Ontario faculty launch Quality Matters campaign

TORONTO , Sept. 18 /CNW/ - Concerned with the serious impact of under-funding on Ontario's universities, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) today launched the Quality Matters campaign. This initiative aims to highlight the threatened state of educational quality at Ontario universities, and advocates for renewed government investment in our higher education system.

"More and more, universities lack the resources they need to deliver a high quality education," said Professor Mark Langer , President of OCUFA. "From a lack of full-time professors to aging classrooms, under-funding is hurting our institutions and our students."

In 2005, the Government of Ontario's Reaching Higher Plan injected needed money into Ontario's university system. But these investments have not kept pace with enrolment growth. And with tens of thousands more students expected to enroll in Ontario universities, this under-funding will only get worse. OCUFA estimates that an additional $1.1 billion is needed by universities per year to improve educational quality.

"The success of our students, our economy, and our province depend on well-funded, vibrant universities," said Professor Langer . "The research, innovation, and skilled workers produced by our institutions are more important that ever as we begin to recover from the recent recession. In short, how can we move Ontario ahead if we leave our students behind?"

The Quality Matters campaign is built around an innovative website - http://www.quality-matters.ca. Here, concerned citizens can learn more about the consequences of university underfunding. They can also send a letter of support directly to Premier Dalton McGuinty indicating their desire to see greater government investment in higher education. Quality Matters is also making use of social media tools to spread its message. Facebook, Twitter and a new blog will all be used to keep followers informed on the latest campaign news.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 15,000 university faculty and academic librarians across Ontario. For more information, please visit http://www.ocufa.on.ca.

For further information: Henry Mandelbaum, Executive Director, [phone], Ext. 229, [email protected] Or Mark Rosenfeld, Associate Executive Director, [phone], Ext. 233, [email protected]