Editor's note: President Alastair Summerlee welcomes comments on his column at president@uoguelph.ca.
It has been two weeks since Bob Rae unveiled his much-anticipated review of Ontario's post- secondary system. Since then, like many university presidents, I have actively pursued advocacy through the media and via contacts with politicians and bureaucrats at Queen's Park. The recommendations contained in the report have the potential to preserve and transform higher education in the province.
Now that we've all had a bit more time to digest and reflect on the report, there are a few key points to keep in mind. In a number of areas, a lot more information is needed before we can comment on the suggestions and before we will be able to advance some of Rae's bold visions, especially his recommendation for a radical shift in student aid and, potentially, for a change in the tuition and fee structure.
This province faces a problem of access for students from lower-income families, and we absolutely need a grant system so those students won't have to wonder if they will get financial aid when they reach university age. But we must also recognize the challenges facing students in the middle-income group, and we cannot let tuition or fees rise without ensuring there will be adequate support for these students as well.
The report also incorporated many recommendations — including upfront grants and a focus on improving opportunities for aboriginal and first-generation students — that came directly from our Presidential Task Force on Accessibility to Higher Education, which we provided to the seven-member Rae panel. I was also pleased that Rae cited the University of Guelph-Humber as an example of a successful innovative collaboration.
Our submission to the Rae review was just one part of the incredible consultative process that produced this report. Over the past 10 months, there were meetings with university and college presidents and officials, community town hall sessions across Ontario, round-table discussions, surveys, websites and written submissions.
The result of this endeavour is essentially a blueprint. The Rae report rolls out the prospect of a bright future for post-secondary education, and by following the recommendations in the report, Ontario can build a strong and solid educational structure.
But however skilfully drawn the blueprint is, it will remain nothing more than a vision without money, commitment and effort. Turning Rae's drawing into reality will require hard work and struggles, compromises and amendments, and the melding of numerous ideas.
We will need a substantial commitment from the Ontario government - at least $1.3 billion in new money just to maintain quality and improve accessibility. The province must also commit another $300 million to overhauling the student assistance program, in addition to increasing multi-year funding for all students and to restoring funding to levels comparable with those of Canada's other nine provinces.
The challenge will be that the government has other budget priorities such as health care, power, the environment and the rest of public education. But our universities have seen a huge shift in quality, with fewer classes and larger faculty/student ratios and less money for critical research. We must communicate the importance of investing in education and research, for it is only through new knowledge and discoveries that this province can prosper. We must have a higher-education system that is accessible, equitable and of excellent quality.
Each of us must press the government for increased support for higher education. We must become outspoken advocates for our universities and colleges. I ask you to write to our elected leaders insisting that they take action.
For without real commitment and effort, the Rae report will remain only a blueprint, a work at risk of being rolled up and tucked away. We must not let that happen. It is time to start laying the groundwork.
