Ontario’s Colleges: Looking Ontario’s Colleges: Looking Ahead to 2015 and Turning 50Ahead to 2015 and Turning 50

Berta Vigil Laden, Ph.D.Berta Vigil Laden, Ph.D.

Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor

OISE/University of TorontoOISE/University of Toronto

February 21, 2005February 21, 2005

1965: 1965: A Very Good YearA Very Good Year

Lester B. Pearson, Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson, Prime Minister John P. Robarts, Premier of OntarioJohn P. Robarts, Premier of Ontario Maple Leaf and Royal Union flags raisedMaple Leaf and Royal Union flags raised Rapid population growth post WWII and Rapid population growth post WWII and

birth of Baby Boomersbirth of Baby Boomers Demand for access to higher education Demand for access to higher education

risesrises Creation of colleges by Minister Davis Creation of colleges by Minister Davis

occursoccurs

Happy Birth Day, Colleges!Happy Birth Day, Colleges!

May 21st, 1965May 21st, 1965

Mandate of Ontario’sMandate of Ontario’s ‘Community’‘Community’ Colleges… Colleges…

Colleges were to be Colleges were to be responsive to and situated responsive to and situated in their communities.in their communities.

Colleges were to be responsible for:Colleges were to be responsible for: Providing courses beyond secondary school;Providing courses beyond secondary school; Meet needs of secondary school graduates not Meet needs of secondary school graduates not

going on to university;going on to university; Meet educational needs of adults and youths of Meet educational needs of adults and youths of

non-secondary school graduates.non-secondary school graduates.

Goal: Offering Career and Goal: Offering Career and Vocational Education and SkillsVocational Education and Skills

““There is no need for transfer courses in There is no need for transfer courses in Ontario at the present time.”Ontario at the present time.”

““If circumstances so require, we If circumstances so require, we

will naturally change or make will naturally change or make

adaptations to our present plans.”adaptations to our present plans.”

First Colleges…First Colleges…

September 1966: Centennial College opened September 1966: Centennial College opened with 590 students:with 590 students: 430 day full-time430 day full-time

43% nearby secondary school graduates43% nearby secondary school graduates 14% adults over age 1914% adults over age 19

160 evening part-time160 evening part-time By 1968, 18 colleges were opened in local By 1968, 18 colleges were opened in local

communities cross province.communities cross province.

Looking Ahead to 2015…Looking Ahead to 2015…

Major IssuesMajor Issues: Pathways for student mobility : Pathways for student mobility and relationships between colleges and and relationships between colleges and universities problematic.universities problematic. Binary division still in placeBinary division still in place Credit recognition and articulationCredit recognition and articulation Applied baccalaureate degreesApplied baccalaureate degrees Access and retentionAccess and retention

Binary Division between Binary Division between Colleges and UniversitiesColleges and Universities

Need for clearly articulated framework of Need for clearly articulated framework of cooperation between sectorscooperation between sectors

Need to revisit legislation given societal, Need to revisit legislation given societal, political, economic, cultural changes in political, economic, cultural changes in Ontario and globally.Ontario and globally.

Need for a more coherent provincial Need for a more coherent provincial

higher education master plan.higher education master plan.

1960 California Master Plan1960 California Master Plan

Three tier system for student mobility:Three tier system for student mobility: University of California - top 12% HS gradsUniversity of California - top 12% HS grads State University of California - top 33%State University of California - top 33% Community Colleges - Open accessCommunity Colleges - Open access

Transfer function streamlined:Transfer function streamlined: Meet lower division course requirementsMeet lower division course requirements Course articulationCourse articulation Transfer into 3rd year coursesTransfer into 3rd year courses

Credit Recognition Credit Recognition and Articulation Agreementsand Articulation Agreements

Lack of system-wide articulation agreements Lack of system-wide articulation agreements lead to ineffective and inefficient loss of lead to ineffective and inefficient loss of credits, time, money for students.credits, time, money for students.

