Fleming College

The Ontario government should move forward on a recommendation from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) to create greater access to postsecondary education and particularly degrees, Ontario’s colleges said today. The HEQCO report, Degrees of Opportunity: Broadening Student Access by Increasing Institutional Differentiation in Ontario Higher Education, recommends students get improved access to degree programs and that colleges should have greater flexibility to offer degree programs. The 37-page report on institutional differentiation was released by HEQCO today.Its recommendation on access to degrees is particularly important in the GTA, where the number of qualified students seeking to enter degree programs is significantly greater than the number of postsecondary spaces available. As well, as college enrolments continue to spike upwards in the wake of difficult economic times, it is clear that more spaces and greater access will be required in many parts of the province.“Giving some colleges a greater role in baccalaureate programming may help to make access to the baccalaureate more equitable,” the report says, noting there would be improved access for people from lower socioeconomic groups.“This is a tremendous opportunity for Ontario to provide higher education to greater numbers of people,” said Dr. Rick Miner, president of Seneca College. “More people could get access to programs that would help them fulfil their potential, regardless of their socioeconomic background.” “As Ontario strives to meet the challenges of a difficult economy, the government should move on this recommendation,” said John Davies, the president of Humber College. “This would mark a significant improvement in the availability of postsecondary education in the GTA.”The colleges are pleased that the report recognized the significant accomplishments polytechnic institutions around the world have make to their educational systems. It was disappointing, however, that the researchers chose not to talk to the colleges in Ontario that are currently offering a comprehensive polytechnic education to their students before coming to the conclusions that they reached. – 30 –