SummaryThe first deadline for REACH registration has passed and registration data for the first set of substances are now public. According to ECHA, 4,599

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore not only the academic measures such as grade point average of success of college-to-university transfer programs (Pathway Programs), but also the social-cultural facilitators and barriers throughout the students’ Pathway experience. Design/methodology/approach – The experience of students and academic advisors moving between Queensdale College and North Star University (NSU) (pseudonyms) were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach including analysis of data from online surveys, secondary data (course performance), and focus group interviews. Findings – Students who are able to enter the Pathway Programs at NSU perform on average better than their four-year traditional program peers. There remain a number of social-cultural barrier which need to be addressed to improve the overall experience of these transfer students. Practical implications – The results from this study will assist the administrative decision makers in designing Pathways and their associated communication plans in order to meet the needs of the students with tools and supports that are both perceived by the students as valuable and are improving their Pathway experience and ultimately their academic performance. Originality/value – The move to develop Pathway Programs in Ontario is a new phenomenon, even in provinces where this is more common, few studies exist which consider the social-cultural aspects of the student journey between the two institutions. This study moves beyond the standard academic performance data and provides insight into the critical role played by the social aspects in higher education experiences.

Two nurse educators share a nursing knowledge course, which was created as a forum for questioning and discovery, thereby revealing a process of knowing nursing through inquiry. The process of inquiry in nursing praxis is emphasized, facilitating students' understanding that they are knowledge-users and creators. With students, we explore the construction of praxis, which includes being/becoming (ontology), knowing (epistemology), and doing (actions with consequences). Nursing knowledge is understood to arise from philosophy, world views, nursing theories, patterns of knowing, evidence-based research, and standards of practice. Students are encouraged to critically reflect on and use what is congruent with their praxis and to construct new knowledge. Exemplars from nurse educators and students are presented as evidence of our claim for furthering the science of nursing education.

Currently, there is great interest across Ontario in the expansion of pathway programs between colleges and universities. Through strategic partnerships, two Ontario-based postsecondary institutions (a college and a university) have developed innovative and effective pathway programs that facilitate the transition of students between institutions for the completion of degrees, diplomas, and certificates. These programs support the training of highly qualified, market-ready graduates. This paper reports on a mixed-methods study of the successes and challenges of a particular Ontario college and university pathway program, with a focus on the Bachelor of Commerce Pathway program. Preliminary results indicate that pathway students were more academically successful than their traditional university student counterparts but did experience a number of challenges in transitioning from college into university. Principal challenges included inefficient communication between program administrators, academic advisors, and students; lack of orientation activities for pathway students; lack of college student preparedness in communication and critical thinking skills; and difficulties experienced by college students integrating into the social-cultural life of the university.

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