Canadian Mapping of Autism-Specific Supports for Postsecondary Students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Ames ◽  
Courtney Coombs ◽  
Kari Duerksen ◽  
Jonathan Vincent ◽  
Carly McMorris
Keyword(s):  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Peer Mentoring ◽  
Junior College ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Central Canada ◽  
University Support ◽  
Boolean Search ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluations

Background. Many autistic students have a variety of strengths and the desire to succeed in postsecondary education. Nonetheless, most autistic students report not receiving adequate support in postsecondary education to ensure their success. Students also report difficulty in navigating complex institutional systems. We conducted an environmental scan of autism-specific supports (e.g., website information, transition programs, peer mentoring) available to autistic students within Canada’s publicly-funded postsecondary institutions. We also examined distribution of autism-specific supports across institutional type (i.e., university, junior college, technical/vocational) and geographic region.Method. A Boolean search strategy was used to collect data from institutional websites.Results. Of the 258 publicly-funded postsecondary institutions in Canada, only 15 institutions (6%) had at least one support. Of the 15 institutions identified, the most common autism-specific support included information on the institution’s website (67%), followed by transition to university support (47%), social group(s) (33%), peer mentoring (27%), specialist tutoring and support with daily living (20%), transition to employment support (13%), and student-led societies and autistic student advocate (7%). In general, universities and institutions in Central Canada (i.e., Ontario) had a higher number of provisions than expected.Conclusions. There are promising advances with respect to autism-specific supports in post-secondary institutions across Canada. We recommend further research to better understand how students access these supports and more comprehensive evaluations of such supports, specifically informed by collaborations with autistic students.

scholarly journals Canadian Postsecondary Students With Disabilities: Where Are They?

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-113
Author(s):  
Catherine S. Fichten ◽  
Jennison V. Asuncicion ◽  
Maria Barile ◽  
Chantal Robillard ◽  
Myrtis E. Fossey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Colleges ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Disability Support Services ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Disability Support ◽  
To Receive

Results of a Canada-wide and a Quebec based study of students with a variety of disabilities in Canadian postsecondary education are presented. Study 1 involved 156 professionals. They represent 80% of the population of professionals who provide on-campus disability support services. Results indicate that (1) 8% of postsecondary institutions reported not having any students with disabilities, (2) overall, 2% of students are registered to receive disability related services from their post- secondary institutions, and (3) this varies from 1/2% to 6% across the country. Junior/community colleges had a higher percentage of students with disabilities registered to receive disability related services (3 3/4%) than universities (1 2/3%). (4) Distance education had 3%. (5) Quebec has a smaller proportion of both college (2/3% vs 6%) and university (1/2%) vs 2 1/2%) students with disabilities than the rest of Canada. A targeted study involving 46 professionals who provide disability related services in Quebec's public junior/community colleges, the CEGEPs, revealed that lack of recognition of learning disabilities for postsecondary funding by the Quebec government is an important contributor to the small percentages, although it cannot explain the huge discrepancies between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Extrapolation suggests that there are over 100,000 students with disabilities currently enrolled in Canadian postsecondary education, although only 1/4 to 1/2 of them register to receive disability related services.

Small Town Transition Services Model: Postsecondary Planning for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 875687052110279
Author(s):  
Karen Eastman ◽  
Gail Zahn ◽  
Wendy Ahnupkana ◽  
Bryson Havumaki
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
High School Transition ◽  
Transition Services ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Work Skills ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Education And Employment

Graduating from high school and moving to the next phase of life can be difficult for any student but is particularly so for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social and communication difficulties, sensory concerns, and narrow interests can negatively affect these students’ opportunity for postsecondary education and employment. Preparing students with ASD for post-school success may be especially challenging in rural schools, due to limited opportunities and resources. This article describes a rural high school transition services program designed to support students with ASD and other disabilities in becoming gainfully employed after high school or accessing post-secondary education. The program, designed by a student’s transition team starting in Grade 9, is based on recommendations from the literature and includes inclusion and co-teaching, work skills classes, collaboration with outside agencies, and the development of a student portfolio.

