Guiding student affairs & services departments with national data

When factors such as new federal policy changes and provincial funding models resulted in a financial crisis on institutional campuses across the country, several student affairs and services departments found themselves trying to make decisions “in the dark.” There was little in the way of Canadian, national data for departments to compare their current circumstances to or to make decisions about their operations and services from.

Academica Group embarked on a study of Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) from Canadian postsecondary institutions in order to create a benchmark and gain insight into key operational decisions. This study touched on a variety of critical topics, including if and how their student affairs & services budget had changed, whether they were exploring opportunities for revenue generation, and whether they saw a place for AI in student affairs & services. This inaugural study offered SSAOs a look into what their colleagues viewed as priorities, challenges, and opportunities for the future.