EXCELLENCE AND OPPORTUNITY - MCCALL REPORT CHARTS COURSE FOR POST-SECONDARY ACCESSIBILITY

Released on October 9, 2007

Warren McCall today presented his report on Post-Secondary Education Accessibility and Affordability to Premier Lorne Calvert. The report recommends government action to support our youth and the economy by enhancing the accessibility, affordability and excellence of the post-secondary system.

"I am pleased to accept Warren McCall's final report," Calvert said. "He has shown how we can better make Saskatchewan a land of opportunity for all our young people, so they can build their career and future here, in our dynamic economy. I am particularly pleased with his focus on those who may never have thought post-secondary education was a practical option for them."

Regina Elphinstone-Centre MLA Warren McCall, now Minister of Advanced Education and Employment, led a review and developed 51 recommendations. They are contained in the final report of his Post-Secondary Education Accessibility and Affordability Review. Twelve of them are identified as priority recommendations.

Reducing Tuition Fees

1. A fully funded tuition reduction of $1,000 per academic year for undergraduate students at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. This is in addition to the fully funded tuition freeze. A university tuition framework will make future increases more predictable and sustainable, and will complement SIAST's existing tuition framework.

Expand Training Opportunities

2. Work with SIAST, the Regional Colleges, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Dumont Technical Institute, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission to further expand training opportunities. These increased training opportunities will be delivered in our training centres and, with our mobile training labs, to learners in small communities and at work sites.

Increasing Scholarships

3. Establish a scholarship program with government funds used to match private donations to institutions' endowment funds.

Improving Access for Aboriginal Learners

4. Work with school divisions on a pilot project aimed at grades 9, 10 and 11 students from low socio-economic status neighbourhoods, providing financial incentives for participating in post-secondary education.
5. Support the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies in establishing itself as a Centre of Aboriginal Training Excellence.
6. Ensure First Nations students have access to non-repayable financial assistance for their education costs.
7. Support the creation of a Northern Centre of Learning.

Improving Student Financial Assistance

8. Increase provincial Student Loan limits to $140 per week to help cover housing and living costs.
9. Increase assistance under the Provincial Training Allowance.

Enhancing Student Supports and Learner Mobility

10. Enhance services for persons with disabilities and Aboriginal students at the post-secondary institutions.
11. Improve student mobility by facilitating credit transfer arrangements.

Connecting Education and Employment

12. Work with employers and institutions to further support experiential and workplace-based work-study opportunities for post-secondary students.

"These recommendations will enhance excellence and opportunity," McCall said. "Our strong economy will increasingly need the highly educated and productive people that graduate from our post-secondary institutions. It is important to ensure that all Saskatchewan people are aware of the opportunities available for post-secondary education and can take advantage of them."

The Review report is available online at www.aee.gov.sk.ca/aar/.

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For more information, contact:

Terry White
Advanced Education and Employment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7791
Email: twhite@sasked.gov.sk.ca