The goal of the ALFI initiative is to make the post secondary environment more conducive to adult learners who share common characteristics that are not often shared with recent high school graduates. These characteristics include:

1. Delayed enrolment into post secondary education.
2. Attending part time.
3. Financial independence.
4. Working full-time while enroled.
5. Having dependants.
6. Being a single parent.

Donna Alary, Director, Enrolment Management, and Wendy Watson, Director, Assessment Services, co-chair the ALFI implementation team at UFV.

Visit the ALFI Canada website.

Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange (CSRDE)

UFV is a member of the Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange. Hosted by the University of Oklahoma the CSRDE is an information-sharing network among two and four-year post secondary institutions.

A key benefit of this membership is the CSRDE Annual Retention Study which determines yearly benchmark data on retention and graduation.

Visit the CSRDE website.

Supported Learning Groups (SLG)

Supported Learning Groups provide academic support for first year classes that are historically challenging. Students who have previously taken the course and have done well lead the sessions.They attend the present lectures and follow the course material along with the students in weekly sessions. The sessions are open to all students enrolled in the course and they can participate as often as they choose.

Regular review, pre-tests, and study skills are learned at each session.  The sessions function as guaranteed study time with a place to get feedback. Students must come to the sessions prepared to discuss and contribute to activities. SLG's are not tutoring sessions, they function as a place for students to get together with a successful peer who has succeeded academically.

Visit the SLG website