OUSA

What Students Want

TORONTO, August 31 /OUSA/ – Financial assistance, student services and teaching pedagogy are important priorities for undergraduate students at Ontario universities, according to the results of a survey released today by the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). The report, entitled “What Students Want: Results of the Ontario Student Survey,” highlights the results of a bilingual survey of over 10,000 Ontario university students that examined student priorities and satisfaction.

Results indicate that students remain principally concerned with the affordability and accessibility of university education. In one question, students were asked to prioritize how to direct institutional spending, and financial aid was selected over all other options by a large majority of students.

“Given that Ontario university tuition fees are the highest in the country, students are clearly concerned with the cost of their education,” said OUSA President Meaghan Coker. “We urge the government to continue investing in improvements to the student financial assistance system to reduce barriers to accessing higher education.”

Students also selected support services as the second highest spending priority for institutions, demonstrating their importance to student success. While satisfaction with most campus student services was high, students were significantly less satisfied with the quality of financial aid services, career counselling and services for students with disabilities.

The survey also identified factors that contribute to what students view as quality teaching. Available and helpful faculty, well-prepared lectures, an engaging presence in the classroom, and the ability to deliver material in multiple ways were considered to be characteristics of a high-quality learning experience. The integration of technology in the classroom and having a prominent researcher as a teacher were of lesser importance, particularly for those students who were less satisfied with the overall quality of teaching at their institution.

“When it comes to the quality of their education, students clearly put a high priority on teaching pedagogy,” added Coker. “Initiatives should be undertaken to improve the quality of instruction, including more robust instructional support programs and formal training in teaching methods for PhD students.”

OUSA represents the interests of over 140,000 professional and undergraduate, full- and part-time university students at seven Ontario institutions.

For a copy of OUSA’s report, What Students Want: Results of the Ontario Student Survey, click HERE.

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For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Alvin Tedjo, OUSA Director of Communications & Public Relations, work: (416) 341-9948, cell: (647) 669-6885, email: communications@ousa.on.ca

OUA Presentation at the Conversation

TORONTO, August 25 /OUSA/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), along with its partners – the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, welcomed Dr. Grace Lynch, Senior Project Manager at Open Universities Australia (OUA), today for a presentation at the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

OUSA and its partners were thrilled with her visit, learning from her extensive experience and incorporating best practices into the design of the Ontario Online Institute. Dr. Lynch discussed the history of Open Universities Australia and how the organization has grown to become the leading online institution it is today.

Dr. Lynch provided information on OUA’s governance structure, partnerships, student support services, institutional provider requirements and expectations, student satisfaction and the student experience.

OUSA is excited to see the conversation expand in the upcoming days as Dr. Lynch continues to meet with stakeholders and provide feedback and context with an organization that OUSA is hopeful the Ontario Online Institute will take key aspects from.

To view OUSA’s submission on the Ontario Online Institute, CLICK HERE.

OUSA's Ontario Online Institute Submission

TORONTO, August 24 /OUSA/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) today released a student vision for the design and implementation of the Ontario Online Institute. Based on consultation with students and experts in the field of online learning, the report covers issues related to the affordability, accessibility, accountability and quality of the online learning experience.

Students are in full support of the Ontario government’s decision to create an Ontario Online Institute. This endeavour will provide increased flexibility for students and has the potential to significantly improve access to post-secondary education, especially for traditionally underrepresented groups facing financial, physical, social, cultural, and geographic barriers.

After examining organizations dedicated to the provision of online learning in Ontario and around the world, students recommend that the Ontario Online Institute be designed as a consortium of universities and colleges that would share online courses, resources and infrastructure. To overcome the drawbacks of such a decentralized model, and ensure students can easily navigate the system, provider institutions should come together to create integrated systems of admissions, student support services, quality assurance, and credit transfer, as has been done at Open Universities Australia.

In addition, students are excited to welcome Dr. Grace Lynch, Senior Project Manager at Open Universities Australia, for a presentation to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities on Wednesday, August 25. OUSA and its partners have arranged the visit to learn from her extensive experience and incorporate best practices into the design of the Ontario Online Institute.

