csa post secondary education lobbying document 2012

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TUITION IS BALLOONINGOUT OF CONTROLStudents across Ontario have voiced their concerns

regarding the democracy and accountability at post-

secondary institutions; student participation on campus

and access to those opportunities; the current cost of

tuition and ancillary fees; and the overall accessibility to

higher education.

At the local level, the Central Student Association (CSA)

has involved its membership in a number of different

capacities to get a sense of how undergraduate students

are feeling at the University of Guelph. Not surprisingly,

many students on this campus have expressed concerns

in all of the aforementioned areas. In an effort to shed light

on some of these concerns, the CSA has come up with a

series of creative recommendations to these concerns

that would change and improve the lives of students

attending this institution.

This document will be presented to all major decision

making bodies at the University of Guelph, studen

organizations, and the student body at large. Our goal is

to raise awareness about the issues mentioned in this

document, and advocate that the Board of Governors

and Senate take our recommendations into

consideration when moving forward with the planning

for the next academic year.

On February 1, 2012,students gathered inthe University CentreCourtyard to protestagainst the rising costof post secondaryeducation.

ACCESS TO EDUCATION

Photo Credit: Denise Martins


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On an annual basis, the University of Guelph hasdemonstrated its commitment to providing students withopportunities to be involved in the decision makingprocess at various levels of this institution. Accordingly,there is at least one student representative on mostcommittees facilitated by the University. Although thewillingness to incorporate student opinion into thedecisions that the University makes is encouraging,students feel disconnected from the Board of Governors.For example, early on in the Winter 2012 semester, theCentral Student Association tabled in the UniversityCentre Courtyard to test their peers on their knowledgeabout the governance structure at this institution. Fromconducting this simple survey, it became abundantly clearthat most students do not know what the Board ofGovernors is, its responsibilities, and most are unaware of

the opportunity to connect with their (student)representatives on the Board of Governors, or that theythemselves, can run for election.

RecommendationsB Increase the number of elected studentrepresentatives.

Guelph has a well-known and respected reputation forstudent engagement and has been a forerunner in thisfield in terms of student representation on all levels ofcommittees. Therefore, it is time to see a larger studentvoice on the Board of Governors. As the Board ofGovernors, along with Senate, is the highest governing

body in a bi-cameral system at the University of Guelph,we believe an increase in student voice on this board isnecessary. An increase in students would allow for a morediverse representation of the student body to sit on theBoard of Governors, as well as increase studentparticipation and engagement. If more students are ableto sit on the Board of Governors this will only increase thepromotion of such things as elections, processes, andactions. Therefore, we recommend that the Board ofGovernors increase the number of student seats byadding two additional undergraduate student seats for atotal of four, and one additional graduate student seat fora total of two.

C Implement accountability measures within theresponsibilities of the Board of Governors to ensuregreater accountability to the University of Guelphcommunity.

In any given year, the general student is not connected to(and often has no knowledge of) the Board of Governors,and their student representatives on said board. We,therefore, recommend that the Board of Governors, as awhole, should be encouraged to actively inform and solicitfeedback from all University of Guelph stakeholdersduring their term. Although pledging ones time to be

involved with any committee, board, or organizationrequires a large commitment and is often done so as avolunteer, there must be a clear succinct way of informingthe community of the proceedings of the Board. Here aresome ideas:

Distributing a semester report outlining a summaryof decisions and public conversations within theBoard of Governors.

Holding public forums once a semester. Presenting and/or providing updates at Student

Executive Council. Letters to the Ontarion/ an information column. A blog post about each meeting. A Facebook page. Create annual performance evaluations for the

Board of Governors that can be made public to theUniversity of Guelph Community.

A CSA ex-officio seat on the Board of Governors

By recommending these options, the CSA does not aim tocreate more work or monopolize the time of the individuadirectors on the Board of Governors; however, we do feeit is important that the Board of Governors has somemechanism by which they are expected to be accountableto the community of which it serves.

D Investigate and implement new and creativeways to educate the student population aboutthe Board of Governors and its annual elections.

As the elections process and timing of the Board oGovernors has not been the high profile event of latemost students are unaware of it occurring. Studentstherefore are not running in the Board of Governors

election, or voting. If this process was communicated andadvertised further in advance of the elections occurringmore students may run for these positions. Furthermoreif more students are running, there will be an increase inawareness and interest for these elections. It is in thebest interest of the Universityand by extension, theBoard of Governorsto develop a communicationsstrategy to promote the Board of Governors, which wilultimately ensure there is a greater level of democracyand accountability within the highest decision makingbody at the University of Guelph.

