Press Releases

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2010

(Halifax) – A report released today confirms a long suspected trend: students with high debt are the least likely to remain in their province of study after graduation. The report: “The Canadian Student Survey: Next Steps - Upper Year Canadian PSE Students’ Future Plans and Debt” examines the intentions of upper year students and how debt is affecting their future career and study plans.

“This is very concerning, not only for students, but also for our province and the local economy,” explains Mark Coffin, Executive Director of the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA). “The government needs to be doing everything it can to curb student debt and keep young graduates here; especially given the shortage of skilled workers our province is expected to face over the next five years.”

The report also noted that students who graduate from high school in the Maritime Provinces have the highest incidence of debt. According to a report released by the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation in 2009, 69% of all students in Nova Scotia have an average of $31, 900 in debt upon graduation from an undergraduate degree.

Students studying in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island were also the least likely to remain in their province of study following graduation.

“This information speaks to the need for a greater investment in up-front grants for students by government,” says Emma Cullen, Chair of ANSSA. “We have one of the worst student financial aid programs in North America, and this data suggests it’s not helping us keep young people here.”

The “Canadian Student Survey” was a bilingual, multi-institutional survey conducted on university campuses across the country in the fall term of the 2009-10 academic year. It was commissioned by the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), and the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS).

The full report can be accessed here.

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(Halifax) – Students in Nova Scotia and across Canada are concerned about finding the financial resources required to pay for their education, says a report released today. The “Canadian Student Survey: Summer Work and Paying for Post-Secondary Education” examines the effect of high youth unemployment rates on how students fund their education and how cash limitations affect their ability to pursue an education.

The report noted that despite strong efforts to find full-time summer employment, more than half of students would have worked more if given the opportunity. Students studying in Nova Scotia earned a median of just $3,500 from May – August, and reported only being able to save $1,500 of that to put towards the cost of school.

Students studying in Nova Scotia also reported having loaned more money overall from government, although the incidence of debt was similar to other regions in Canada.

The report also noted that less funding can have a particularly negative effect on student persistence; students from low income backgrounds reported that they were more likely to either leave full-time studies for lower-cost part-time options or leave post-secondary education altogether if costs increased.

“Students are having a difficult time making ends meet,” said Mark Coffin, Executive Director of the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations. “The combination of high youth employment levels, and the high tuition students pay in Nova Scotia is leading many students towards a higher reliance on debt and is even causing some to delay or abandon their studies.”

The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations recently submitted a pre-budget proposal to the Nova Scotia Government suggesting changes in tuition policy and increasing the value of non-repayable grants to students of high need.

The “Canadian Student Survey” was a bilingual, multi-institutional survey conducted on university campuses across the country in the fall term of the 2009-10 academic year. It was commissioned by the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), and the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS)

The “Canadian Student Survey: Summer Work and Paying for Post-Secondary Education” report is the first of three to be released this year, and can be found in full here.

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For immediate release: January 22, 2010

(Halifax) – Representatives from the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA) are welcoming a provincial government decision to conduct a review of post-secondary education. ANSSA has been advocating for a comprehensive review for over five years, and spokespeople are happy to see government taking steps towards preparing a long term vision for higher education.

Economist and former bank executive Tim O’Neil has been appointed to provide advice and recommendations to government on the matter. The terms of reference for his work focus largely on the sustainability of financing for the university system in the future.

“The government is in a difficult situation when it comes to funding the university system in our province,” said Emma Cullen, Chair of ANSSA. “We’ll be working to ensure that the voices of students and individuals underrepresented in the university system aren’t lost during larger discussions of university financing.”

Reviews of post-secondary education in other provinces have been given more explicit mandates to address issues of accessibility to higher education. However, ANSSA Executive Director, Mark Coffin, says that the solutions to some of the fiscal problems of the universities may lie in increasing access to higher education.

“Our organization is eager to work with Mr. O’Neil and ensure accessibility and affordability of higher education are topics addressed by his report,” added Coffin.

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(Halifax) – Students aren’t convinced by a new marketing campaign that declares Nova Scotia as Canada’s university capital. The campaign markets Nova Scotia as the country’s premier education destination. Representatives from the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA) are disappointed that the campaign isn’t being matched with much needed policy changes from the provincial government.

“Compared to the rest of Canada, Nova Scotia actually lags behind the rest of the country on a number of measures of success in post-secondary education,” says Mark Coffin, Executive Director of ANSSA.

Seven out of ten provinces in Canada have conducted comprehensive reviews of their post-secondary education systems, from which long term goals and targets have been developed.

“Our government doesn’t actually have any long term goals for the university system, meanwhile other provinces have set lofty targets,” adds Coffin. “How can we call ourselves Canada’s university capital when we have no plan for the future?”

ANSSA is calling on the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the post-secondary education system in Nova Scotia and to develop a long term plan for the system to address several of the system’s unaddressed problems.