Call for clearly defined system:Call for clearly defined system: California: IGETC and “A-F Requirements”California: IGETC and “A-F Requirements” Florida: Associate of Arts Degree Florida: Associate of Arts Degree 2+2 (+2); Dual enrollment2+2 (+2); Dual enrollment Summer bridge programsSummer bridge programs

Applied Baccalaureate DegreesApplied Baccalaureate Degrees

Universities’ reluctance to recognize ABDs for Universities’ reluctance to recognize ABDs for graduate admissions.graduate admissions.

Widen access and college choice options for Widen access and college choice options for students.students.

Applied and theoretical hand-in-handApplied and theoretical hand-in-hand Partnerships, shared courses, eliminate Partnerships, shared courses, eliminate

duplication or high cost programs.duplication or high cost programs.

Increasing Access and RetentionIncreasing Access and Retention

Target marginalzied population groups:Target marginalzied population groups: Young adults 18-24 of ageYoung adults 18-24 of age Visible minority groupsVisible minority groups ImmigrantsImmigrants First Nations/AboriginalsFirst Nations/Aboriginals Single parentsSingle parents Mature adultsMature adults Physically challengedPhysically challenged Low incomeLow income First generation collegeFirst generation college

Access and Retention for Access and Retention for Student SuccessStudent Success

Models of best practices across colleges in North Models of best practices across colleges in North AmericaAmerica

Must be: Must be: Culturally sensitivity, contextually Culturally sensitivity, contextually appropriate appropriate

Counseling, advising, orientation, socializationCounseling, advising, orientation, socialization Mentoring from entry to completionMentoring from entry to completion Early warning systemEarly warning system Tutoring and reading/writing/language labsTutoring and reading/writing/language labs ESL, reading and math developmental coursesESL, reading and math developmental courses Parent/family involvementParent/family involvement Financial and child care assistanceFinancial and child care assistance

Access and Retention…Access and Retention…

Summer/after school/weekend bridge Summer/after school/weekend bridge programsprograms

High School in CollegeHigh School in College Peer tutoring and peer-mentoring in high Peer tutoring and peer-mentoring in high

schools and middle schoolsschools and middle schools Day trips to colleges and involvement in Day trips to colleges and involvement in

course and co-curricular activitiescourse and co-curricular activities 2+2+2 and dual enrollment.2+2+2 and dual enrollment. Parental/significant others’ involvementParental/significant others’ involvement

Differentiation and Diversity Differentiation and Diversity Among CollegesAmong Colleges

Colleges becoming increasingly heterogeneous Colleges becoming increasingly heterogeneous institutions:institutions: Urban, suburban, rural and remote collegesUrban, suburban, rural and remote colleges ABD-granting and ITALSABD-granting and ITALS Durham-UOIT; Humber-GuelphDurham-UOIT; Humber-Guelph Georgian College PartnershipsGeorgian College Partnerships Business/Industry collaborationsBusiness/Industry collaborations Nursing collaborationsNursing collaborations

Human Resource IssuesHuman Resource Issues

Graying of faculty and administrative leadersGraying of faculty and administrative leaders Increasingly diverse student bodyIncreasingly diverse student body Increasingly technologically savvy studentsIncreasingly technologically savvy students Changing work loads Changing work loads Growing need for research on collegesGrowing need for research on colleges Growing need to expand and support applied Growing need to expand and support applied

research among faculty; involvement of research among faculty; involvement of students as research partners.students as research partners.

Questions to Ponder…?Questions to Ponder…? How can the impact of the Rae Report be used How can the impact of the Rae Report be used

to engage universities in dialog for change?to engage universities in dialog for change? Should the legislation that created the colleges Should the legislation that created the colleges

be revisited and revised?be revisited and revised? What is the role of board of governors, What is the role of board of governors,

presidents and senior administrators, faculty to presidents and senior administrators, faculty to help bring about transformation in colleges, help bring about transformation in colleges, between colleges, with universities?between colleges, with universities?

Where do you want colleges to be in 10 years?Where do you want colleges to be in 10 years?