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Read moreOUSA Responds to the Post-Secondary Education Sustainability Fund and Continuation of Tuition Freeze
NEWS RELEASE
February 26, 2024
TORONTO - Earlier today, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities announced a $1.3 billion funding package for post-secondary institutions. The package will include $903 million in stabilization funds for colleges and universities over three years, and top-up funding will be distributed on a by-need basis to institutions that apply. While OUSA is pleased to see the maintenance of the tuition freeze and the addition of funding to post-secondary institutions in need, concerns about the lack of sustainable funding solutions still stand.
Joint statement from OUSA and COU: It’s time for the Ontario government to step up and invest in universities and students
January 15th, 2024 – “At this critical juncture for the postsecondary sector, Ontario’s universities and their students, stand united in urging the government to take immediate action to invest in higher education.
OUSA returns to Queen's Park for annual Student Advocacy Conference
NEWS RELEASE
November 27, 2023
OUSA returns to Queen's Park for annual Student Advocacy Conference
TORONTO – This week, from November 27th to 30th, eighteen student leaders from the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) are meeting with MPPs and their staff to discuss student concerns. OUSA represents 160,000 students from nine universities across Ontario, and our student representatives will be advocating for OUSA’s priorities on housing and transit, mental health, food insecurity, and sector sustainability.
Student Organizations Across the Country Release a Joint Publication on Sector Sustainability
NEWS RELEASE
November 15, 2023
Student Organizations Across the Country Release a Joint Publication on Sector Sustainability
TORONTO – As post-secondary jurisdictions across the country navigate ongoing financial precarity, six student advocacy organizations across Canada
have come together to release Shared Perspectives: A Joint Publication Sector Sustainability. This year's publication looks at how provincial and federal governments can adopt student-centric sustainable funding practices to reduce the overreliance on student contributions in institutional funding while maintaining quality program and service delivery. Like many other sectors across the country, the post-secondary sector has had to adjust to cutbacks and austere funding, which can negatively affect students' access to academic and extracurricular experiences.
OUSA Responds to the Blue Ribbon Panel Report
NEWS RELEASE
November 15, 2023
TORONTO - The Blue Ribbon Panel has released their final report with recommendations to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities on how to improve the financial viability of the post-secondary sector while considering student affordability and success. Earlier this year, OUSA provided a written submission to the Panel and was also invited to a virtual consultation to highlight student-centred recommendations on a variety of topics such as tuition, OSAP, government grants, and international students. Our submission can be found here.
OUSA releases policy paper titled “Tuition”
NEWS RELEASE
October 20th, 2023
OUSA releases policy paper titled “Tuition”
TORONTO, ON - The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is proud to release the third policy paper approved by OUSA’s Fall 2022 General Assembly, Tuition. The paper was written, approved, and published by students to express their concerns and offer recommendations regarding measures that actively improve the provincial tuition framework and its implications on student affordability.
The Time to Invest is Now: Why Investing in Universities Means Investing in Ontario’s Students
JOINT STATEMENT
October, 2023 - "It is a critical moment for higher education in Ontario. As the Blue-Ribbon Panel concludes its report to the government on the adequacy and stability of postsecondary funding, now is the time for government investment – because an investment in universities means an investment in our students and an investment in the province’s future.
OUSA Publishes Issue 17 of Educated Solutions: Our Evolving Partner in Education: Technology in Post-Secondary
NEWS RELEASE
September 7, 2023
OUSA Publishes Issue 17 of Educated Solutions:
Our Evolving Partner in Education: Technology in Post-Secondary
TORONTO - The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) has released Issue 17 of its annual magazine, Educated Solutions. This year's edition focuses on the role of technology in Ontario’s post-secondary sector, and the various areas that the government, stakeholders, and institutions must consider as they develop their strategic visions for the sector.
“As we continue to explore the possibilities and confront the challenges of technology-enabled education, conversations around its accessible and equitable use will play a vital role in shaping the future of post-secondary education,” said Vivian Chiem, President of OUSA and the Vice-President: Government & Stakeholder Relations at Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union.“It is imperative that we work collectively to build a system that empowers learners, fosters innovation, and prepares individuals to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”
OUSA releases policy paper titled “Student Accessibility and Disability Inclusion”
NEWS RELEASE
August 18, 2023
OUSA releases policy paper titled “Student Accessibility and Disability Inclusion”
TORONTO, ON - The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is proud to release the thirdpolicy paper approved by OUSA’s Spring 2023 General Assembly, Student Accessibility and Disability Inclusion. The paper was written, approved, and published by students to express their concerns and offer recommendations regarding inclusive policies and institutional practices on accessibility and inclusion of students with disabilities.
OUSA releases “Habitats: Students in their Municipalities 2023”
NEWS RELEASE
July 28, 2023
OUSA releases “Habitats: Students in their Municipalities 2023”
TORONTO - Today the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) released its annual publication, Habitats: Students in their Municipalities. Each year, students from OUSA’s member institutions highlight the successes and challenges they face in their municipalities through a series of case studies on municipal-level topics and issues affecting undergraduate students across the province. This year OUSA has collaborated with Rural and Ready, a student-run non-profit organization, to bring forth this special issue of Habitats focusing on municipal-level topics within the context of rural and northern Ontario.