NEWS RELEASE
December 13, 2021
OUSA releases policy paper titled “Student Mobility & Credit Transfer”
TORONTO - The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is proud to release the second policy paper approved by OUSA’s Fall 2021 General Assembly, Student Mobility & Credit Transfer. The paper was written, approved, and published by students with the purpose of providing recommendations for investments in supports, growing and strengthening transfer pathways, and better understanding the needs of transfer students in the province.
"Credit transfer and recognition are often overlooked as important tools to enhance accessibility, equity, and diversity in post-secondary education," said Nathan R. G. Barnett, OUSA Steering Committee Member and VP University Affairs at the Trent Durham Student Association. “Unfortunately, there are a number of barriers that are standing in the way.”
The paper illustrates some of the concerns students have raised with the transfer system in Ontario. Specifically, students are concerned about the inconsistent and non-transparent fees associated with credit transfer and recognition, gaps in credit recognition processes, and the fact that transfer-related information is often delayed or inaccessible. They are also concerned about the unique barriers faced by international transfer students, the lack of transfer-specific supports, gaps in transfer pathways, and the lack of comprehensive and meaningful data.
In response to these concerns, students offer a number of evidence-based recommendations to make transfer-related fees consistent and transparent, improve credit recognition processes, and ensure students are provided with timely and accessible information. They also make recommendations to support international students, ensure all students have access to transfer-specific supports, strengthen transfer pathways, and improve data collection for student success and sector sustainability.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed the need for a strong, comprehensive transfer system.” said student author Emma Coppins, Policy Analyst at the Trent Durham Student Association. "We hope that the provincial government will take our recommendations on board and build on the work done earlier this decade to support transfer students."
This policy paper and its recommendations were developed by students at OUSA’s member schools. It was passed on October 31, 2021 at OUSA’s Fall General Assembly, held virtually.
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OUSA represents the interests of 150,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students at eight student associations across Ontario. Our vision is for an accessible, affordable, accountable, and high quality post-secondary education in Ontario.
Irum Chorghay
Operations & Communications Coordinator
Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
[email protected]