The introduction of these surveys enough about how we’re doing and how others are doing.”2 has been supported by the Ontario government as part of its effort to find new ways of assessing the results of public with the creation the higher education Quality council of investments in higher education. [...] For a student who attends university for four a b I l I t y students’ decisions to attend postsec- years and receives Ontario student assistance program (Osap) ondary education are affected by the geographic proximity support for any portion of those years, the average repayable of the institution15 and by the availability of spaces in the debt at graduation was $21,235 in 2005-06. [...] Despite the difficulties in forecasting, we would like to know more we would like to know how to improve retention and comple- about whether the mix of spaces in the Ontario higher education tion rates generally, and particularly for groups that are tradi- system will support the continued development of the economy.