Since the mid-1990s, Ontario has had the worst student-to-faculty ratio in Canada. While the number of students per full-time faculty member in other provinces hovered around 20-1, the Ontario ratio rose from 22-1 in the fall of 2000 to 27-1 by 2005-06 as the “double cohort” entered the university system.
A slight improvement occurred as the bulk of the double cohort completed their undergraduate studies, but the ratio looks to be worsening again. Even if universities hired as many full-time faculty as they planned in their Multi-Year Accountability Agreements (and the evidence to date suggests they have not), the ratio is now approaching 28 students for each full-time faculty member.
Higher student-to-faculty ratios mean larger classes, less student interaction with faculty, and reduced course choices. In order to preserve the quality of higher education in Ontario, we need to hire new full-time faculty – and we need to start doing it now.
This article originally appeared in the OCUFA Report. To receive stories like this every week in your inbox, please subscribe.