UTM is implementing a variation of the ‘Ideal PAC Development Process’ (Fricker, 2024) to redevelop communications we sent to students, related to academic standing and POSt-refusal. Specifically, drafts of “attuned” communication related to academic probation and POSt-refusal are being developed based on research involving the College Transition Collaborative at Stanford University and the College Student Success Innovation Centre at Mohawk College and revised based on student focus group and staff consultations. UTM is planning to deploy the redeveloped communications starting in May, 2025 and will be subsequently assessing for potential impacts through comparison of treatment cohort and historical data.
Outcomes
UTM is hopeful that the redeveloped communication will result in decreased student feelings of shame and stigmatization and increased feelings of hope and support, resulting in increased: help-seeking behaviours and subsequent GPA and retention rates.