 10 The ‘Five-­‐Senses’ of Student Success Sense of
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11 Spanning the Gaps Programming Mature students Bridges to Ryerson Certi[icate Foundation Undergraduate Degrees High School 2nd Chance Academic Prep Chang School Certi[icates ROAD to Ryerson Chang School Courses Community RUN University Success Courses Other Post-­‐Sec Institutions 12 Bridges to Ryerson •
Mature students with foundational educational gaps, but motivation, potential and stability for university-­‐level study •
Students complete Chang School courses, plus University Success Strategies Courses, in a supportive environment •
1-­‐2 years, depending on academic level, 2 evenings per week To be considered for undergraduate admissions, students must achieve a minimum grade of C+ in each of their courses •
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Alternative bridging options are available that will lead individuals to an undergraduate degree when they are academically and individually ready 13 Wrap-­‐Around Retention Approach Supports: Spanning the Gaps Team Ryerson University Resources Transition & Retention Supports Specialized Academic Supports Leadership Opportunities 14 Retention Team and Programs Program Manager Case Coordinator University Success Strategies Student Success Facilitator Spanning the Gaps Specially Selected Instructor Writing Centre Ryerson University Math Centre Access Centre TriMentori
ng Program Counsellors Ryerson University Resources Ryerson University Administration G. Raymond Chang School Student Financial Services Registrar Faculty RASS Student Organizations Student Life Admissions Athletics Transition & Retention Support Services “I don’t know what “I don’t think I’m good “Where w
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egree courses to take” “I feel lost” enough to be here” take me?” Supports: •  Academic Planning •  Application Support •  Career Planning •  Funding Support “I have too much going “I don’t think I belong” on, I don’t know how to cope” Supports: •  Introduction to Departmental Program Staff •  Introduction to Campus Supports, Services & Resources •  Flexibility Supports: •  Regular Communication •  Student Engagement •  Social Opportunities •  Social Media “I want to contribute” “I want to help others who felt as I did” Supports: •  Tri-­‐mentoring Opportunities •  STG Peer Volunteers •  Summer Students Undergraduate Supports Check-­‐ins Academic Advising Finances Academic Support •  Connecting to support services and campus resources •  Course selection •  Building an academic plan •  Graduate planning •  OSAP •  Scholarships and bursaries •  Financial planning workshops •  1 on 1 appointments •  Academic workshops •  Weekly study hall Leadership and Mentoring Career planning Life Coach/
Counsellor Social •  Student Committee •  Work-­‐study positions •  Volunteer positions •  Job applications •  Networking events •  Available for non-­‐
academic support •  Events to increase student engagement •  Opportunities to mingle with peers 18 Specialized Academic Support: University Success Strategies Course Goal The course covers essential strategies for developing skills in organization, motivation, time management, goal setting, reading, writing, studying, memory, test-­‐taking, group dynamics, learning, and leadership styles, while increasing retention in the Spanning the Gaps program. Student Learning Outcomes • Reading for key details: Understand instructions and assessment criteria • Reading for key concepts: Make notes in the margins of a text; highlight/underline text ef[iciently; make connections to prior learning and personal experience • Writing to develop ideas: Effectively use brainstorming, concept-­‐mapping, free writing, and other creative thinking techniques • Writing to organize ideas: Identify a central argument; group related ideas; gather supporting information • Writing for an audience: Recognize and apply stylistic and formal conventions; edit document for clarity and accuracy • Curating information: Keep and logically arrange documents and notes so they can be used for studying and completing assignments 19 Implementation Challenges •  Term funding by donors and staff retention •  Student need greater than resources •  Dedicated space •  Barriers outside of school, including [inancial •  Student motivation 20 Bridges to Ryerson Success Stories •  21 Total Program Graduates and received their undergraduate degree •  1 accepted to law school •  1 accepted to medical school •  1 in Masters of Social Work •  1 in Masters of Education *One alumni of the program and one current student are now working at Ryerson Student Success Example: Tahir 21 Questions and Answers 22 Thank You! STG Social Media Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/SpanningTheGaps Follow us on Twitter @SpannningTheGaps Erin Riley LLB, MPP Janice Pinto MSW, RSW Program Manager Case Coordinator (416) 979-­‐5000, ext. 7568 (416) 979-­‐5000 ext. 3011 erin.riley@ryerson.ca janice.pinto@ryerson.ca 23