Addressing the Gaps in Learning & Supports

Presented by: Kathy Skinner & Rob Forward, Memorial University

As we shift into a post-pandemic world, student affairs professionals are witnessing an ever-increasing demand for services and supports. As students re-engage in person, there is a marked rise in the request for academic accommodations – requests that are not always supported by acceptable documentation.

This rise in accommodation requests is precipitated in part by the increasing demand for mental health services. That demand has created longer waitlists for counselling and delays in receiving psychological assessments. The pandemic also strained resources in high schools and many students showing up at post-secondary accessibility offices requesting accommodations have outdated assessments or ‘informal’ accommodation plans.

The result of this is that accessibility offices are seeing increasing numbers of students who do not have documentation that aligns with current accessibility policies. This has led to barriers in supporting students with disabilities and made it difficult to tease out what is disability and what is pandemic related learning gaps/barriers.

Defining Belonging on the Post-Pandemic Campus

Presented by: Brock Richardson, Saint Thomas University

As students return to campus, in-person classes, and co-curricular activities, institutions are scrambling to rebuild a sense of belonging.  But what does belonging really mean to students?  Having friends on campus, alignment with institutional values, program fit, belonging based on culture, background, acceptance, or interests? 

In this session participants will be presented with and discuss research, data, and ideas about what a ‘sense of belonging’ truly means, how it can be measured, why it’s valuable to institutions, and the kind of interventions that might improve it among your student body.   

By the end of the session participants may not have a clear singular definition of belonging, but they will hopefully have a deeper understanding of what it can mean and help to be more intentional on belonging-related goals, measurements, and initiatives at their campuses. 

A snapshot of challenges met at CBU with 65% International Enrolment

Presented by: John Mayich, Judy Kelley, & Bilynda Whiting, Cape Breton University

Cape Breton University had an unprecedented enrolment growth over the past five years with a student population in 2018 of approximately 3,500 (1,200 international) to over 7,700 in 2023 (4,500 international). With this growth came many capacity issues both on-campus and off-campus. Hear from three senior staff who implemented solutions in admissions/registration, housing, classroom space and healthcare needs for this changing demographic.

Socially Just Assessment

Presented by: Heather Doyle, Dalhousie

University allies of social justice are facilitating conversations around equity, diversity, and inclusion to develop impactful programs and services. Assessment is the mechanism to measure impact, identify gaps, and expose disparities. This session provides an overview of the tenants of socially just assessment with focus on how to ensure that our assessment process is culturally responsive, actively minimizes bias, and respects the dignity and differences of students.