BP-Net Webinar Series: Advancing Post-Secondary Counselling Metrics (Part 1): Regional Benchmarking & A Tri-Campus Evaluation Framework
Join the Best Practices Network (BP-Net) for a two-part webinar series examining how Canadian post-secondary institutions are collecting, evaluating, and leveraging counselling data to improve student mental health services.
Advancing Post-Secondary Counselling Metrics (Part 1): Regional Benchmarking & Tri-Campus Evaluation Framework
Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT (55-minute session)
Format: Virtual via Zoom (Includes presentation & live Q&A)
Series Notice: This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Registration for Part 2, featuring Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of British Columbia, will launch at the end of September.
Session Overview
How can institutions build meaningful data sets that measure impact, streamline operations, and support post-secondary student mental health?
In this session, presenters from Saint Mary’s University and the University of Toronto will share perspectives ranging from national-level survey insights to an institutional approach to evaluation.
Presentation 1: Benchmarking Counselling Centre Supports in Atlantic Canada and Beyond
Presenters:
Tom Brophy, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services at Saint Mary’s University (SMU)
Steven Smith, Professor of Psychology at SMU and the Graduate Program Coordinator for the Master of Applied Health Services Research (MAHSR) program at SMU
“The Canadian Post- Secondary Student Mental Health Services Survey”, administered in late Fall 2023 and early Winter 2024 in collaboration with the Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services (AACUSS) and the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS), provided Student Affairs and Services professionals with critical data to identify strengths and gaps relative to peer institutions across Atlantic Canada and nationally.
Presenters will share summary findings—including broad comparative benchmarks and subgroup analyses examining colleges and universities separately. The session will highlight how Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) and mental health leads can leverage these metrics to justify continued funding/staffing, build cases for diversifying resources, and inform future pan-Canadian research.
Presentation 2: Using Data to Drive Student Mental Health Outcomes at the University of Toronto
Presenter:
Chris Bartha, Senior Executive Director, Student Mental Health, Systems Policy and Strategy at the University of Toronto.
This presentation will focus on the development and execution of the University of Toronto’s Tri-Campus Institutional Evaluation Framework. The session highlights two primary objectives designed to foster alignment and consistency across three campuses:
- Unified Data Architecture: Demonstrating how the University built a coordinated, multi-campus dataset that standardizes operational decision-making, rigorous evaluation, and cross-institutional accountability.
- System-Wide Impact Assessment: Presenting integrated tri-campus results on clinical outcomes and student experiences to evaluate and validate the collective reach of strategic mental health initiatives.
Please register below: