Book Review #11: Pursuing Higher Education in Canada

I've just finished reading Pursuing Higher Education in Canada: Economic, Social, and Policy Dimensions, edited in 2010 by Ross Finnie, Marc Frenette, Richard E. Mueller, and Arthur Sweetman, the accompanying volume to the book I reviewed this morning.

Like it's predecessor, this work is a compilation of a series of research articles and studies conducted based on Statistics Canada data (yes, this weekend has been a bit of a statistics overload).  Though the first volume was focused more on what factors (financial, parental education, etc) could increase or decrease likelihood of pursuing post-secondary (PS) education, this one focuses more on the transition from high school to college or university, how the general economy impacts PS enrollment, ethnic differences in educational attainment, and the impact of family background on PS aspirations and attendance.

This volume is very data-heavy, and causes a bit of an information overload when read at once (especially with the first volume added); however the information contained in both volumes is extremely valuable in understanding the students currently enrolled (or enrolling) in our institutions.

Book Review #10: Who goes? Who Stays? What Matters?

In a previous post, I wrote how Canadian higher education resources are relatively hard to come by.  As the field is still behind its American counterpart, most of our research and data is based on US numbers.  

A book I reviewed recently provided historical information and background on the field of Student Affairs in Canada. This new volume, Who Goes? Who Stays? What Matters? Accessing and Persisting in Post-Secondary Education in Canada, edited by Ross Finnie, Richard E. Mueller, Arthur Sweetman, and Alex Usher in 2008, provides statistical analysis of post-secondary attendance and persistence in Canada.

The book is by no means a thrilling narrative; however it is quite informative (and I imagine I will be using it as a resource when I pursue advanced degrees).  Much of the articles in this volume are based on the data compiled with Statistics Canada's Youth in Transition Survey, a longitudinal analysis of students from age 15-21 (to date) as they make their decisions to (or not) pursue higher education in Canada.

The volume is divided into a number of sections regarding Access, Persistence, and Financial Issues.  The works attempt to determine which factors are more likely to determine whether a student chooses to attend college, university, or neither: high school gpa, friends intent to pursue PSE, parental income, parental education level, part time jobs, etc. 

I would recommend this volume to any professional in Canada looking to examine educational trends, as it not only answers some questions, but opens the door for new studies.

Book Review #3 - Achieving Student Success

I've just finished reading my third (not for pleasure, but still quite pleasurable) book of 2013, Achieving Student Success: Effective student services in Canadian higher education, edited by Donna Hardy Cox and C. Carney Strange, and published in 2010.

This book came up on my 'recommended reads' list on Amazon, and I immediately ordered it (along with about 10 other books last month - thank you Amazon Prime free trial!). What attracted me to this one, was that it is CANADIAN, unlike so many other Student Services references books out there. Although it can be expected that student services aren't very different between the US and Canada, our histories are still different, as are our practices. This book is a compilation of chapters written by Canadian #sapros (or pros in the US who began their careers in Canada), and divided into sections: 

•  Historical, Philosophical, and Theoretical Foundations of Student Services
•  Forms, Functions, and Practices: Structuring Services for Student Success
• Matriculation
• Accommodations, engagement, and involvement
• Support and adjustment
• Institutional Mission and Context
• Achieving Student Success: Conclusion

What I enjoyed about this book is that although it had the expected 'textbook' feel, it offered an analysis (and sometimes critique) of student services as they currently stand in Canada. Most notably was the observation that so few graduate/doctoral programs are offered to individuals interested in student services as a career. As I am currently in the process of researching Master's programs (with hopes of a 2014 start), I have noticed this void myself, and am hoping that I will be able to build a more specialized program through the ones already available. 

This book also mentions the importance of building and maintaining relationships with alumni, not only for the financial benefits to the institution, but because individuals may only be students for a few years, but they will be alumnae for life.  

A quote I found particularly notable (especially given my positon on UOIT's brand new Alumni Association):

Student services programs can contribute expertise about how to help current students begin thinking as "alumni/ae in residence" and seeing graduation as a process of joining something for life rather than departing the institution.

I would recommend this book to any student services professional who wishes to supplement the existing resources with some Canadian information, and believe it will be a useful reference in my library.

I'm beginning to think that my 'one PD book per month' goal is going to be easier to achieve than I thought! I am especially excited about #sareads, and am looking forward to adding those books to my monthly reading list.