NEWS RELEASE
August 19 , 2024
OUSA releases policy paper titled “Rural and Northern Students”
TORONTO - The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is proud to release the third policy paper approved by OUSA’s Fall 2023 General Assembly, Rural and Northern Students. The paper was written, approved, and published by students with the purpose of providing recommendations for improving rural and northern students' post-secondary education.
“Addressing the unique challenges faced by rural and northern students is crucial for improving their educational experience and success. Many students are struggling with barriers related to affordability, accessibility, and support, which are often amplified at less robust rural and northern institutions; creating barriers for members of their communities,” said Staysha Kasunich, the Vice President of Education at Laurentian University’s Student General Association.
As students continue to face barriers to affordability, accessibility, accountability, and quality of post-secondary education, this paper aims to address the complex issues specific faced by rural and northern students across Ontario
Students are directly concerned about the specific barriers that rural and northern students face while accessing, persisting and succeeding in post-secondary education. There are notably less individuals from rural and northern areas in Ontario enrolled in post-secondary education in comparison to individuals in southern and urban areas. Beyond inadequate access, students also face challenges related to transit, gaps in infrastructure, unsupportive campus and community climate, and limited employment opportunities. These conditions are further exacerbated by a lack of adequate support services and resources and the lack of provincial legislation in these areas.
In response to these ongoing issues, students have developed numerous recommendations that are well-supported to improve access to post secondary education for rural and northern students. The recommendations also include a comprehensive approach to improving the accessibility of transit and building and maintaining quality cellular and satellite infrastructure. Students have presented a detailed analysis of recommendations that include fostering a more inclusive and supportive campus and community climate, improving employment opportunities and skills development, and more.
“The challenges faced by rural and northern students in accessing and succeeding in post-secondary education are not just barriers; they are urgent calls to action” said Brodie Norwich, Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations. "By implementing the recommendations outlined in this paper, we can begin to address concerns around affordability and accessibility, while ensuring rural and northern students have equitable resources and supports necessary to thrive in their academic journeys."
This policy paper and its recommendations were developed by students at OUSA’s member schools. It was passed during OUSA’s Fall General Assembly 2023. To read it, click here.
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About: OUSA represents the interests of 160,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students at nine student associations across Ontario. Our vision is for an accessible, affordable, accountable, and high quality post-secondary education in Ontario.
Contact:
Tiffany Li Wu
Manager of Operations and Communications
Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance