Supporting students as they transition into cégeps first requires a thorough understanding of who these students are, asserts David Baril (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières). In a new study by Baril and colleagues, researchers interviewed more than 850 cégep students and found that students tended to fit into one of five different profiles. These profiles, ranging from those in search of autonomy to those in search of belonging, indicate that institutions should avoid treating their new students as a uniform group, according to Baril. The authors offer several suggestions for accommodating students from these profiles, including improved welcome sessions, targeted support for various transitions, and reduced financial pressure.
