TORONTO, Sept. 29 /CNW/ – The current economic recession in Ontario drove student summer unemployment to the highest levels on record and weakened university endowments, severely reducing available financial aid, says a report released today by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). The report, entitled Postsecondary education in Ontario and the recession, explores the negative effects the recession is having on higher education in Ontario and calls for greater government funding to reverse the damage.
“Ontario students are paying more of the total cost of their education than students in other provinces,” said Dan Moulton, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). “It’s time for the government to restore fairness to the system. Students strongly support OCUFA’s recommendation for greater government funding for postsecondary education.”
Other high-profile reports have recently recommended an increase in government funding, highlighting the economic benefits a strong postsecondary education system. At the request of Premier McGuinty, The Martin Prosperity Institute completed a report entitled Ontario in the Creative Age, which recommends increasing funding for postsecondary education. The Task Force on Competitiveness, Productivity and Economic Progress came to the same conclusion in their most recent annual report.
“The evidence for the social and economic benefits of a strong post-secondary education system is overwhelming. It’s time for the government to make a smart investment for Ontario’s future,” added Moulton.
TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ – As students across the province return to the classroom, the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) has released a report showing that students from low-income neighbourhoods are 13% less likely to attend university.
“More than anything else, this alarming difference in participation between low and high income students underscores the need for the Ontario Government to further develop its strategy for early outreach.” said Dan Moulton, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA).
OUSA is optimistic that this report will bring more attention to the need for an investment in community-based programs which reach out to students in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. While the government has provided some funding for pilot projects administered by Pathways to Education, this is far from the coherent strategy called for in the review of higher education by former Premier Bob Rae.
“Closing the application gap between rich and poor communities is one of the only ways to ensure continued growth in post-secondary participation.” continued Moulton. “If Ontario truly wants to be a leader in the knowledge economy then early outreach must become a serious priority.”
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance has long called on the government to deal seriously with the need for early outreach. This HEQCO report adds a new urgency to this need as the gap between students continues to grow.
TORONTO, Sept. 4 /CNW/ – 16.4% of students in Canada were unemployed in the month of August, according to a report released today by Statistics Canada. This has been the hardest summer since Statistics Canada began collecting student unemployment data in 1977.
“Students have been unable to find summer employment and have not earned enough to pay the bills,” said Dan Moulton, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). “It’s time for the government to take responsibility and provide greater assistance to help students endure the economic downturn.”
Last year 226,476 students needed the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) in order to attend post-secondary education. OSAP requires each student to contribute a minimum amount of summer income toward his or her education,
regardless of whether or not the student was employed. OSAP then deducts this amount – at least $2,710 – from the loan the student receives.
High unemployment this summer has drastically reduced students’ ability to contribute to their education. Students have long advocated for an OSAP system that takes into account actual cost of living and a reasonable student contribution. The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) stands with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) in calling on our provincial and federal governments to remove the required summer income contribution for the upcoming school year.
“Given the current economic climate, it’s unreasonable to assume all students will earn enough to meet the minimum OSAP contribution,” said Moulton. “It’s crucial that the Ontario government show leadership on this issue by immediately waiving the minimum summer contribution.”
OUSA President Dan Moulton and Minister John Milloy
Waterloo, ON – October 23rd – During OUSA’s Fall General Assembly, President Dan Moulton presented Training, Colleges, and Universities Minister John Milloy with a copy of Ontario: A Province of Knowledge, OUSA’s submission to the provincial government for the new investment to replace the soon to be expired Reaching Higher plan. “As you know we have been working hard on this issue, and have come to OUSA to get your feedback,” said Milloy. “This is hard work what you do, representing your institutions and your students.” Dan Moulton, OUSA President added, “this is a very important time for government to recognize that students need better financial assistance, students are struggling and are asking their government for help.”
OUSA’s submission to the government is a 40-page document with three main priorities: student financial aid, student success (quality), and tuition. The document has been presented to the special secretariat to the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) as well as to the Premier’s education adviser, the deputy minister for MTCU, and all assistant deputy ministers responsible for universities.
