OUSA

OCUFA Submission (CLICK TO VIEW)

Toronto, Dec 18/OCUFA/

Investing in Students, Ensuring Success: Recommendations for a meaningful successor to Reaching Higher

Executive Summary-

The Government of Ontario’s Reaching Higher plan was a visionary document that provided needed funding to Ontario’s postsecondary system. However, it was not sufficient to overcome the long history of university under-funding in Ontario. Its impact was also eroded by unanticipated increases in enrolment and the current economic downturn.
In its work to craft recommendations for a follow-up framework, the Postsecondary Education Secretariat must address this under-funding and its associated effects. OCUFA believes there are three areas of urgent concern in the university system:
• The student-to-faculty ratio is too high, damaging the quality of the student experience at Ontario universities;
• Educational facilities, libraries and information technology resources are in need of renewal in order to support a quality learning environment; and
• Tuition fee levels in Ontario require students to pay for more than their fair share of operating revenue, harming the accessibility of the university system.
Each of these challenges is best resolved through increased public funding. In particular, OCUFA recommends:
• The Government of Ontario invest an additional $153 million in 2010-11 to hire additional academic staff and renew campus learning infrastructure. This amount will increase to $765 million by 2014-15, rising by an additional $153 million per year during that period;
• The Government of Ontario freeze tuition fees at current levels; and
• Compensatory funding be provided to institutions for lost revenue from proposed tuition increases.
These investments will greatly improve the quality and accessibility of Ontario’s higher education system. In addition, OCUFA recommends that new Multi-Year Accountability Agreements be developed in consultation with faculty and students. These agreements should provide meaningful and comparable data that facilitates collaborative quality improvement.

-OCUFA

For more information, please contact:
Graeme Stewart
Communications and Government Relations Manager
416 979 2117 x232 | 647 280 3175 (mobile)
gstewart@ocufa.on.ca

Season's Greetings

Dec 18, 2009 – Well, the day has finally come…it is time to put a period at the end of the sentence that was OUSA 2009.  As most of OUSA member schools, as well as the Home Office, prepare to shut down for a short time to take part in the festive season we can look back on 2009 with pride. 2009 saw the departure of former staffers, and the building of a new team.  It was a great year for all OUSA areas.  We created more research and policy work than we have in many years.  We established new relationships with stakeholders who can help move OUSA’s vision of higher education forward. And we held a press conference and media events that raised the profile of the Alliance and its issues.

Without a doubt, 2010 is going to be even better!  Once we have all rested and recovered from a very busy year, we’ll be prepared to hit the ground running!

So enjoy celebrating the season however you choose, and get ready for the best year for OUSA yet!

Happy Holidays!

-Home Office (Alexi, Paul, and Alvin)

TORONTO, Dec. 15 /CNW/ – As talks between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Compensation & Appointments Council (the Council) continue this week, Ontario’s college students are taking a stand, says the College Student Alliance (CSA). Students are telling both sides that, “Students are NOT bargaining chips!”

“Students are concerned with the fact that, yet again, there is a threat of a province-wide faculty strike looming over their education,” says Justin Fox, President of the College Student Alliance. “Students do not want a repeat of the 21 day strike of 2006, which nearly cost many their semester and graduation.”

OPSEU and the Council began collectively bargaining back in early June of this year. After some six and a half months, including an imposed month-long recess, both sides managed to not reach agreement on a new collective agreement. Although on November 18th the Council imposed a set of new terms and conditions, which were applied retroactively to September 1st.

“Given the current state of the economy and the demand for college and skilled trades training; it is our hope that both sides will find a way to reach a new collective agreement before the end of the year,” adds Fox. “But with OPSEU’s strike vote scheduled for Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 that looks unlikely.”

In an effort to speak directly to college presidents and members of the academic bargaining unit, the CSA and its member councils have distributed postcard letters expressing the concerns felt by students over the lack of a new collective agreement and the potential of another province-wide strike.

