Working collaboratively with postsecondary education stakeholders
& government to improve the college
experience
Who is
the College Student Alliance?
• Non-profit, non-partisan organization
• We work collaboratively with PSE stakeholders and government
• On behalf of Ontario college students
CSA Advocacy Pillars
• Affordability
• Accessibility
• Accountability
• Transferability
• Quality
How does
the CSA Advocate?
• Work with stakeholders on PSE initiatives
• Represents the student voice on committees
• Provide Key Messages and Speaking Points to the
membership
• Help draft policy and bills for presentation to
government
• Host a lobby day at Queen’s Park to meet with MPPs
• Provide updates on government programs
Recent
Success
2015 Ontario Budget
-Removal of the student-owned vehicle asset exemption from OSAP’s needs assessment
-Removal of in-study income from OSAP assessment
-Decoupling of grants and loans
Removal of Deferral Fees
-Saving students on average $60 per term (range $20 - $200)
ONtransfer.ca
-Government invested $74 million on credit transfer
Tuition Framework
-Tuition increase capped at 3% vs. 5%
-2013 (base tuition $2,400) 3% - $2782. 28 vs. 5% - $3063.08 - $280.82 per student
Mental Health Innovation Fund
-Successful YUP Campaign lead to CSA evaluating the MHIF proposals
Access to KPI Student Satisfaction Data
Student
Voices
CSA Committees
- International
- Aboriginal
- Policy
Advocacy Day
- Student leaders advocating on behalf of their
student to MPP’s
PSE Committees
- CSA sits on numerous committees within PSE
Student
Voices
• The CSA often publishes research papers and
provides government with policy recommendations
from the students perspective.
• Some recent documents from CSA touch on:
– 3 year and stand-alone nursing degrees
– 2015 Pre Budget Submission
– Recommendations on the draft Sexual Assault and
Protocol template
– Recommendations for Student Associations to
communicate with students
PSE
Committees
• Aboriginal Postsecondary Education and Training (APSET) External
Working Group
• Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH) Executive
Committee
• Colleges Ontario Sexual Assault Task Force
• Colleges Ontario Strategic Marketing Committee
• Contact North Student Portal Reference Group
• Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Policy Committee
• Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) Advisory Committee
• Ontario College Quality Assurance Service (OCQAS) Management
Board
• Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) Student
Advisory Board
• Workforce Shortage Coalition
2015/2016
Advocacy
• Expansion of Ontario Tuition Grant
• OSAP- Reduction of expected parental
contribution
• International Student Strategy
• Funding Formula
• Student Housing and tax credit eligibility
• Sexual Violence Action Plan
Supporting
Students
collegestudentalliance.ca
- About the CSA
- Research Publications
- Government Submissions
- Committee information
funding.collegestudentalliance.ca
- tool to help students plan their finances for their
education
Yellow Umbrella Project
- Mental health initative
- Provides both resources and awareness to students
Supporting
Students
Jeff Scherer
President
president@collegestudentalliance.ca
Allie Golding
Vice-President
vp@collegestudentalliance.ca