Click here to view the submission.
Click here to view the press release.
Click here to view the University Affairs ‘Margin Notes’ Blog about the submission.
Click here to view Academica’s news entry on OUSA’s submission.
Click here for The Lance’s (University of Windsor) news story.
Click here for The Cord’s (Wilfrid Laurier) news story.
Click here for Imprint’s (University of Waterloo) news story.
McMaster Street Team
OUSA spent its first two weeks of October traveling across Ontario visiting each of its 7 member campuses. Every campus had a presentation to its council/assembly/board which governs its student government. Many schools had information booths and meetings with university presidents/principals and campus media. Every campus also had the opportunity to participate in a focus group regarding financial aid, allowing OUSA to conduct primary research of its members. Additionally, a big effort was made at McMaster and Windsor where town-halls on post-secondary education, OSAP, and university issues were hosted. Much appreciation to all the committee members, campus coordinators and volunteers who made these two weeks of traveling across Ontario a successful venture.
OUSA Campus Visit Schedule:
September 20th – McMaster Students Union Assembly Presentation
September 27th – University of Waterloo Federation of Students Council Presentation
September 29th – Brock University Students’ Union Council Presentation, Information Booth, Focus Group
September 30th – University Students Council of the University of Western Ontario Council Presentation
October 1st – Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University Assembly Presentation, Information Booth, University Principal Meeting, Campus Media Meeting
October 5th – Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union Board Presentation, Research & Policy Volunteer Training, Campus Media Meeting, University President Meeting
October 6th – McMaster Students Union Town-Hall on OSAP, Focus Group, University President Meeting, Information Booth
October 8th – University of Windsor Students’ Alliance Town-Hall on PSE, Council Presentation, Information Booth, University President Meeting, Local Media Interviews
TORONTO, Oct. 20 /CNW/ – Ontario university tuition is now the highest in Canada averaging $5,951 per student according to Statistics Canada’s university tuition study released this morning. Universities in Ontario saw the largest increase in tuition in Canada, forcing more students to take on significant debt just to stay in school.
“Being number one in the country is nothing to be proud of when it’s for the cost of an education. This is a wake-up call for the provincial government,” said Dan Moulton, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). “We should be number one in quality, accessibility, and affordability, not setting new records for highest tuition.”
Ontario universities are in need of significant financial support, but Ontario students already pay a greater percentage of the cost of their education than their counterparts elsewhere in Canada. OUSA is calling on the provincial government to bring per-student funding up to the national average and for the federal government to take leadership on a nation-wide problem that is seeing tuition rise across the country.
The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance stands with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the College Student Alliance, the New Brunswick Student Alliance, the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations, the Council of Alberta University Students, and the Alberta Student Executive Council, together representing over 600,000 students across the country, in asking the federal government to increase funding for post-secondary education to $4 billion per year.
“Given the current economic climate, it’s unreasonable to charge more tuition to students who already can’t afford it,” said Moulton. “It’s crucial that the Ontario and Canadian governments show leadership on this issue through serious new investments in higher education.”
The OUSA Banner
Welcome to OUSA.ca, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance’s new website. This new site features all the information you need on OUSA, plus great new components that will keep you up to date and informed of everything OUSA’s doing for you. New to the site is a main page news rotator, where you’ll see images of our top 5 news stories. Click on the image and it will take you to the story.
On the sidebar, there is a newsletter sign up that gets you our monthly newsletter. It’s the best way to stay in touch with what OUSA’s doing on a monthly basis. Below that are our YouTube videos that will load a different OUSA video from YouTube every time you load another page. Click on the play button and it will play the video without having to leave the OUSA site.
Below the YouTube box are our News and Blog feeds, and below them are our feeds for flickr and twitter. For short cuts to any of our web media, click on any of the four icons you see under the search bar at the top of the screen.
The navigation bar is our user friendly way to take you to everything you need to know; about OUSA, our Advocacy, Policy, and News. Please take some time and look through our site, we welcome any feedback you may have.
Email us at info@ousa.on.ca
Thank you, and enjoy the new site!