The average student in Nova Scotia pays $ 5,696 in tuition each year, the second highest of any province in Canada.

Students from out of province pay a higher price for education than their Nova Scotian classmates, amounting to a differential fee of $1,022 this year.

The new campaign boasts Nova Scotia as a setting for research excellence. However, Nova Scotia does not join research leaders like Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec in offering Graduate Student Scholarships to attract and retain youth in the province.

Student leaders will be meeting with the Premier, Education Minister and the Education Critic later this week to discuss their concerns among their pre-budget recommendations.

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For Immediate Release October 20, 2009

(Halifax) – Nova Scotia boasts the second highest tuition in Canada according to a study released by Statistics Canada this morning.

The average student in Nova Scotia pays $ 5,696 in tuition each year; while out of province students pay $1022 more than students from Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Universities are underfunded compared to the rest of Canada – Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada where tuition fees account for more of university operating revenue than government operating grants.

“High tuition fees make it difficult for qualified students to further their education,” says ANSSA Executive Director, Mark Coffin. “Students are still recovering from the summer that recorded the highest student unemployment levels in three decades. Considering this and the fact that cost of living and ancillary fees continue to increase means students have less money to put towards their education.”

ANSSA is calling on the Nova Scotia government to reduce the student share of the cost of education, and increase government investment in universities to allow them to reduce fees to levels comparable to those in the province of Newfoundland.

The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the New Brunswick Student Alliance, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, the College Student Alliance, the Council of Alberta University Students, and the Alberta Student Executive Council, together representing over 600,000 students across the country, are asking the federal government to increase the federal funding for post-secondary education to $4 billion per year.

To ensure the effectiveness of this transfer, the federal government must work with the provinces in order to maintain their own post-secondary education spending upon receipt of this additional federal funding.
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For Immediate Release September 17, 2009

(Halifax) – Students in Nova Scotia are disappointed in a government budget that promises a graduate retention tax credit that won’t retain graduates or help students struggling with the cost of education. A spokesperson from the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations suggests the money would be better spent in tuition reductions and access initiatives to help students who can’t afford the cost of education today.

Recent results from the National Graduate Survey suggest that the 100 Million dollars spent on similar retention tax credits by governments in Manitoba and New Brunswick have had no effect on increasing or decreasing the likelihood of graduates to stay in those provinces after graduation.

“If our government is serious about retaining graduates, they should focus on shaping and strengthening the knowledge economy that will both stimulate economic development and innovation within Nova Scotia, and also attract and retain young workers,” said Mark Coffin, Executive Director of the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations.

“This tax credit will reward students at the wrong end of a degree that too many cannot afford to begin with,” added Coffin. “Our government needs to increase university funding, develop a stronger tuition reduction plan and implement programs that will guarantee access to those who are facing barriers at the front end of our university system.”

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For Immediate Release July 28, 2009

(Halifax) – Students aren’t surprised at the Nova Scotia Finance Department’s announcement that it has written off $2.4 million in student loan debt considered unpaid or uncollectible.

Representatives from the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA) have petitioned tirelessly to government regarding the reform of the student financial assistance in Nova Scotia. While there have been improvements in recent years, they believe that many students continue to fall through the cracks.

“It’s not surprising that students are still having trouble paying off their debt,” said Mark Coffin, Executive Director of ANSSA. “Many students leave school and struggle to find employment, and in some cases the inability to pay back their student debt becomes a punishment of bad credit ratings that will hold them back from moving on with their lives. Nova Scotians shouldn’t be punished for seeking higher education.”

The average Nova Scotian graduate completes their education with almost $30, 000 of debt.

“What’s equally worrisome is the fact that the release of numbers like these might deter many students from pursuing a post-secondary education in the first place,” added Coffin. “In an economy like the one we have in Nova Scotia, with an aging population, a shrinking workforce and an expected retirement boom, that’s the opposite of what we need.”

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For Immediate Release July 13, 2009

(Halifax) – Student unemployment in Canada has reached a 12-year high. According to a statistics Canada report released on Friday, student unemployment levels jumped almost five per cent since last year, reaching its highest level since 1997 and resulting in roughly 43, 000 fewer jobs for students in Canada than last summer.

Representatives from the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA) worry that the bleak summer job market coupled with the high cost of post-secondary education in Nova Scotia will deter many capable students from pursuing the higher education they need to succeed.

“Last year students in Nova Scotia were paying the highest average tuition in Canada, and many were doing so without adequate financial assistance,” explained ANSSA chair, Emma Cullen. “With fewer financial resources available to students, we expect to see more students that are simply unable to afford the cost of university education next year.”

ANSSA Executive Director, Mark Coffin, believes that this situation is indicative of the need for the Nova Scotia government to step up the amount of financial assistance it offers students in this province.

