A new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ (CCPA) Ontario office reveals how austerity policies are damaging the province’s economy. More damning, the austerity agenda is also slowing the rate that Ontario reduces its deficit, and is therefore self-defeating. The CCPA makes several important observations: The case for austerity – a supposed “deficit crisis” – was based […]
Higher education is under attack. Internationalization, politics, and worldwide economic trends are forcing universities and colleges to ask themselves tough questions. Criticisms are commonplace in the media, while new communications technologies threaten traditional institutions. So what lies ahead? Let’s talk about it. Join Worldviews 2013 on Tuesday, April 16 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. […]
This week, OCUFA released a research paper examining recent proposals around increasing university productivity as part of its Trends in Higher Education series. The paper finds that the current discussion in Ontario is plagued by unclear definitions, problematic assumptions, and troubling policy ideas.Reviewing the available evidence, the paper argues that: The discussion in Ontario has no clear definition of […]
Today, Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities Brad Duguid announced a new tuition framework for Ontario’s higher education institutions. The new policy caps yearly increases for undergraduates at 3 per cent (down from 5 per cent under the previous framework, while graduate and professional fees will increase by 5 per cent (down from 8 per cent). Total institutional increases are also capped at 3 […]
Funding for basic research is the cornerstone of knowledge creation and innovation. Unfortunately, the federal government is doubling down on commercialization and letting basic research languish. At Canadian universities, the largest chunk of public funding earmarked for university research comes from the federal government. In 2011-12, federal grants and contracts accounted for three-quarters of public research […]
Last week, OCUFA made its official submission to the Government of Ontario’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (SCFEA). Titled Preserving the Gains We’ve Made , the submission contains a plan to dramatically increase the quality and affordability of Ontario’s universities by 2020. Key recommendations include: The Government of Ontario immediately begin moving per-student public investment in universities towards the […]
Higher education is a provincial responsibility, which gives the federal government a free pass when it comes to scrutiny of university and college funding. But the decline in federal transfers for postsecondary institutions is a big reason why tuition is so high and per-student public funding levels are so low. Federal funding for universities, colleges, and […]
On Wednesday March 27, 2013, OCUFA will be presenting a town hall discussion on austerity and higher education at the University of Toronto. We invite all Ryerson, York, U of T, and OCADU students, staff, and faculty to join us for an evening of discussion and analysis. As with previous OCUFA town halls, the emphasis […]
To access the live webcast: Go to: http://mediacast.ic.utoronto.ca/20130327-OCUFA/index.htm *Please note that this link won’t be active until March 27, the day of the event. Webcast viewing instructions: To make sure your computer is set up to watch the event, you may test your computer now by going to: http://mediacast.ic.utoronto.ca If you are able to view one […]
Last week, Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities Brad Duguid gave an interview to the Toronto Star indicating the Government of Ontario was close to announcing a new tuition framework for Ontario. Emphasizing his desire to find an arrangement that works for both students and institutions, the Minister had this to say: “I’m confident we’ll strike a balance that I hope will be […]
On the one hand, the latest data from the Common University Data Ontario (CUDO) indicate the deterioration of student-faculty ratios and class sizes seem to be slowing. On the other, the slope is still downwards and indicators suggest things are worse than during the final year of the “Double Cohort.” The Double Cohort was the bubble […]
Registration is now open for the 2013 Worldviews Conference on Media and Higher Education . Co-organized by OCUFA, Worldviews explores the complex – and occasionally fraught – relationship between academic and media. Worldviews 2013 will be a lively two-day conference, assembling a variety of thinkers – academics, editors, students, journalists, communications professionals – offering critical perspectives on higher education and the media and possible directions […]
Today, OCUFA released new poll findings on public attitudes towards higher education and austerity in Northern Ontario. Presented at a news conference at Laurentian University, the results indicate that residents of the region do not want the government’s deficit-cutting agenda to compromise the quality of university education in the province. Key findings include: 74 per […]
The gap in government funding between Ontario universities and American public universities has narrowed, albeit simply by default. But the gap in provincial funding between Ontario and the rest of Canada is headed in the other direction. At its best in 2006-07, the rate of Ontario government operating, trust and research funding for teaching, research and […]
OCUFA is pleased to announce the nominations for the 2012-13 Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards (TALA) are now open. Since 1973, the awards have recognized professors who have made an outstanding contribution to student success and the quality of higher education in Ontario. Any member of an OCUFA-affiliated faculty association is eligible to be nominated. Typically, […]