The College Student Alliance (CSA) is an advocacy and services organization which has been proudly serving Ontario’s college and college/university students since 1967. The CSA currently represents 16 colleges and 24 student councils with over 120,000 full-time student members throughout the province.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

-30-

For further information: Tyler Charlebois, Director of Advocacy, College Student Alliance, (416) 340-1212, (416) 346-9951, advocacy@collegestudentalliance.ca; Justin Fox, President, College Student Alliance, (519) 972-2727 ext. 4524, (519) 566-7211, president@collegestudentalliance.ca

TORONTO, Dec. 8 /CNW/ – Student leaders representing 140,000 undergraduate students from across Ontario have returned home from Queen’s Park where they met with over 45 MPPs and 17 Ministers last week to discuss the future of post-secondary education. The meetings were arranged as part of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance’s (OUSA) annual three-day lobby conference. Priorities included improving student financial aid, enhancing student success and quality, as well as creating a tuition framework and cost-sharing model that is fair to Ontario students.

“This was the most successful lobby conference in OUSA’s history. We met with more ministers, MPPs, bureaucrats and stakeholders than ever before,” said Dan Moulton, OUSA President. “Most importantly, legislators are beginning to understand that investment in our institutions and students is a necessity for the long-term prosperity of our Province, not to mention an immediate economic stimulus for Ontario’s communities.”

With Ontario facing a record deficit, OUSA’s recommendations focused on targeted investments that will have a large impact on students without a tremendous cost to government.

“OUSA’s ideas were very well received by MPPs from all parties and congratulations were frequently given on our pragmatism and forward-thinking solutions,” Moulton added. “Many Members were eager to back our cause, promising letters to the Premier, questions in the legislature, or, in the case of many in Cabinet, to voice support for our solutions to their colleagues.”

At the close of the event, students met with the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, who expressed interest in OUSA’s recommendations on improving teaching quality and the first-year experience, and agreed on the need to update the OSAP need assessment formula to reflect students’ true costs.

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

During the week of Nov 30 – Dec 2, OUSA held its annual Lobby Conference at Queen’s Park, with 17 delegates from all 7 OUSA member schools.  We scheduled 60+ meetings with MPPs (over 80% of cabinet), as well as meetings with bureaucrats and other sector stakeholders.

Delegates Blogged every day, multiple times a day.  CLICK HERE to read the LobbyCon Blogs.

Delegates also Tweeted every day, multiple times a day.  CLICK HERE to read the tweets from delegates.

To read the Knowledge Economy report and Press Release of the report, CLICK HERE.

OUSA will also update any news or announcements made by OUSA, or Partners:

Read OCUFA’s Press Release about OUSA’s Knowledge Economy Report, CLICK HERE.

Read the Toronto Star article on our Press Conference, CLICK HERE.

Read Academica’s coverage of the Knowledge Economy report, CLICK HERE.

Read Rabble.ca’s blog of the Knowledge Economy report, CLICK HERE.

CLICK TO VIEW

TORONTO, Nov. 30 /CNW/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) released a new report today to mark the launch of its annual lobby conference at Queen’s Park. The report, entitled Ontario’s Knowledge Economy: The Economic Impact of Post-Secondary Education, emphasizes the need for increased investment in universities to ensure Ontario’s long-term prosperity.

“Money given to universities is an immediate and powerful economic stimulus,” said Dan Moulton, OUSA President. “We know that 70% of future jobs will require a post-secondary education, and in order to compete in the knowledge economy of the future, the Ontario government must continue investing in high-quality and accessible universities.”

Investment in higher education provides an individual return on investment of up to 28%. University graduates make up just 22% of the population yet they contribute 41% of income taxes.  Moulton added, “five years ago the Province made a large investment in higher education with its reaching higher plan.  We think that the Province needs to build on the successes of this investment instead of cashing out the future of Ontario’s students when they are most in need.”

The report highlights current gaps in Ontario’s higher education system such as rising student-faculty ratios, lower quality, and lower per-student funding than other provinces in Canada.

