Government Funding for Student Affairs

Have you ever wondered how much money government spends on post-secondary education? College and university staff and faculty in Canada should have an interest because our post-secondary education (PSE) model is heavily funded by the federal and provincial governments.

The 2005/2006 Ontario budget included about $84 billion in revenue. Approximately 5.6% of the provincial expenses was directed to PSE & Training. By far the largest category of expenses was spent on health care which amounted to nearly 40% of the Ontario's budget.

Daniel Lang, from OISE, has conducted research on funding for PSE and he points out that a great deal has changed over the past half century. In the mid 1960's there was no formal funding formula for universities (Ontario Colleges were introduced in 1966). A basic funding formula, especially when compared to today's standards, was introduced in the late 1960's and it has become increasingly complex. Today, in Ontario, 17 different "envelopes" exist in the Ontario Operating Funds Distribution Manual (03/04):

1.1 Basic Grants
1.2 Enhanced Accessibility for students with a disability
1.3 Performance Fund
1.4 Quality Assurance Fund
1.5 Expansion Funds (Accessibility; Medical Enrolment Expansion; Nursing Enrolment Expansion; Teacher Education Expansion)
1.6 Mission-Related Institution Specific (Northern Ontario Grants; Bilingualism; Differentiation; Extraordinary Grant to Algoma; Extraordinary Grant to Hearst)
1.7 Research Overhead's/Infrastructure
1.8 Special Purpose Grant
1.9 Institution-Specific Grants
1.10 Learning Opportunities Task Force
1.11 Partnerships Grants (Access to Opportunities Program; Graduate Scholarships in Science & Tech)
1.12 Enrolment Adjustment/Accessibility
1.13 Transition Grants
1.14 Program Adjustment
1.15 Library Enhancement & Student Equipment Fund
1.16 Pay Equity Assistance
1.17 Fair Funding for Universities

None of the envelopes provide dedicated funding for student affairs or for work outside the classroom. The government would likely suggest that a portion of various envelopes is used in activities outside the classroom. With the focus on student engagement and experience intensifying in recent years an argument could be made that the work of student affairs is increasing in importance and a dedicated envelop should be created.

Several associations in the US have been organizing themselves in the last five years for the purpose of lobbying government. Their work has influenced the political agenda. For example political discussion following the high profile shootings at Virgina Tech or Northern Illinois University was modified because of the work of association staff and other leaders in the student affairs' field. Student affairs staff north of the border could benefit from organizing for the purpose of lobbying the government as well. Organizing our field to develop a more formal relationship with the government would raise the value and profile of our work and could even lead to our own "envelope" in the future.