Canadian Graduate Student Satisfaction with Academic Experience and Student Life

A new report released today by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) shows that graduate students remain satisfied with their education, although satisfaction has dropped slightly since 2007. Using data from the 2007 and 2010 Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS), the report explores what influences graduate students’ satisfaction with their universities, programs of study, academic experiences and faculty supervisors; what influences students’ perceptions of the quality of teaching and learning; and how graduate student satisfaction levels differed between 2007 and 2010. The report uses data from 15 Ontario universities in 2007 and 17 in 2010. While the satisfaction levels of doctoral students have decreased slightly, the study showed greater satisfaction with the quality of professional skills development they received in 2010 compared to 2007. This may suggest the success of some institutions’ initiatives – such as the Graduate Professional Skills (GPS) Program at the University of Toronto. Policy recommnendations suugest that the government continue to work with universities and their graduate deans to promote and support initiatives and best practices that improve graduate student preparation for the labour market.

Graduate Student and Faculty Trends from the CAUT Almanac

Some interesting tidbits from the 2012-13 CAUT Almanac: In 2009-10, women accounted for 54% of degree enrollment at the Master's level (down from 56% last year); holding steady at 47% at the Ph.D. level for 2009-2010. In 2010, 44,919 master's, and 5,736 degrees were awarded in Canada. Women accounted for 61.5% of Master's degrees; 44.3% of Doctorates that were awarded for 2009-2010. In 2011, 2,034 new full-time university teachers were appointed in Canada. 44.2% were women. The proportion of full-time university teachers employed beyond the age of 65 more than quadrupled between 2001 and 2011, to 5.1% of males and 3.8% of females. The number of 'senior' full-time university teachers exceeded the number of 'junior' teachers in 2010-11: 5.7% were within the 30-34 age bracket; 5.8% were between 65-69 years of age.

Graduate Student Life Initiative

McMaster University has once again stepped up to the plate where graduate students are involved, starting up the Graduate Student Life Initiative. The brainchild of the Graduate Student Services Committee, comprised of individuals from Student Affairs, Graduate Studies, and the Graduate Students' Association,the goal is to determine the needs of graduate students and develop a framework to meet those needs. Prompted by feedback from a survey conducted by the Student Success Centre, key areas of concern have been identified, such as time management skills; academic support; and employment and career advice. Two years ago, McMaster created the position of assistant dean of Graduate Student Life and Research Training, the first of its kind at a Canadian university. That position is currently filled by Peter Self. Graduate student enrolment at the university currently stands at over 4,000 students, an increase of over 75% since 2000. But McMaster has made it clear that the management and servicing of this growing student population is a key priority, along with recruitment efforts, setting a great example for other Canadian universities to follow. Let's hope that they do.