Note 2: Aboriginal Access

This post is part of a week-long series.

When discussing access, we are, as Millennium puts it, discussing:

The improvement of access so that Canadians from all backgrounds can acquire the knowledge and skills needed to participate in a changing economy and society.

With the growing population of Aboriginal youth, and with the concurrent growing aspirations and optimism, there is certainly a need to provide greater access -- but the climb is a steep one.

Educational aspirations of Aboriginal people are now in nearly the same range as the general population: 70% of those between the ages of 16 and 24 hope to achieve some level of higher education, while 80% of parents hope their children will do so. Just as positive is the indication that most think they can achieve the level of education they want: 72% of the youth, and 70% of the parents.

However, the reality is far below the aspirations. In the case of status Indians, only 20% of those under the age of 24 have pursued some form of post-secondary education, and finances are a clear barrier:

Among First Nations youth not planning to go on to college or university, financial barriers are most frequently cited as holding them back: 59% say they have to work to support their family while 40% say they do not have enough money.

This leads to an interesting point here at the U of A. The university is working hard to make Aboriginals feel more welcome, which was noted as the third biggest obstacle. Commendable, sure, but one must ask what is being done about the looming financial barrier. Raising tuition and housing fees -- especially in today's economic turmoil -- does not seem to be the move of a university looking to increase its accessibility.

The full study can be found on Millennium's website. Continue reading...

Note 1: Affordability in Canada vs. in the US

This post is part of a week-long series.

Many Canadians assume that their education is more affordable than that in the US. Whether they've heard of the astoundingly high prices for institutions like Yale or Harvard, seen the high tuition fees for certain state universities, or just extrapolated from their assumption that our social policy is more egalitarian than in the US -- they might find this comparative research surprising, something both Millennium, who commissioned the study, and EPI, who published it, are quick to point out.

They are also quick to note the limitations of the international comparisons. Loan remission and tax rebate programs, for instance, both have limited data available on one or both sides of the border. Nonetheless, the research remains invaluable, raising the question of whether there is enough aid in Canada. Indeed, both reports bluntly state:

The amount of aid available to Canadian students is not what it needs to be.

How do they arrive at this? In looking for a "comprehensive approach to the notion of affordability", Millennium and EPI look beyond the cost of tuition by adding room and board, and then by subtracting available aid in order to attain what they call out-of-pocket expenses. Their findings are summarized in the chart below.

If we are moving towards a high-cost system -- and the trend in tuition and housing certainly seem to suggest this -- we need to ask two questions. First of all, is this policy shift the best way to ensure greater access, or are there better alternatives? And second, if we are going to follow this policy shift, when are we going to introduce the second half of the equation, namely high-aid? The longer we linger, the more qualified students miss out on an education they deserve.


To read the full study, visit the Millennium Scholarships website.
Continue reading...

Millennium Research

From the Millennium Research Program website:

The Millennium Research Program was launched in 2001 to assist the Foundation in carrying out its mandate to improve access to post-secondary education and provide students with the educational opportunities they need to prepare themselves for the future. The Research Program advances the study of barriers to post-secondary education and the impact of policies and programs designed to alleviate them. It ensures that policy-making and public discussion about opportunities in higher education in Canada can be informed by rigorous analysis and empirical evidence.

Last year, the Government of Canada decided not to renew the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation after its initial mandate is complete. It will be sorely missed.

Over the next week, I will feature one of the program's Research Notes per day, outlining the findings and what they might mean to us. So stay tuned to learn more, and don't hesitate to comment in order to facilitate further discussion on these crucial matters. Continue reading...

Claiborne Pell Dies at 90

Yesterday, former Senator Claiborne Pell died at the age 90. Pell is best known for his sponsorship of the 1973 bill which created what are known today as the Pell Grants.

Originally called the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program, the federal grants provide non-repayable assistance to low-income families across the United States. Today, Pell Grants continue to help millions of students per year despite having seen little or no growth alongside the escalating costs of access.

In 2005-06, the maximum Pell grant covered one-third of the yearly cost of higher education at a public four-year institution; twenty years ago, it covered 60% of a student's cost of attendance. Continue reading...