Ontario students are supportive of the provincial government’s recent decision to create an Ontario Online Institute. This endeavour could significantly advance access, especially for traditionally underrepresented groups facing financial, physical, social, cultural, and geographic barriers which prevent them from attending a traditional post-secondary institution. Moreover, such an Institute could provide increased flexibility for the thousands of current students looking to blend online learning with an in-class education.
It is the responsibility of all post-secondary stakeholders to ensure that an online education in Ontario is accessible, affordable, accountable, and of the highest quality. To ensure the Institute realizes its full potential, students have developed recommendations to guide the implementation process.