January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP1 Submissions to the McCall Review Summary of Major Themes on Accessibility and Affordability of Post-Secondary Education Presented to the Stakeholder Consensus Forum in Saskatoon, SK – Jan. 9, 2007

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP2 Submissions to the Review Written submissions addressed these four main questions: What barriers do Saskatchewan people face to post- secondary education? How should the responsibility to finance post-secondary education be shared? What are the appropriate financial contribution to post-secondary education by individuals, families, institutions, employers, and governments; What are the most effective financial supports including the design and delivery of provincial student financial assistance programs? How do we maximize access to opportunities in the Saskatchewan economy and labour market, in part by maximizing access to post-secondary education through lifelong learning?

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP3 Wide spectrum of concerns around access and affordability Concerns and suggestions focused both on young students and on lifelong learning and more mature students Issues and solutions presented to the McCall Review include: 1. Context of Post-Secondary Education; 2. Participation and Barriers to Access; 3. Post-Secondary System Issues; 4. Costs of Post-Secondary Education; 5. Financing Education: Student Financial Assistance and Other Sources; 6. Roles and Responsibilities in Post-Secondary Education Financing. Issues Raised in the Submissions

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP4 Context of Post-Secondary Education: Focus of the Review Many pointed to the individual benefits associated with post- secondary education, but even more noted that society as a whole – and the economy of the province – benefits from an increasingly educated population. Ensuring that Saskatchewan people have the education, training, and skills needed to fill the needs of the labour market is key for the success of the province. The need to ensure that people have access to university and trades/skills training was highlighted. Others pointed to the need to place a higher priority on post- secondary education, improve institutional funding, and enhance financial assistance.

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP5 Pressures Facing Post-Secondary Institutions The need to increase capacity, training and educating people for the changing needs of the labour market, meeting the needs of business and industry, and of the students. Institutions must be able to rely on long-term secure funding which allows institutions the flexibility to meet local (regional) and student needs. Increasing capacity to meet demands for education and training requires support for infrastructure, technology, student supports, faculty/instructors, and administrative supports. Particularly important for those institutions not located in Regina or Saskatoon, where there already exists an educational opportunity gap between rural/northern and urban Saskatchewan.

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP6 Quality in Post-Secondary Education Many submissions pointed out that increasing access to post-secondary education in and of itself was not enough: instead, people must have access to high quality post-secondary education. Increasing tuition fees does not equal an increase in quality of education. Changing student to faculty ratios should increase the quality of the classroom experience, and both increasing the salaries for faculty and other academic staff would help work toward a quality research and teaching environment in Saskatchewans institutions. Others noted that quality education includes the maintenance of academic freedom, including the right to education without corporate or political interference. Funding for infrastructure must not come at the expense of academic freedom. Ensuring that representative workforce agreements are upheld in educational workplaces is also key both to a quality experience but also to ensuring that Aboriginal students can be attracted to and retained in post-secondary education.

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP7 Defining Access to Post-Secondary Education Some argued that the definition of access must be expanded to include adequate infrastructure, sufficient library holdings, lower faculty student ratios, and adequate institutional research support for faculty. Another definition emphasizes the ability for academically qualified individuals to understand the benefits of post-secondary education, make informed choices regarding the institutions and programs for which they are best suited, access the financial resources required, and provide supports for success.

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP8 2. Participation in and Barriers to Accessible Post-Secondary Education I Post-secondary participation is not evenly distributed across Saskatchewan society. The need to improve participation rates among Saskatchewan people was highlighted as a key social justice and quality of life issue and an economic one. Post-secondary education – particularly university (and graduate) education is a key component of innovation and economic growth.

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP9 Saskatchewan people have an inherent right to access post-secondary education and training opportunities, in their local communities where possible – both for access purposes but also to retain people in the rural areas of the province. Many groups and individuals identified particular groups of individuals who faced particular financial and non-financial barriers to post-secondary education participation. People with Disabilities Aboriginal People Rural and Northern People Participation and Barriers II

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP10 3. Post-Secondary System Issues: Transitions and System Coordination Transitions From High School to Post-Secondary Education From Employment to Post-Secondary Education From Post-Secondary Education to Employment Coordination between Institutions: Transfer Credits Recognition of Prior Learning Technology in Post-Secondary Education

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP11 4. Costs of Post-Secondary Education Educational Costs – Tuition, books, etc. Living Costs (Housing, Childcare, Transportation) Childcare Relocation costs Housing Costs

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP12 5. Financing Post-Secondary Education Submissions identified various sources of financing individuals might access for post-secondary education: employment; government student loans; private student loans and lines of credit; scholarship, bursary, and grant funding; provincial training allowance; funds for apprentices and those sponsored under the Skills Training Benefit program; tax credits, and post-graduate incentives, including the Graduate Tax Credit.

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP13 When thinking about financing sources for students, some of the factors to keep in mind are: Saskatchewan students use of private loans Needs of graduate students Needs of students with families Balance between students, families, and society Financing II

January 5, 2007Prepared by SIPP14 6. Roles and Responsibilities in Post- Secondary Education Financing Role of Employers Role of Individuals Role of Governments Role of Institutions