Postsecondary Adult Learner Motivation: An Analysis of Credentialing Patterns and Decision Making Within Higher Education Programs

2021 ◽  
pp. 104515952098836
Author(s):  
Alexander C. Gardner ◽  
Heather N. Maietta ◽  
Philip D. Gardner ◽  
Niki Perkins
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Adult Students ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Adult Learner ◽  
Educational Aspirations ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Learner Motivation ◽  
Post Secondary

This study sought to fill a gap in the literature by considering the role of motivation in post-secondary aspirations of adult learners, specifically full versus part-time status, previous level of educational attainment, years of work experience, and the selection of an academic program. The data from this study came from adult students ages 25 and older at 8 institutions in the Midwest. Statistical analysis determined there were significant differences in gender motivation, level of education is predictive of type of educational credential being pursued, and type of adult learner motivation influences which degree, academic program, and enrollment status is pursued by adult learners. Furthermore, this research revealed as adults acquire more work experience, their postsecondary educational aspirations are more likely motivated by extrinsic factors. These findings have meaningful implications for linking motivation with continuance and graduation from collegiate programs for which this paper identifies and discusses in the context of postsecondary education.

scholarly journals Heterogeneity of Older Learners in Higher Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phyllis A. Cummins ◽  
J. Scott Brown ◽  
Peter Riley Bahr ◽  
Nader Mehri
Keyword(s):  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Older Learners ◽  
Public College ◽  
Enrollment Trends ◽  
Education Data ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Time Basis

Recent years have seen growing recognition of the importance of a college-educated workforce to meet the needs of employers and ensure economic growth. Lifelong learning, including completing a postsecondary credential, increasingly is necessary to improve employment outcomes among workers, both old and young, who face rising demands for new and improved skills. To satisfy these needs, many states have established postsecondary completion goals pertaining to the segments of their population ages 25 to 64 years. Although it is not always clear how completion goals will be attained for older students, it is widely recognized that community colleges will play an important role. Here, we use data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to examine enrollment trends by part-time and full-time status for students enrolled in Ohio’s public postsecondary institutions from 2006 to 2014. Unlike previous research that considers all students 25 and older as a homogeneous group, we divide older learners into two groups: ages 25 to 39 and ages 40 to 64. We find that adults in these age groups who attend a public college are more likely to attend a community college than they are a 4-year institution and are more likely to attend on a part-time basis. We discuss the implications of these trends and their relevance to college administrators.

scholarly journals Resuming In-Person Classes under COVID-19: Evaluating Assigned Seating Protocols in Limiting Contacts at Postsecondary Institutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Daly-Grafstein ◽  
Patricia Daly ◽  
Reka Gustafson
Keyword(s):  
Returning Students ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Enrollment Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Reducing Potential

In order to limit the spread of COVID-19, Canadian postsecondary institutions are offering the majority of classes online for the 2020-21 academic year. The goal of Canada's public health pandemic response is to reduce severe illness and mortality from COVID-19 while minimizing social disruption. To achieve this goal, post secondary institutions need practical tools to limit COVID-19 spread and facilitate contact tracing while returning students to in-person instruction. In this paper, we explore the impact of assigned seating for students attending in-person classes in reducing potential contacts. We conduct a variety of seating simulations using student enrollment data and measure the number of potential contacts under each scenario. We find that assigning seats to students significantly reduces the expected number of contacts relative to random seating, making the return to in-person classes more feasible under these scenarios.

scholarly journals Data for Students: The Potential of Data and Analytics for Student Success

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Leu
Keyword(s):  
Student Success ◽  
Financial Aid ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Data Science ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
College Completion ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Education Data ◽  
Data Linkages

Postsecondary education is awash in data. Postsecondary institutions track data on students’ demographics, academic performance, course-taking, and financial aid, and have put these data to use, applying data analytics and data science to issues in college completion. Meanwhile, an extensive amount of higher education data are being collected outside of institutions, opening possibilities for data linkages. Newer sources of postsecondary education data could provide an even richer view of student success and improve equity. To explore this potential, this brief describes existing applications of analytics to student success, presents a framework to structure understanding of postsecondary data topics, suggests potential extensions of these data to student success, and describes practical and ethical challenges.

Current and Emerging Trends in Transcultural Blended Learning and Teaching

2012 ◽  
pp. 347-362
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Jean Francois
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Adult Students ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Blended Courses ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Learning Programs

This chapter serves as the conclusion of the book and outlines some challenges and current and emerging trends related to blended learning and teaching in postsecondary education. The current and emerging trends include, but are not limited to: accelerated blended learning programs for non-traditional adult students, adaptability of blended learning and teaching to diverse disciplines, quality assurance, transnational extent, possible transition to blended learning orienting postsecondary institutions, and the development of self-pace blended courses in postsecondary programs.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Outcomes of a Peer-Mentoring Program for Students Transitioning to Postsecondary Education

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Goff
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Peer Mentoring ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Introductory Biology ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Program Selection ◽  
Survey Participation ◽  
Introductory Biology Course ◽  
Oriented Approach

