A comprehensive access strategy

This policy paper addresses the significant need for a comprehensive, holistic access strategy to improve early outreach and access to higher education. Studies stress the need for an integrated approach to student access as opposed to the piecemeal, fragmented programs currently in place. For most students, the decision to pursue post-secondary education (PSE) is done at an early age. Therefore, OUSA recommends the provincial government take a leading role in creating and coordinating a comprehensive access strategy that enables all youth to participate in higher education. While all students benefit from early outreach and access programs, it is underrepresented groups that stand the most to gain, and such programs can be vital to their enrolment and persistence in PSE.