Students most in need of assistance programs not using them, HEQCO report finds

A new paper from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario observes that the students most in need of student assistance programs are not taking advantage of them. Despite efforts by institutions and staff to ensure students are aware of the programs and services offered, in many cases very few students know about them, according to the report, which recommends that institutions make support services as easily accessible as possible by placing them in one central location and offering students concise, simple information as early as possible. However, even when students were made sufficiently aware of assistance programs, research observes that those most likely to pursue additional academic help already often have reasonable grade averages and were generally not the most at risk of failing. The report recommends that colleges and universities should consider making certain support programs mandatory or have faculty members help promote their benefits to students. Research Summary | Complete Publication