Hillary Arnold & Shuping Liu Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Canadian Association of Graduate Studies November 4, 2013 The financial and academic story: what the CGPSS tells us about the graduate student experience Informing the Future of Higher Education

2010 vs Master’sDoctoralMaster’sDoctoral 2 Informing the Future of Higher Education

2010 vs Master’sDoctoralMaster’sDoctoral No. of universities 3848 No. of respondents 24,80613,81233,30018,382 3 Informing the Future of Higher Education

2010 vs Master’sDoctoralMaster’sDoctoral No. of universities 3848 No. of respondents 24,80613,81233,30018,382 Regional distribution (%) ON 50%49%46%45% PQ 26%28%26%27% ROC 24%23%28% 4 Informing the Future of Higher Education

Reasonable representation of the 2010 population 5 Informing the Future of Higher Education Proportionally more Female StudentsInternational Students Proportional Registration Status CIP field of study classification

Master’s students are least satisfied with student life 6 Informing the Future of Higher Education Student’s Rate the Overall Quality of their experience

Doctoral results very similar to master’s 7 Informing the Future of Higher Education

Financial story

Money biggest obstacle to academic progress 9 Informing the Future of Higher Education Master’s students ON PQ ROC 71% 72% 75% Doctoral students ON PQ ROC 73% 72% 69%

Master’s students use various supports 10 Informing the Future of Higher Education

Most doctoral students have scholarships/ fellowships and TA/RAships 11 Informing the Future of Higher Education

More Quebec students satisfied with advice on financial support 12 Informing the Future of Higher Education ON PQ ROC 62% 68% 60% Master’s students Doctoral students ON PQ ROC 63% 70% 63%

Financial aid offices not used by as many students as expected 13 Informing the Future of Higher Education Master’s students ON PQ ROC 50% 51% 38% Doctoral students ON PQ ROC 47% 53% 43%

Again, more Quebec students satisfied with financial aid office 14 Informing the Future of Higher Education

More master’s students have graduate debt 15 Informing the Future of Higher Education ON PQ ROC 57% 58% 50% Master’s students Doctoral students ON PQ ROC 45% 50% 39%

Summary 16 Informing the Future of Higher Education Master’s students Doctoral students Financial Aid Office Ontario students Quebec students Use various financial resources More than half report graduate debt Heavily use public financial supports Less than half report graduate debt Used by half of graduate students Used by half of graduate students Use more supports Use more supports Less employment Use financial aid office more Are more satisfied Are more satisfied

Academic/Career story

Program structure or requirements an obstacle to academic progress 18 Informing the Future of Higher Education

Students satisfied with relationship of program to research/professional goals 19 Informing the Future of Higher Education ON PQ ROC 83% 84% Master’s students Doctoral students ON PQ ROC 79% 78%

Doctoral students least satisfied with advice on options outside academia 20 Informing the Future of Higher Education

Students in professional programs generally satisfied with career advice 21 Informing the Future of Higher Education

Career services used by less than half of students 22 Informing the Future of Higher Education ON PQ ROC 45% 34% 39% Master’s students Doctoral students ON PQ ROC 38% 30% 37%

Master’s students more satisfied with career services 23 Informing the Future of Higher Education ON PQ ROC 65% 68% Master’s students Doctoral students ON PQ ROC 60% 66% 60%

Summary Graduate Students - Satisfied with program meeting their professional goals, BUT structure is an obstacle Doctoral Students - Satisfied with Training on Teaching - Not satisfied with advice on career options outside academia Students in Professional Programs - Generally satisfied with career advice & WIL opportunities 24 Informing the Future of Higher Education Less than half of students using career services

Does satisfaction measure quality? 25 Informing the Future of Higher Education