Albertans asked to reinvest in their universities

Students' Union President Jordan Blatz, Vice-President (External Relations) Susan Green and Board of Governors Chair Jim Edwards look over a newspaper ad asking Albertans to support government reinvestment in universities.

The University of Alberta is asking people to remember the importance of post-secondary education as they prepare to map the government's future spending priorities.

The U of A has joined with the universities of Lethbridge, Athabasca and Calgary to advocate for reinvestment in the province's post-secondary institutions, and is appealing to the public to support that cause when they receive a government survey in the mail next week.

The initiative arises from the government's announcement earlier this year that the provincial debt has been paid off.

As the debt was paid down over the past decade, the provincial government has saved about $1.4 billion annually in interest payments. As well, the final debt payment means another $150 million is freed up every year. Premier Ralph Klein has asked Albertans to fill out a survey, entitled It's Your Future, prioritizing where they'd like to see the money go, now that Alberta is debt-free.

Boosting support for the province's universities is one of the most vital ways to ensure a positive future for Alberta, said Susan Green, Vice-President (External Relations) for the U of A.

"Alberta's universities build knowledge that strengthens every strand of the province's social and economic fabric. Albertans need to be aware of this and to tell government, through their surveys, that higher education is a priority investment."

The survey, being mailed out across Alberta, asks people to rate their preferences in various areas including health care, education, tax reductions, and the environment. They'll also be asked what to do with any surpluses the government may receive in the future.

The U of A, in conjunction with the other universities, has placed a series of advertisements in Alberta newspapers and radio stations, drawing attention to the importance of reinvesting in post- secondary education.

"I believe we have to take every opportunity to let people know of the valuable role universities play in their lives," said Green. "Albertans have a unique opportunity to influence the provincial agenda and the future of the province. This is an opportunity for them to act."

Jim Edwards, chair of the U of A Board of Governors, said it's time for universities to tell the public and the government that they require a reinvestment. "We need to tell them that whatever is needed for Alberta's future, higher education is the key to enabling it to happen," Edwards said.

Filling out the provincial survey, he said, is akin to voting. "If you don't vote, someone else makes up your mind for you." Participating in the survey will be a worthwhile effort, he said.

"Even those who are staunch critics of the government would be hard pressed to cite examples where the government ignored the results of this kind of consultation in the past. That makes it a very good idea to participate."

Albertans who haven't attended university may not realize that they, too, are helped by higher education, Green said.

"They are touched each day by university research and benefit from contributions those with university education bring to the oil patch, forestry, agriculture, hospitals, schools, theatres and more."

Students also need Albertans to voice their support, said Jordan Blatz, president of the U of A Students' Union.

Lack of core funding to universities is eroding Alberta's long-term prosperity. Tuition fee hikes can keep students in school for up to seven years to complete degrees, piling up loan debt while working part-time to cover costs, Blatz said.

The average student graduates with $20,000 in debt, according to federal statistics, but Blatz believes that figure to be much higher when extras like rent and textbook fees are added in.

Debt-servicing costs are also a factor, as students turn to credit cards and bank loans to make ends meet, he added.

"Tuition over the last 10 years has gone up 100 per cent and government funding has gone down 28 per cent per full-time student over the same time period." And while oil revenues are buoying the province's prosperity now, the future depends on a knowledge-based economy - which will be fuelled by university graduates, Blatz added.

"We need a reinvestment so our post-secondary system will be strong enough to move Alberta forward."

Rural Alberta will also suffer, he predicted, as students stay in the larger cities after graduation to work higher-paying jobs to pay off their loans.

University education continues to be a key stepping stone for future prosperity of Canada and its citizens. A study by Human Resource Development Canada revealed more than 70 per cent of new jobs created in Canada will require some form of post-secondary education, with 25 per cent of those positions requiring a university degree.

And according to Statistics Canada, the majority of high-paying 'knowledge occupations' are held by university graduates, and pay nearly twice what other occupations earn. Alberta's university graduates who are working full-time earned an average annual income of more than $66,000; the overall average is $44,000.

In terms of contributions as taxpayers, university graduates make up 15 per cent of the Canadian population, but contribute almost 35 per cent of all income taxes, according to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Albertans have until Sept. 24 to respond to the It's Your Future survey by mail or through the Alberta Government website at http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/surveys/itsyourfuture.html . Results of the survey will be released in October.