The recruitment of under-represented groups to Ontario colleges: a survey of current practices

The purpose of the present study was to explore current Ontario college recruitment efforts directed at under-represented groups. The research was guided by three research questions: How do Ontario colleges define under-represented groups? How do Ontario colleges recruit under-represented groups? How do Ontario colleges measure the impact of recruitment activities focused on students from under-represented groups? In order to answer these questions, the research team collected and analyzed data from four sources: Ontario college Strategic Mandate Agreements (SMAs); Ontario college viewbooks; Ontario college websites; and interviews with Ontario college recruitment managers. The results of these analyses indicated that many Ontario colleges seem to be actively engaged in identifying members of under-represented groups, developing recruitment strategies that will increase their rate of enrolment in [postsecondary education] PSE, and finding ways to evaluate the success of these initiatives. Results pertaining to each of the research questions are also reported.

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