Most students do not know what theBoard of Governors is, its

responsibilities, and most are unawareof the opportunity to connect with their(student) representatives on the Boardof Governors, or that they, themselves,can run for election.

Board of GovernorsAccountability & Representation

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Here at the University of Guelph we are proud to have a very engagedand active student body. Many students choose to investigate andpursue extra and co-curricular involvement. This includes activitiessuch as student government, athletics (both at varsity and intramurallevels), clubs, volunteering, and mentoring. Being involved with theseactivities adds an invaluable experience to a student's time atUniversity, is integral in the full development of the student, andcontributes to student retention (Pascarella and Terenzini, 1991).This time provides leadership development and networkingopportunities for students, skills and opportunities that are often notgained inside the classroom. Often, the only time available where

students are most able to attend group meetings for these extra andco-curricular activities is the 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm dinner hour break.Now that this time is being used to schedule classes, students facemany challenges finding time to meet in a group setting.Unfortunately, many students now miss out on these leadershipopportunities due to having to choose between academics andstudent engagement.

Furthermore, abolishing the dinner break time slot adds further stressto many students during the day. This break was a time for studentsto recharge, grab some dinner, catch up on readings, hang out, andparticipate in sports and recreation, etc, before classes resumed at7:00 pm. For students that are employed throughout the semester,

this dinner hour break is often the only time they can be engaged inan extra/co-curricular activity on campus. Furthermore, there arecertain courses scheduled during the 5:30 pm time slot that aremandatory core courses for particular programs, without alternativesections offered. Students encountering this will have no other optionexcept to take the course during this time, foregoing studeninvolvement and leadership opportunities.

We understand that with enrolment increasing year after year, wemust find a time and place to schedule the classes required for ounumbers. Scheduling over the 5:30 pm dinner break cannot be the

only solution. Instead we must look to developing the infrastructureon campus as well as other creative solutions to accommodateteaching needs.

RecommendationB The Central Student Association recommends that the dinnehour break be protected from classes being scheduled against inthe future.

C The Central Student Association also recommends thatSenate strike a sub-committee to look at alternatives and ideasto scheduling classes during the dinner break hour.

STUDENTS: WE NEED A BREAK!Protect the Dinner Hour Break

Being involved with theseactivities adds an invaluableexperience to a students timeat University; it is integral inthe full development of thestudent; and it contributes tostudent retention.

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Recommendations

BImplement a cohort fee for allundergraduate programs at the Universityof Guelph.

Students at the University of Guelph believethat we should work to eradicate differentialfees. In realizing that this is not a change thatwill happen overnight, the Central Student

Association believes there are options

available to help students; one of which is toimplement a cohort fee for eachundergraduate program at the University ofGuelph.

The University of Guelph is seen as a leadinginstitution among international students withregards to tuition fees. While otherinstitutions may have taken a ratherderegulated approach to increasing tuitionfees of international students, the Universityof Guelph stands strong and proud of the factthat international students who chose toattend this institution pay the same amount of

tuition year to year until they finish thestudies. As a result of this cohort feeinternational students and their families havbeen able to effectively budget for thupcoming year because the cost of theeducation remains predictable.

Undergraduate students at the University oGuelph would like to be offered the samcourtesy. Students believe that the cost oeducation is too high and that this institutioshould be standing together with students taddress the unequal distribution of access tpos t secondary educa t i on amonundergraduates.

CStrike a Senate Sub-Committee tocontinue discussion on RecommendationOne.

To ensure that concrete steps are taketowards reimagining the undergraduate tuitioframework at the University of Guelph, thCSA suggests that Senate create a subcommittee to create a feasibility report fothe 2012-2013 year.

TUITIONRe-imagining theUndergraduate Fee

With tuition increasing annually, studentsacross Canada are defending their right toaccessible education. As such, the

University of Guelph should stand togetherwith the students at this institution to worktowards removing economic barriers toaccessing education.

At the turn of the twentieth (20th) century,education was only available to those whopaid. The Universal Declaration of HumanRights states that everyone has the right toeducation, education shall be free at leastin the elementary and fundamentalstages (1948), and that higher educationshall be equally accessible to all on thebasis of merit. Unfortunately, many studentsacross Canada, and specifically in Ontarioare finding that access to higher educationis not equally accessible to all.