“Our government needs to ensure students are financially capable of attaining the education they will need once our economy recovers,” added Coffin. “Otherwise, we’re going to continue to see youth leaving the province for a more affordable education elsewhere and to pay off their debt.”

The Statistics Canada Report is accessible here: http://tr.im/s75f

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For Immediate Release June 4, 2009

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA) and the Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA) are calling on all parties to recognize the importance of higher education in this election through investments in universities and student assistance that will stimulate the knowledge economy.

“We believe there is no greater investment in the economy than through investments in higher education,” said Matt Anderson, SMUSA President. According to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, 70 percent of new jobs now require some form of a post secondary credential, yet in Nova Scotia we have a participation rate in post-secondary education of only 35%. “The numbers don’t match up. If we want to be successful and competitive as a province, we need to provide our youth with the skills and education they need to compete in the economy of tomorrow, and that economy is built on knowledge.”

“The success of the knowledge economy of tomorrow is clearly dependant on the investments we put into our universities, colleges and our students today,” added Mark Coffin, ANSSA Executive Director. “To get there, we need to ensure our higher education system is high quality, affordable, and accessible to every Nova Scotian who is academically capable.”

Throughout the election campaign ANSSA has been encouraging parties to support the growth of the knowledge economy by making strategic investments in higher education.

For more information on ANSSA’s recommendations to the political parties, please visit www.StudentsForNovaScotia.ca

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For Immediate Release June 2, 2009

(Sydney) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, is calling on all parties to commit to ensuring no eligible Nova Scotian student is denied the right to a post secondary education for financial reasons alone.

Early last week, ANSSA released a report card on each party’s higher education platform. One area where all parties received poor marks was in increasing the accessibility of our post-secondary education system.

“We’ve seen politicians give lip service to issues like tuition levels and university infrastructure,” explains Cape Breton University Students’ Union President, Ricky McCarthy. “Unfortunately, certain groups continue to face unique barriers and are underrepresented in our university system. The measures the parties are proposing won’t help them.”

Aboriginal Nova Scotians, African Nova Scotians, and first generation university attendees are the three groups that are underrepresented the least in our university system. Additionally, rural Nova Scotians face increased difficulties in pursuing a higher education in our province.

ANSSA is recommending that the next government improve the accessibility of our university and college system by using the following policy tools:

• The creation of a foundation to fund community based early outreach projects to encourage participation in higher education from underrepresented groups.
• The development of a comprehensive, up-front grants program targeted at underrepresented groups and those who face unique barriers in pursuing higher education
• The development of a straightforward and transparent appeals mechanism for students who are disadvantaged by the Nova Scotia Student Loan program.

“We’re not convinced that any of the parties are heading in the right direction on this issue,” declared Mark Coffin, ANSSA Executive Director. “When we talk about access, we’re talking about ensuring that every dollar spent in student assistance is spent as efficiently as possible, and ensuring that it goes directly to the students who need it the most. Right now, we’re not convinced any of the parties have a plan to make that happen.”

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For Immediate Release May 28, 2009

(Antigonish) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, is calling on all parties to commit to conducting a comprehensive review of the post-secondary education system. ANSSA spokespeople say that such a move would ensure the long term prosperity of our system.

The Liberal party pledges to conduct a comprehensive review through their platform and during an all candidates’ debate on Tuesday evening Green Party leader Ryan Watson admitted a review is necessary. ANSSA is calling on the NDP and the governing Progressive Conservatives to commit to initiating a comprehensive review of higher education if elected.

“Our province has no set no long term direction for higher education,” explains ANSSA Chair Emma Cullen. “We need a review to begin the discussions to determine the future of higher education in this province.”

Six provinces have conducted comprehensive reviews of their higher education systems during the past decade. Nova Scotia remains one of the few provinces that have yet to take a proactive and responsible approach towards higher education.

A comprehensive review would entail consultation with all stakeholders in the post-secondary education community: students, faculty, university administrators, representatives from industry, government and community organizations. The review would produce a series of recommendations on issues including: accessibility to education, tuition fees, provincial funding for university operating grants, institutional governance, graduate programs, research and target setting. Most importantly a review would give clear recommendations on long term vision for the future of higher education in Nova Scotia.

“A comprehensive review of our higher education system would be a big step in the right direction for students and for our province,” explained Mark Coffin, executive director of ANSSA. ANSSA has been calling for a comprehensive review for several years. Coffin states that such a review is critical for creating a long term blue-print for post secondary education in our province.

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For Immediate Release May 25, 2009

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, released a report card on the post-secondary education planks of all four provincial political parties.

