OUSA

Protecting quality and reversing privatization are the goals of new Ontario University Coalition

TORONTO, Feb. 18 /CNW/ – All front-line groups at Ontario universities – students, staff and faculty – have joined together to put the collective strength of their voices behind a common message: that Ontario’s university system is at a crossroads in providing accessible, affordable, quality education.

In absence of an immediate public investment in higher education, Ontario University Coalition members warn that the affordability, accessibility and quality of Ontario universities will be further threatened.

Ontario lags behind all other provinces in its support for universities. Coalition members will draw on their shared experience and resources to document the deteriorating student experience that results from government under-funding.

The coalition is concerned that inadequate public funding leads to creeping privatization by way of ever-increasing tuition fees and the growing influence of the private sector on our universities ranging from research and teaching to buildings and services. Coalition members say privatization does not reflect the value that generations of Ontarians have placed on a public higher education system.

Coalition members include the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), the Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario (CUPE Ontario), the Confederation of Ontario University Staff Associations (COUSA), the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), and the United Steelworkers.

The coalition will release a statement about what the university system needs from the 2010 Ontario Budget, but its ultimate focus is the next provincial election, when it aims to make the declining state of Ontario higher education an issue for voters when marking their ballots.

For further information: Graeme Stewart, (416) 979-2117 x232, gstewart@ocufa.on.ca

TORONTO, Feb. 5 /OUSA/This week, representatives of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) were invited to participate in the provincial government’s pre-budget consultations. In speaking before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Justin Williams, OUSA Vice-President and Vice-President of the Federation of Students at the University of Waterloo, outlined three key priorities for Ontario students: modernizing financial assistance, supporting student success, and restoring a fair and adequate funding model for our universities. OUSA’s accompanying budget submission, entitled Higher Education: The Engine of Economic Recovery, presents pragmatic solutions in each of these key areas while recognizing the government’s tenuous fiscal situation.

“Funding is the most important issue facing the post-secondary education sector today. The government needs to know what students’ priorities are and how to fund them, and OUSA has done that,” said Dan Moulton, OUSA President.

In addition to the formal pre-budget process and ongoing consultations with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, OUSA has recently taken these recommendations to policy staff in the Office of the Premier and the Office of Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.

“OUSA has received great feedback from our partners in the sector and from the government about our very practical and essential our suggestions are. We hope the government sees this reality and enacts our recommendations in its budget,” said Moulton.

HIGHER EDUCATION: THE ENGINE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY – OUSA’S SUBMISSION TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS (Click Image to View)
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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

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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

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TORONTO, Nov. 27 /CNW/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (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.

TORONTO, Nov. 10 /CNW/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) has submitted recommendations to the provincial government, detailing what Ontario students need to see in a new long-term plan for higher education.  The 40-page submission, entitled Ontario: A Province of Knowledge, focuses on three key student priorities: student financial aid, student success, and tuition.

“With the imminent expiration of the government’s Reaching Higher Plan, students need to see a continued commitment to post-secondary education from the Province,” said Dan Moulton, President of OUSA.  “By tackling issues such as raising the student loan maximums and living allowances, or improving teaching quality, Ontario will be investing in its future success in the knowledge economy.”

The submission was presented to the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities when he recently attended OUSA’s fall General Assembly. “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.” Moulton 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.”

The submission can be found on OUSA’s newly revamped website at www.ousa.ca, launched today after a lengthy redesign.  The new website also contains all of OUSA’s current policy documents, government submissions, and features pictures and videos from recent events.

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.”