A number of partner organizations have joined with students to support the report’s recommendations. These include the Council of Ontario Universities, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, and the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

OUSA Press Conference 1 of 3

OUSA Press Conference 2 of 3

OUSA Press Conference 3 of 3

TORONTO, Nov. 30 /OUSA/ – Student leaders from across Ontario began their annual lobbying event at Queen’s Park today.  OUSA’s annual Lobby Conference takes place from November 30 to December 2 this year in Toronto. During this conference, student leaders will be meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament and other key decision makers to explore solutions to the challenges facing Ontario’s post-secondary education system.

“Its a great opportunity to meet with Members of Provincial Parliament and have them hear our most pressing issues regarding post-secondary education,” said Dan Moulton – OUSA President.  “We discuss the problems we see in the system, tell them our concerns, then provide recommendations that the Province can act on to improve or solve the issue.  Its our Educated Solutions approach that has worked for us very well in the past,” added Moulton.  OUSA’s recent success at Lobby Conferences the past few years include the Textbook and Technology Grant, the Ontario Distance Grant, an addtional $150 million investment in university infrastructure, $5 million to help underrepresented groups access higher education, and the two-year tuition freeze.

OUSA’s main priorities this year surround the submission Ontario: A Province of Knowledge document presented to the government this Fall. Our three priorities are Student Financial Aid, Student Success (Quality), and Tuition. Delegates will be updating our progress during the Lobby Conference on Twitter, Facebook, and the Website.

Click to View Ongoing Coverage

OUSA is releasing a report entitled Ontario’s Knowledge Economy: The Economic Impact of Post-Secondary Education, that underscores how investment in Universities can stimulate the economy and help Ontario climb out of the current recession. The following organizations are joining with students to support the report: the Council of Ontario Universities, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, and the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

The document will be released at a media conference at Queen’s Park with the supporting organizations in attendance.

Date:             Monday, November 30, 2009
Time:            10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Place:            Queen’s Park – Media Studio

The press conference is being held in conjunction with OUSA’s annual Lobby Conference, taking place from November 30 to December 2, 2009 in Toronto.  During this conference, student leaders will be meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament and other key decision makers to explore solutions to the challenges facing Ontario’s post-secondary education system.

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

Educated Solutions - Issue 6 (Fall 2009)

TORONTO, Nov 18. /OUSA/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance has released its 6^th issue of Educated Solutions.  Educated Solutions is an annual student-focused magazine that is designed to provoke thought, discussion and dialogue about higher education in Ontario.

This issue was themed around the future of post-secondary education, and features articles about the future of funding, teaching quality, e-learning, student advocacy, university differentiation, debt and grants, infrastructure and institutions.  It also features such contributors as the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy, Brock University President Jack Lightstone, University of Western Ontario President Amit Chakma, and University of Waterloo President David Johnston.

Educated Solutions also features a photo essay, and commentary and perspectives from current staff and OUSA alumni.  This issue was printed with mixed sources, approved by the Forestry Stewardship Council.

The magazine is available in hard-copy format from the OUSA office, or from your campus steering committee member or campus coordinator.  To receive a copy, please email communications@ousa.on.ca.  An online version is available via this website.  Click on the image of the magazine to be sent to an online reader.

OUSA was recently covered in the University Affairs’ Margin Notes Blog, Canada’s university community magazine.  Click here to read the blog post on OUSA’s submission.  The blog author Léo Charbonneau calls OUSA’s submission “a well-reasoned report,” and that he was “impressed by the submission.” He concludes that “the report is eminently reasonable, especially some of the recommendations on quality and access.”

Academica, Canada’s leading education marketing consultancy, also posted about OUSA’s submission on its top ten post-secondary education news stories of the day email.  Click here to read the news entry on OUSA’s submission.

In addition, student newspapers covered the submission in The Lance, Windsor’s student newspaper, as well as The Cord, Laurier’s student newspaper, and Waterloo’s Federation of Student’s newspaper Imprint. Click here for each story: The Lance, The Cord, Imprint.

To read OUSA’s Press Release and Submission, click here.