The Council of Ontario Universities (COU) welcomes the report of the Government-appointed Task Force on Investing in Students which, among its conclusions, notes that Ontario universities are responsibly managed and cost efficient compared to other jurisdictions.

In setting a context for postsecondary education, the report notes that we have reached a crossroad. “The postsecondary sector will face many challenges as it tries to handle the record number of students who will soon enter the system – institutions are aging, faculty are retiring, and technology requirements are up.” It adds that “to fully meet the vision for postsecondary education, these pressures and others will need to be addressed.”

In commenting on the release of the report, Paul Davenport, Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities and President of the University of Western Ontario, said, “We are delighted to received a clean bill of health. This objective acknowledgment that our universities are responsibly and efficiently managed completes the framework necessary for the major investment in operating funds that will be needed to support enrolment growth.

“The report could not be more timely,” said Dr. Davenport, “and will no doubt prove to be a welcome assurance for our students, the Government and Ontario taxpayers. We are looking forward to reflecting on its findings and recommendations, and to working together with the Government to ensure that students are guaranteed access to excellence in Ontario universities.”

Projections indicate that upwards of 90,000 additional students will be seeking admission to Ontario universities over this decade. There is no doubt that significant public investment in university operating funds will be needed to enable universities to provide quality education to a growing number of students. Ontario universities have been meeting regularly with senior government officials to plan for the surge in enrolment. “We must move forward quickly,” said Ian Clark, President of COU, “and with the findings of the Task Force to complete the picture, we can be confident that we are now in a position to do so.”

“We commend the Task Force for undertaking such an exhaustive, multi-track process to identify the essential issues, and for its student-centred intensive consultation process,” said Dr. Clark. Ontario universities engaged in several consultations with the Task Force and, under the auspices of the Council of Senior Administrative Officers (CSAO), addressed administrative efficiencies in nine key areas. Thirteen proposals were submitted under the broad categories of Student Financial Aid Administration, Facilities Management, Finance and Accountability, Student Learning Support Services, Human Resources and Purchasing.

For further information:

Arnice Cadieux
Executive Director, Public Affairs
(416) 979-2165 ext. 224

Dr. Paul Davenport
University of Western Ontario
(519) 661-3106