LINK TO WEB VERSION OF DOCUMENT

Click Image to View Report

TORONTO, June 3 /CNW/ – Undergraduate students across Canada are shockingly ill-equipped and uninformed when it comes to navigating our financial aid system, says a report released today by a partnership of student alliances from across Canada. The report, entitled “The Illiteracy of the Literate: The Lack of Financial Aid Knowledge among Canadian University Students,” is based on a survey of over 20,000 students, half of them from Ontario, and examines the financial aid literacy of borrowers and non-borrowers alike.

Results indicate that 75% of students, including 54% of upper-year government loan recipients, failed the financial aid literacy test posed in the survey. Students most often cited parents and friends as their primary source of financial aid information, yet these students also had the lowest test scores.

“It is clear that thousands of Ontario students are unaware of the aid that is available and are unprepared to handle the significant debt they incur,” said Meaghan Coker, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). “Our overcomplicated financial aid system is failing these students.”

The report also describes a number of the consequences that stem from poor financial aid literacy. Roughly one in five students who identified as debt-averse were unaware that it was possible to receive a grant without taking out a loan. Of fifth-year students who thought they would not quality for a loan, 71% were unaware that their parental income would not be taken into account. Furthermore, 57% of government loan recipients risk paying hundreds of dollars in additional interest because they did not know that interest on their Canada Student Loan begins to accrue immediately upon graduation.

“We urge the government to incorporate comprehensive financial aid literacy into the high school curriculum to educate students on the financial aid available to them,” said Alexi White, OUSA Executive Director. “No student should graduate from an Ontario high school without a firm understanding of the support available in pursuing higher education.”

The Canadian Student Survey was a bilingual, multi-institutional survey conducted on university campuses across the country in the fall term of the 2009-10 academic year. It was commissioned by a partnership of student alliances across the country, including the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) and Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA).

A copy of the report can be accessed at www.ousa.ca/

OUSA represents the interests of over 140,000 professional and undergraduate, full- and part-time university students at seven Ontario institutions.

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For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact Alvin Tedjo, Director of Communications & Public Relations. Office: (416) 341-9948, Cell: (647) 669-6885, Email: communications@ousa.on.ca

TORONTO, June 29 /CNW/ – After reviewing the latest research on targeted student success interventions in Ontario universities, students are excited by the positive results and encourage the provincial government to champion broad implementation of these programs across the Province.

For the past three years, the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) has sponsored research into intervention programs designed to promote access, retention and quality in post-secondary education. Results of these interventions, released today, demonstrate the significant impact targeted programs can have on student success.

For instance, at Carleton University, a Peer-Assisted Study Session (PASS) was implemented in courses with high failure rates. Controlling for admission average, participants showed significant improvements in academic success, understanding of course concepts, and self-confidence. Academic success improved with the number of hours of participation, up to an overall improvement of 1.75 grade points.

“This research has confirmed once more that targeted initiatives to support struggling students can significantly improve student success,” said Meaghan Coker, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). “It’s now up to the government and institutions to come together and take real action on these findings.”

OUSA’s recent survey of over 10,000 Ontario undergraduate students showed over half were not satisfied with academic advising, career counseling, and services for students with disabilities. Direct government funding for student support services and early warning systems is needed if Ontario is to see widespread improvements in student persistence and success.

On the morning of June 22, OUSA hosted it first Student Roundtable Series discussion at the Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto. The focus was on alternative cost-recovery models and how Ontario can ensure sustainable funding for post-secondary education while improving accessibility, affordability and quality.

The roundtable began with a presentation by OUSA’s Director of Research & Policy Analysis on highlights from OUSA’s two-year research project into various cost-recovery models from around the world. The discussion was moderated by Academic Transformations co-author Ian D. Clark, who praised OUSA for its eagerness to discuss such a difficult and broad issue, and for a thorough and high-quality research project.

Joining the discussion with OUSA’s Steering Committee were representatives from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, the Council of Ontario Universities, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, and many other partners from throughout the higher education sector.

The roundtable series was created as an opportunity for OUSA to facilitate discussion amongst its partners on topics that are interesting and important to students and the sector. This roundtable hopes to be the first of many student-led discussions about how we can work together towards improving the accessibility, affordability, accountability, and quality of post-secondary education in Ontario.

