Seneca
leads first-of-its-kind study to research factors in student success
$6.7 million from Millennium Foundation and MTCU creates Foundations
for Success to study at-risk students at Confederation, Mohawk and
Seneca colleges
(Toronto, May 17, 2007) --- Seneca College is
leading a first-of-its-kind research project to study whether a
combination of academic mentoring, career support, college integration and
financial aid will increase the success rates of at-risk college students.
The Foundations for Success research project, which
is funded by the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation and the Ministry
of Training, Colleges and Universities, was announced today at Seneca
College. The Millennium Foundation has contributed $6.2 million for the
study and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has donated
$500,000.
The research project, which starts in September 2007
and ends May 2009, will target 2,700 at-risk students from Confederation,
Mohawk and Seneca Colleges. The colleges are making an in-kind
contribution to the project of approximately $2 million.
"Partnering with Confederation and Mohawk
colleges allows us to study a variety of students, including those who
come from northern communities, from economically-diverse backgrounds, and
students who are new to this country," says Dr. Rick Miner, President
of Seneca College. "The Foundations for Success research
project is an innovative study that will develop new ways to improve
success rates for our students."
Foundations
for Success backgrounder
Each student will be randomly assigned into research
groups that will provide a combination of academic mentoring, career
support and financial incentives. An external research evaluation firm
will analyse the results to determine which
combination of factors best improves the chances for at-risk students to
complete their college education.
"We're talking about making sure that every
student who is in college is able to finish the program they're in,"
said Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, at
today's announcement. "It's about student success because we know
that we're never going to be as strong as we should be as a province until
every Ontarian can reach their full potential."
More students choose Seneca College of Applied
Arts and Technology than any other college in Canada. With eight
campuses across the GTA, Seneca provides internationally and nationally
recognized career education and training key to graduate success in the
global economy. Every Seneca diploma, certificate and applied degree
program is developed to a high academic standard, in consultation with
industry, integrated with information technology, combined with technical
and transferable skills, and reinforced by opportunities for ongoing
education and re-training.
For more information, please contact:
Seneca College Media Relations
416-491-5050 ext. 2354
