AACUSS Research Opportunities and Partnerships 

The Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services (AACUSS) is committed to advancing research that enhances the student experience across Atlantic Canada. Through our dedicated AACUSS Research Grant, we support members who are undertaking impactful projects in the field of Student Services.

Established by the AACUSS Executive during the 2008–2009 year, this grant aims to foster original research that contributes meaningfully to our profession and practice. Each year, eligible AACUSS members can apply for funding of up to $1,000 to support their work, with an additional travel grant of up to $500 available for sharing results at our annual conference. Priority consideration is given to first-time applicants, those with financial need, and Indigenous and/or equity-deserving members of AACUSS. All research must adhere to institutional or Tri-Council ethics guidelines when applicable.

In addition to funding new initiatives, AACUSS is also proud to support and collaborate on existing research relevant to our field. Whether you're seeking feedback, looking for co-researchers, or want to disseminate findings, we welcome partnerships that promote knowledge-sharing and evidence-based practice within our community.

Member Research Spotlight

We celebrate the work of our members and are pleased to feature AACUSS-supported and member-led research projects here. If you would like your research highlighted, whether funded through our grant or conducted independently, please contact us.

Including Students in Success: Using First Year Experience Programming to Create Belonging and Success Through Inclusion

Submitted by: Steven Smith, PhD & Tom Brophy, M.Ed. Saint Mary's University

Supporting our partner, the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) we will conduct two studies to assess how student accessibility and mental health services are offered at colleges and universities in Canada. We know that students are more likely to succeed in post-secondary education if they can maintain their health and wellness (Upcraft, et al; 2005). We also know that for students to be successful, those that have specific needs must receive the support they require (e.g., Prince 2015). The proposed research is integral to the partner organization's ability to effectively fulfill its mission to support excellence in, and the development of, student services in Canada. Specifically, our program of research has four primary objectives:

1. To identify the level of accessibility support services for students with disabilities and student counselling services being provided in colleges and universities in Canada.

2. To assess the current capacity Canadian students services have relative to providing accessibility support for students with disabilities and counselling support services.

3. To ascertain emerging trends in both service areas in terms of challenges and opportunities.

4. To inform best practice across Canadian post-secondary institutions (PSEs) moving forward.

This research will combine knowledge from across multiple disciplines (higher education, psychology, accessibility, mental health policy, management) to benchmark student mental health counseling services and accessibility services for students with disabilities in Canada. We are proposing two studies. Study 1 will be a survey of student accessibility and mental health services at PSEs (minimum 100) in Canada, exploring factors such as basic information about the institution, the state of counselling services (staffing levels, level and source of funding, policies and procedures, typical challenges and barriers to care), as well as wait times, categories of students supported through these offices, and variety of services. Study 2 will be a semi-structured interview with a subset of 40 participants from Study 1 and will focus on the person’s perspective on their own institution’s services relative to others in the system (if a multi-campus institution), the province/territory, and the region. Respondents will be asked what are the primary issues facing their students, and what they are and are not doing well to address those issues.

Our work will also serve to improve accessibility for students with disabilities and student mental health services by clarifying the standard of services colleges and universities provide for students. To our knowledge this is the first attempt to address service standards for accessibility and counseling in post-secondary education at the national level. Our research is consistent with two SSHRC Future Challenge Areas: “Working in the Digital Economy” and “Global Health and Wellness for the 21st Century” (SSHRC, 2020).

For more information about this project click here! & here!