Q&A: Post-secondary schools in London react to province's funding changes

Western University's president Alan Shepard says he welcomes changes the Ontario government is making to how the province funds its post-secondary sector.

Ontario’s Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn announced billions in new funding for public colleges and universities Thursday, along with the end of a years-long tuition freeze and changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program grant structure.

The "historic” $6.4-billion funding will be paid out over the next four years. It aims to help institutions provide competitive programs, high standards of education and be “resilient” to growing demands in the future, Nolan said.

Schools will also now be able to raise tuition by two per cent annually for the next three years, and the proportion of OSAP payments that will be loaned to students instead of granted is increasing.

Shepard, Western's president, joined CBC's Afternoon Drive host Matt Allen to share his thoughts on the impact this could have for the future of post-secondary.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Matt Allen: What does it mean for students at Western University that this tuition freeze is coming to an end?

Alan Shepard: It does mean a minor and modest increase of two per cent per year. It'll be coupled with the access funds from our OSAP program. And the government is making a very substantial increase in its own investments and so I think [while] everyone's being asked to pay a little bit more, the government is paying substantially more than a little to cement the vitality and the integrity of our university system.

MA: You're in a position where you're looking long-term at the health of the university and and where you envision things going. This ability to raise tuition you mentioned by 2 per cent each year, what does that mean for the university?

AS: I don't really want to focus on the two per cent increase. It's quite modest as things go. But what I want to focus on is the impact on Canada, Ontario, and on our students's lives and careers, that we have a vital university system that's able to provide them the experiences, the co-op programs,online learning, whatever it may be, that will make a difference in their lives.

In order to do that you do need funding to pursue excellence, and this funding, primarily coming from the Government of Ontario, will make that difference.

MA: There are critics who say that lifting the freeze may make post secondary education less affordable for students, especially those who come from low income families. What plans does Western University have to support students who may struggle as costs get higher?

AS: We're all worried about access. Nobody wants students from less wealthy families to be blocked out of university. I'm the first in my family to go to university and I certainly benefited from a mix of grants and loans.

I know the government has its eye squarely on access. I know the Premier is deeply committed to access for students and so is the university. We have robust programs in place now regarding financial aid and those will stay in place, and we will have a look to see what else needs to be done. I'm not worried that this has done any damage to access, not at all.