Teaching competence is an important skill for graduate students to acquire and is often considered a precursor to an academic career. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a multi-day teaching workshop on graduate teaching philosophies by surveying 200 graduate students, 79 of whom had taken the workshops and 121 who had not. We found no…

Student parents are a significant minority population on Canadian post-secondary campuses. As research exploring this population has been extremely limited to date, this study provides the first national profile of Canadian student parents. We explore student parent enrolment patterns over time and examine current demographic characteristics. The…

This study examines the gender pay gap among university faculty by analyzing gender differences in one component of faculty members' salaries--"market premiums." The data were collected during the Fall of 2002 using a survey of faculty at a single Canadian research university. Correspondence analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed…

At most Canadian and American community colleges and universities, student ratings have been implemented as a means of evaluating course instruction. Although concerns regarding the validity of student ratings from instructors' perspectives have been studied quite extensively, issues associated with the use of student ratings information by…

This qualitative study investigated how students adapt to medical school. Thirty-six medical students completed an e-mail survey exploring the transition from pre-medical to medical education, the use of learning strategies, and self-regulated learning practices. Their responses highlighted the challenges of medical education and the learning…

This study examines the academic senate within the context of university governance in Canada. Data were obtained from a survey of university senate secretaries on senate structure, composition, and operation, and from a survey of senate members on their perceptions of the senate, their role as senate members, and the nature of their work. The…

This paper assesses the importance of the credential requirements used by employers to attract graduates who will use their education on the job. The framework of this study is embedded within the theoretical debates between proponents of the credentialist and human capital theories of education. Past research related to these debates has focused…

In a study at Laval University (Canada), 94 faculty were surveyed concerning their teaching style, and over 3,000 of their students were also surveyed concerning teaching style, closeness of relationship with the teacher, satisfaction with teaching style, positive feelings toward teacher, and course satisfaction and involvement in learning the…

A survey of the efforts of Canadian colleges to train teaching assistants is reported, and the Simon Fraser University Teaching Assistant Training Programme is discussed. Focus is on components of the instruction offered to teaching assistants and representative data from an evaluation of the program. (JMD)

The diversity of grading systems used in 23 of Canada's largest universities is examined. Various suggestions are offered that, if adopted, should improve the communication value of grades and increase their effectiveness in decision-making. (Editor/LBH)

Professional development needs of middle-level administrators in western Canadian 2-year postsecondary institutions were investigated as background for planning professional development programs. Most important needs identified included program and staff evaluation, least important fund raising and the completion of a degree. Implications are…

Canadian student voting in favor of a student strike referendum is shown to be positively associated with weakening of ties with the family of origin and an uncertain future. Commitment to the social order was inversely related to favoring the strike. Comparison is made with U.S. student protest. (Editor/JT)

A survey of Ontario's college admissions officers revealed a preference for reintroduction of provincial examinations for mathematics and first language courses in the first high school year and for applicant reporting of grades and provincial examination scores rather than use of scores as a secondary school rating measure. (MSE)

The results of a survey concerning the learning experiences of 740 university and community college adult students in western Manitoba are analyzed in terms of adult learning theory, and the importance of intellectual maturity as a guiding principle in organizing learning experiences is examined. (MSE)

Individual differences in publication rates are examined for a small sample of faculty. Among the conclusions are that academic rank, degree qualifications, academic discipline, and number of years since receipt of first degree significantly affect publication rates. (MSE)