Strategy 4: Graduate Student Enrollment

Subject to appropriate funding, Ryerson will increase the number of its professional and research-based graduate programs, particularly at the doctoral level.

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Graduate Studies -- Over the past five years, the number of graduate programs and graduate students has grown substantially. At present about six percent of Ryerson students are enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Most comprehensive universities in Ontario have about ten percent of their students enrolled in graduate studies, and Ryerson hopes gradually to match that. It would be desirable to see much of that growth at the doctoral level across a mix of existing and new programs. Ontario’s funding of graduate programs will be a key factor in how any program growth will unfold. While a significant number of graduate programs at Ryerson has been developed since 2000, there remain several areas in which new graduate programs would be appropriate in terms of mission, resources, and aspirations. The presence of graduate students brings a new dimension to the life of our academic community, enriching our research culture, creating further opportunities for undergraduates, and offering faculty and staff who are engaged with these graduate students new opportunities as well. Graduate students are a key part of the academic life of a university, and their training and involvement are vital to the success and retention of undergraduate students as well as the attraction and retention of highly qualified faculty. In many cases, graduate students are the faculty of the future, and they deserve robust professional development opportunities in their capacities as teachers and researchers. At Ryerson there are also special needs arising from the speed of graduate growth since 2000, such as the requirement of enhanced graduate funding, increased numbers of teaching and graduate assistantships and appropriate training, additional learning supports such as ESL education and assistance, and physical space for graduate study itself. In 2007 Ryerson participated in the Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey, which reinforced the impression that graduate students are particularly keen to have workshops, seminars, and other educational opportunities focusing on skills development within and beyond their academic programs.

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