In 2005, the Ontario government created theReaching Higher Plan which included aregulatory framework for increases to tuition;annual increases of up to five percent onaverage (across the institution). Within thisframework, the cap for tuition increases hasvaried depending on programs and year ofstudy. For example, students who are new tothe University of Guelph might pay up to 8%more for their education than the yearprevious if they are in a professional orgraduate program; or 4.5% if they are in an

Arts, or Science program. In subsequent

years, any student may see their tuition riseup to 4% each year.

Ontario has the highest average tuition feesand the second highest average ancillary feesin Canada. In fact, students receiving aneducation in Ontario pay over $1,200 morethan the national average (Statistics Canada,2011). As a result, Ontario is the mostexpensive province in Canada to receive apost-secondary education. On severaloccasions many institutions across Ontario,including the University of Guelph, have takenthe opportunity to increase tuition to themaximum ensuring that tuition is rising forboth new and continuing students.

Students understand that funding for

Universities across Ontario, and in Canadahas decreased substantially over the yearsConsequently, Universities are left with verylittle options with how to make up theshortfall. The Central Student Associationdoes not believe that increasing tuition, whichinevitably increases the access gap betweenstudents from higher income homes, andstudents from low to middle income homes isan appropriate option to choose. To furthethat point, the continuation of increasing thecost of tuition increases the barriers odiverse and historically marginalized

populations to access post secondaryeducation.

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Ontario has the highestaverage tuition fees and thesecond highest averageancillary fees in Canada. Infact, students receiving aneducation in Ontario pay over$1,200 more than the nationalaverage. As a result, Ontario

i s t h e m o s t e x p e n s i v eprovince in Canada to receivea post-secondary education.

-Statistics Canada, 2011




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In an effort to provide students with access to morefinancial aid, the Liberal Government has implemented a30% tuition grant to help with the increasing costs ofattaining a post secondary education. Unfortunately, it isestimated that this grant will only benefit approximately

300,000 students in Ontario, excluding 600,000. The newgrant system leaves out large sections of the studentpopulation that need financial aid the most. Somesegments of students that are not covered by the grantinclude:

Part time students, many of who need to work full-timeor part-time year round in order to cover education andliving expenses.

International students, who pay two to three times morein tuition fees.

Students that have been out of high school for morethan four years. Currently, 45 per cent of universitystudents complete a degree in four years, compared to80 per cent after 6 years (Rushowy, 2012)

Students independent from their parents. Thisincludes, but is not limited to: sole-support parents,married students, students in a common-lawrelationship, students that have not been a full-timestudent for one year on two or more occasions, andstudents that did not enter university until four yearsafter high school graduation.

Students with parents/guardians who have an annualincome of over $160 000. This does not take intoaccount students who may not have a supportiverelationship with their parents; this can include, but isnot limited to, students that come from abusive familiesand LGBT students.

In conclusion, the new tuition grant undoubtedly providesfinancial relief for a large group of students. But it is not a

long-term, comprehensive solution to underfunding andincreasing user fees (Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, 2012).

Whos being left out?Despite efforts of governments and institutions to coupleincreases in tuition fees with new grants, tuition feesremain the principle barrier to accessible educationOntario enjoys relatively high participation rates in PSEhowever this does not speak to accessibility. The tuitionfreeze in Quebec has meant that Quebec students havethe lowest debt coming out of university. Because of freecollege education in Quebec many more students chooseto attend college and consequently Quebec students havethe highest levels of participation at the college level

despite Ontario having higher participation rates at theuniversity level. It is not accurate to say that participationrates are directly correlated to tuition fees. It is also truethat lower tuition fees have accompanied increasingparticipation rates. For example, the tuition freeze inManitoba, coupled with a provincial push to increaseenrolment, resulted in an increase of close to 20%. Whiletuition was increasing in Newfoundland and Labradorenrolment was decreasing. Now that Newfoundland hasreduced tuition fees enrolment has increased by close to5% (Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, 2012). Iwe turn to Ontario we see that participation rates do notspeak to who is getting into post secondary educationResearch shows that participation of low- and middleincome students largely stagnated between 1999 and2007, while participation from high-income families nearlydoubled and almost exclusively drove the overalenrollment growth in Ontario (Ontario UndergraduateStudent Alliance, 2012).

Despite efforts of governmentsand institutions to coupleincreases in tuition fees with new

grants, tuition fees remain theprinciple barrier to accessibleeducation

TUITION IN ONTARIOWHO ARE WE LEAVING OUT?

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Feb 1

Cross Canada Day

of Action

Students speakabout theirexperiences withstudent debt andhow it has affectedthem.