A peer-mentoring program was developed for students in an introductory biology course at a university in Ontario, Canada. Students could attend up to five peer-mentoring sessions during their first semester. Quantitative-survey, participation, and academic data spanning from 2003 through 2007 were reviewed for the purpose of evaluating the program. An objectives-oriented approach was used to determine if the program was meeting its goals to improve students’ introductory biology grades, facilitate transitioning experiences, and encourage students to pursue studies in biology. Data analysis revealed that students who participated in the program felt that it was a valuable experience. Students attending three or more sessions performed significantly better in their introductory biology courses, measured by final grades achieved, than those attending fewer sessions. There were no indications that the peer-mentoring program had any impact on students’ perceptions of transitioning to university or on their program selection preferences. Recommendations are made to improve the peer-mentoring program to better align its components and objectives. Un programme de mentorat par les pairs destiné aux étudiants qui suivent un cours d'introduction à la biologie a été implanter dans un université situé dans la province de l’Ontario. Les étudiants avaient accès à cinq séances de mentorat par les pairs au cours du premier semestre. Afin d’évaluer le programme, les chercheurs ont effectué des sondages quantitatifs, examiné la participation et les notes des étudiants entre 2003 et 2007. Ils ont utilisé une méthode axée sur les objectifs afin de déterminer si le programme atteignait ses objectifs qui consistaient à améliorer les notes des étudiants au cours d’introduction à la biologie, à faciliter leur transition et à les encourager à poursuivre des études en biologie. L'analyse des données révèle que les étudiants qui ont participé au programme de mentorat, l’ont trouvé utile. Les notes des étudiants qui ont participé à trois ou quatre séances étaient considérablement plus élevées que celles de ceux qui ont assisté à moins de séances. Rien n’indique que le programme de mentorat par les pairs influe sur la perception des étudiants en ce qui a trait à la transition vers l’université ni sur leurs préférences en matière de choix de programmes. Les chercheurs recommandent d’améliorer le programme de mentorat afin de mieux harmoniser ses composantes et ses objectifs.

Post-Secondary Institution Level and Control: Effect on Women’s Proportion of Entrepreneurship Degrees

2020 ◽  
pp. 251512742096043
Author(s):  
Desarae Mueller-Fichepain ◽  
Cheryl McConnell ◽  
Myles P. Gartland
Keyword(s):  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Control Effect ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Gender Biases ◽  
Post Secondary Institution ◽  
Human And Social Capital ◽  
And Control

This study examines the influence U.S. college/university level (2-year/4-year) and control (public/private) have on the female-awarded proportion of their entrepreneurship degrees and certificates (EDCs). It also examines trends over a decade, 2006-2016. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data on U.S. institutions awarding Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 52.07 (Entrepreneurship and Small Business degrees/certificates) in 2006, 2011, and/or 2016 is analyzed using ANOVA/ANCOVA/repeated measures methods. Surprisingly, even with the growing focus on female entrepreneurship, results did not show significant increases in the female-awarded proportion of EDCs over the ten years. Closer examination of 2016 data shows 2-year public institutions confer a significantly larger percentage of their EDCs to women compared to both 4-year public and private institutions providing evidence that institution level and control influence the proportion and suggesting that 4-year institutions may still be gendered in terms of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship education has been empirically shown to augment entrepreneurial human and social capital, which is of key importance in entrepreneurship, particularly high-growth potential female businesses. For this reason, these results have important implications for post-secondary institution leaders and entrepreneurship educators, and serves as a call to action to pro-actively assess their environments and curriculum for potential gender biases. Suggestions provided.

The Landscape of Postsecondary Education in Prison and the Influence of Second Chance Pell: An Analysis of Transferability, Credit-Bearing Status, and Accreditation

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin L. Castro ◽  
Rebecca K. Hunter ◽  
Tara Hardison ◽  
Vanessa Johnson-Ojeda
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Educational Opportunity ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Postsecondary Institutions ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Pilot Program ◽  
Institution Type ◽  
Second Chance

This article documents availability, accreditation, institution type, and geographical distribution of postsecondary education in prison across the United States. Using descriptive analysis, we report the total number of postsecondary institutions currently providing credit-bearing coursework to incarcerated people and discuss the influence of the federal Second Chance Pell Pilot Program on these findings. Focusing on issues of equity and quality, we use a critical framework to broadly assess the current status of the field and to document what constitutes postsecondary education in prison. In conclusion, we provide implications and suggestions for expanding quality postsecondary educational opportunity for incarcerated college students.

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