The mission of the university has remained relatively constant over the centuries, but the relationship between a university and its student population has significantly changed, argues Vicki Squires (University of Saskatchewan) for The Conversation. Squires highlights how the university’s “duty of care” for students has changed since the origins of Canadian higher education as the cultural milieu and make-up of the student body has shifted. The author describes how the university’s approach to its duty of care has evolved over time: From “paternal” to “bystander” to today’s “facilitator” era. Squires encourages institutions to move to an approach that treats students as adults and active collaborators in addressing their own needs.
The Conversation