Alvin Tedjo
Director of Communications & Public Relations

June 22 Roundtable

TORONTO, June 1 /CNW/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is pleased to announce the election of Meaghan Coker to the position of OUSA President, effective immediately. Coker replaces Dan Moulton, who has completed his one-year term. Joining Meaghan in the OUSA Executive Team is Saad Aslam, from Wilfrid Laurier University, as Vice President – Finance, and Joe Finkle, from McMaster University, as Vice President – Administration. The executive is elected for the 2010-2011 academic year.

As President, Coker provides leadership for OUSA’s Steering Committee and, along with the Executive Director, acts as a voice for the organization to media, government and other stakeholders. Coker is from Guelph, Ontario and is a political science student at the University of Western Ontario. Coker is also the Vice President – University Affairs at the University Students’ Council. In this role she is the chief student contact on academic matters. She also lobbies on behalf of students to university administration and all levels of government.

“Coker, Aslam and Finkle have demonstrated a strong commitment to the students they represent and to improving post-secondary education in Ontario. I am confident that this will be an effective team to lead OUSA forward,” said Alexi White, OUSA Executive Director.

OUSA would also like to thank outgoing President, Dan Moulton, for his exceptional work and commitment to the organization. Moulton provided outstanding leadership and demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the accessibility, affordability, accountability and quality of post-secondary education in Ontario.

TORONTO, May 17 /CNW/ – Student leaders from the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) met with Premier Dalton McGuinty on Saturday to discuss a range of issues facing the post-secondary education system in Ontario.

“The Premier remains committed to partnering with students to improve Ontario’s post- secondary education system,” said OUSA President Dan Moulton. “We look forward to working with the Premier to address our shared priorities of enhancing the quality of teaching, providing e-learning and international education opportunities, and strengthening accountability for public and student funding.”

At the Premier’s request, OUSA will be providing further input on a number of proposals related to system design that arose during the private meeting.

“The post-secondary sector and the Province as a whole are facing many challenges,” added Moulton. “Students are committed to collaborating with the Premier, his staff and the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities to develop educated solutions that will build on the success of the government’s historic Reaching Higher Plan.”

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For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Alvin Tedjo, OUSA Director of Communications & Public Relations, work: (416) 341-9948, cell: (647) 669-6885, email: communications@ousa.on.ca

Click HERE for a copy of the report

TORONTO/CNW/April 29 – Undergraduate students in Canada are deeply concerned about their ability to pay back their student debt, says a report released today by a partnership of student alliances from across Canada. The “Canadian Student Survey: Upper-Year Canadian PSE Students Future Plans and Debt” examines how students feel about their job prospects and debt levels, as well as how this debt will impact their future.

The report, based on a survey of over 21,000 students, half of them from Ontario, shows that over half of upper-year students with debt are concerned with their ability to pay it back. In addition, one-third of students reported turning to private loans to finance their education, causing them to pay higher interest rates while enjoying none of the repayment assistance available for government loans.

The report also examines how those students from families with the lowest levels of parental education were more likely to have accumulated debt and to have higher total median debt.

“There’s no doubt that students from families with lower levels of parental education are being hit the hardest,” said Dan Moulton, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. “While the provincial and federal governments have done much to improve financial assistance, significant challenges remain.”

The Repayment Assistance Plan, recently adopted by the provincial and federal governments, will do much to support students with high government debt. But both levels of government continue to spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year on education tax credits that predominately benefit students from high-income backgrounds and do nothing to promote access to education. During the 2007 Ontario election, the Liberal government pledged to eliminate these tax credits and move the money into up-front grants.

“We look forward to seeing the government fulfill this commitment in the coming year,” added Moulton. “More government grants are absolutely necessary if we are to reduce students’ reliance on costly private loans and ensure a bright future for all.”

The Canadian Student Survey was a bilingual, multi-institutional survey conducted on university campuses across the country in the fall term of the 2009-10 academic year. It was commissioned by a partnership of student alliances across the country, including the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) and Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA).

The report is the second of three to be released this year, and can be found HERE

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Alvin Tedjo, Director of Communications & Public Relations.
Office: (416) 341-9948; Cell: (647) 669-6885; Email: communications@ousa.on.ca

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The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance represents the interests of over 140,000 professional and undergraduate, full- and part-time university students at seven Ontario institutions.