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TUITION IN ONTARIOSTUDENTS ARE CALLING FORIMMEDIATE RELIEF

Post-Secondary Education in OntarioFair access to universities in Ontario is now the worst its been sincethe mid-twentieth century. Consider the following statistics based onthe situation in Ontario:

Since 1990, Ontario household incomes have remained stagnantwith rising levels of household debt (from 90% of disposableincome 20 years ago to 150% today) (Shaker & Macdonald, 2011).

Since 1990, tuition fees have seen a real increase of 244%, withOntario now home to the highest fees in the country (CanadianFederation of Students-Ontario, 2011).

Under the Reaching Higher framework (the last Ontariogovernment PSE funding formula) every new dollar madeavailable to students through enhancements to student grants andloan policies, has been clawed back by $1.30 from studentsthrough tuition increases (Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance,2009).

Since 2006, with the five percent tuition cap, the average Ontariotuition has risen by 35 percent from less than 5,000 dollars to over6,600 dollars (OUSA, 2012).

With another year of five percent tuition increases, studentinvestment through tuition and ancillary fees will be greater thanthe governments for the first time in the history of the province(CFS-O, 2012).

The new thirty percent tuition fee grant excludes two-thirdsstudents in Ontario, including 44 per cent of those on OSAP whave demons t rab le f i nanc ia l need bu t who aindependent (CFS-O, 2012).

RecommendationsB Implement a tuition freeze for the University of Guelph the 2013-2014 academic year

Students recognize that universities face serious cost pressu

stemming from the provincial government. We also acknowledthat the final decisions in regards to increasing tuition will be decidat the Board of Governors level at the University of Guelph. A freat the rate of inflation, regardless of the provincial cap and wother Universities choose to do, would go a long way in sendingclear message to the public and the government that the Universof Guelph is serious about addressing sky-rocketing tuition fees.would put real pressure on the provincial and federal governmentsaddress the needs of the University, but this is only possible ongovernments realize that institutions are no longer willing to makebudget shortfalls on the backs of students. This will also protect public nature of our university and be a major step in reversing policies that have led to the current critical situation.

C Strike a sub-committee to work with the CSA in co-operat

lobbying campaign

The direction of post-secondary education in Ontario is worrisomestudents, faculty, staff and administrators. Underfunding and accare a common concern. The CSA is committed to working with University of Guelph to find common ground on a lobbying projthat would ensure that this institutions needs, as well as the neeof its students, are being met by funding formulas and governmenpolicy.

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Canadian

Federation of

Students-

Ontario,

2012

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Astin, A. (1984). Student involvement: A developmental theory forhigher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25(7)

Canadian Federation of Students. (2012). Myth or Fact? A guide to commonmyths about tuition fees. Retrieved from http://educationisaright.ca/en/section/28#sec-3

Canadian Federation of Students--Ontario. (2012). Dropping Fees for All:Recommendations for the future of tuition fee policy in Ontario. Retrievedfrom http://cfsontario.ca/downloads/CFS-DroppingFeesForAll.pdf

Canadian Federation of Students--Ontario. (2009-2010). Our BrightFuture--Submissions to the Ontario Post-Secondary EducationSecretariat. Retrieved from http://cfsontario.ca/en/section/83

Canadian Federation of Students--Ontario. (2012). The 30 PercentTuition Grant. Retrieved from http://cfsontario.ca/en/section/191

Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. (2012). Students call for fairand affordable tuition regulation in Ontario. Retrieved from http://www.ousa.ca/2012/02/07/students-call-for-fair-and-affordable-tuition-regulation-in-ontario/

Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. (2012). Tomorrows Tuition: A newframework for affordable higher education. Retrieved from http://www.ousa.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Tuition-Submission-2012-FINAL.pdf

Pascarella, E. & Terenzini, P. (1991). How College Affects Students.San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc

Rushowy, K. (2012, February 22). Ontario universities should offer three-yeardegrees, classes year-round and more online learning, says provincialreport. The Toronto Star.

Shaker, E. & Macdonald D. (2011). For Ontarios low- and middle-income families, paying for university involves priority roulette. Retrievedfrom http://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/commentary/ontarios-low-and-middle-income-families-paying-university-involves-priority

Statistics Canada. (2011). University Tuition Fees. Retrieved fromhttp://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110916/dq110916b-eng.htm

United Nations. (1948). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

REFERENCES

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For more information, please contact

Demetria JacksonExternal Affairs Commissione

Central Student AssociationE: [email protected]: 519.824.4120 x58328Photo Credit: Denise Martins
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