Confidential
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Students
TheUniversityofWindsor regularlyparticipates in theNational Surveyof Student Engagement
(NSSE) togain insights intostudent engagement andsatisfaction. Survey results areused to
providevaluable feedback touniversityadministrators. Researchhas identifiedvarious “high-
impact practices” (HIPs) that represent enrichingeducational experience that canbe life-
changing for students. EachHIP is anELpedagogy that requires significant timeandeffort,
learning is situatedoutside theclassroom, interactions aremeaningful, collaborations are
encouraged, and frequent andsubstantial feedback is common. Examples include learning
communities, service learning, researchwith faculty, internshipsor fieldexperience, study
abroad, andculminating senior experiences. Participating inanHIPhasbeendemonstrated to
haveapositiveassociationwithstudent learningand retentionand increasedstudent
engagement (a.k.a., higherNSSE score).
Studentsprioritize location, cost, academicexcellenceand reputation, institutionalmarketing,
and input fromparents, informants, andpeerswhenmakingenrolment decisions. Prospective
students seek innovative, contemporary,well-respectedhigh-qualityprogramsof study;
however, they recognize that themaindifferencebetweensimilar degreesofferedat
competing institutions isnot somuch inwhat is taught but ashowtheprogramisdelivered.
Students aredemanding relevant and rewarding learningexperiences (i.e., progressive
curriculumandcuttingedge learning resources taught by facultywhoareknowledgeableand
researchactive). Students areexpecting tobe“work ready” andvaluedegreeprograms that
provideopportunities forwork-basedplacements as earlyaspossible, includingextended
placementsboth locallyand internationally.
Government
TheUniversityofWindsor, as apublicallyassisted institution, partnerswith theOntario
Government todeliver highqualityeducation tostudents and receives a significant portionof
itsoperating revenue fromtheMinistryof AdvancedEducationandSkillsDevelopment
(MAESD).
In2015, theGovernment ofOntarioannounceda reviewof itsuniversity fundingmodel. The
final consultation report recommends fundingdecisionsbebasedonenhancingqualityand
improving theoverall student experience, differentiation (i.e., strategicmandateagreements),
transparencyandaccountability, and financial sustainability. As such, theUniversitymust be
cognizant of howthedeliveryof academicprograms andstudent support services influence
fundingdecisionsmadebyMAESD. For thepurposesof this report, the focuswill beonhow
influences student success, asmeasuredbyMAESDas employment outcomes, graduation,
labourmarket preparedness, learningoutcomes, participation, outreachandopportunity,
retention, student satisfaction, and time-to-completion.