The grade standings for each of the party’s higher education platforms were as follows:

• Green Party of Nova Scotia: D
• Nova Scotia Liberal Party: B-
• Nova Scotia New Democratic Party: C
• Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia: C-

The distinguishing feature of the Liberal platform was the promise to conduct a comprehensive review of Post-Secondary Education. “A comprehensive review of our higher education system is a big step in the right direction for students and for our province,” explained Mark Coffin, Executive Director of ANSSA. ANSSA has been calling for a comprehensive review for several years. Coffin believes that such a review is critical for creating a long term blue-print for post secondary education in our provinces.

Emma Cullen, ANSSA chairperson, notes that while the Liberal party earned the highest mark in the ANSSA report card, no party has yet done enough on post-secondary education issues. “We’re still waiting for a political leader to be a champion for accessibility to higher education in our province,” explains Emma Cullen, ANSSA chair. “Students in our province face significant financial and non-financial barriers to post-secondary education, and we’ve yet to see a willingness to confront those barriers head on. Confronting these access challenges will allow us to prepare our province for a sustainable future and curb problems like outmigration, unrealistic debt and an aging and retiring population.”

The full report card can be viewed here.

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For Immediate Release May 21, 2009

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, is welcoming the pledge by the provincial liberal party to conduct a comprehensive review of the provinces post secondary education system.

“A comprehensive review of our higher education system is a big step in the right direction for students and for our province,” explained Mark Coffin, executive director of ANSSA. ANSSA has been calling for a comprehensive review for several years. Coffin states that such a review is critical for creating a long term blue-print for post secondary education in our provinces.

Additionally, the plan promises the following in relation to post-secondary education
• A combination of new programs and expansion of existing programs addressing the needs of early education
• A comprehensive review of the province’s post-secondary education system to create a comprehensive vision for post secondary education
• The promotion and development of research parks to bridge the gaps between public research and private sector development
• To maintain the long-term commitment to reduce tuition to the national average by 2011
• A commitment to work with “everyone involved” to address the infrastructure deficit facing our universities

“We’re still waiting for a political leader to be a champion for accessibility to higher education in our province,” explains Emma Cullen, ANSSA chair. “Students in our province face significant financial and non-financial barriers to post-secondary education, and we’ve yet to see a willingness to confront those barriers head on. Confronting these access challenges will allow us to prepare our province for a sustainable future and curb problems like outmigration, unrealistic debt and an aging and retiring population.”

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For Immediate Release May 10, 2009

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, are responding to today’s Progressive Conservative party announcement on tax credits for registered education savings plan (RESP) investments with mixed reviews. ANSSA spokespeople acknowledge that the tax credit will provide financial assistance for families and students of middle to high income backgrounds, but will not help those families and students who don’t have the disposable income available to make RESP investments.

“Nova Scotia has had the highest tuition in Canada for the past decade,” explains ANSSA chair Emma Cullen. “This tax credit will provide relief to families who are already going to be paying too much for child’s education. Unfortunately, the tax credit will not provide any assistance to the families of students who currently aren’t participating in the Post-Secondary Education system.” Cullen outlined that many low-income families who can’t currently afford to send their children to school wouldn’t benefit from such a program because they don’t have the disposable income available to save, and their income levels dictate that any tax credit would be of negligible benefit.

The Tory announcement comes on the same day as ANSSA released their recommendations for the post-secondary education planks of party platforms. ANSSA’s report makes recommendations that address many of the problems with the higher education system in Nova Scotia While the report highlights students concerns with the current post-secondary education system, ANSSA representatives believe that the recommendations are also solutions for many of the problems Nova Scotia currently faces.

“The next government of Nova Scotia needs to tackle these problems head on,” said Cullen. “For the good of our province, and for anyone interested in pursuing a post-secondary degree, these issues are critical.”

The report calls on all parties to make the following commitments, all of which are discussed in detail in the report:

• The initiation of a comprehensive review on post-secondary education, followed by the development of a long term plan for higher education in Nova Scotia. Such a plan will serve as the blueprint for future Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between the universities and the provinces on tuition rates and university funding
• The implementation of an access guarantee for all Nova Scotians to ensure that non eligible student is denied the right to a post-secondary education for financial reasons alone. ANSSA recommends the use of expanded grant programs, tuition reductions, early outreach programs, and student loan reform as tools to facilitate the administration of such a guarantee.
• The dedication of provincial funding to the universities to address some of the $422 Million worth of Accumulated Deferred Maintenance (ADM) at Nova Scotia Universities
• The commitment to cooperate with other provinces to actively advocate for the creation of a Pan-Canadian Accord and dedicated federal-provincial transfer for post-secondary education that allows a national plan on higher education to be developed.

Mark Coffin, Executive Director of ANSSA, hopes that the parties will recognize the importance of post-secondary education not just as an issue that is pressing for students, but as an issue that affects all Nova Scotians. “Students want a government that values education. When education costs are so high, we force our best and brightest out of the province after graduation to places where they can earn better money to better pay off their debt,” explains Coffin. “Couple that trend with an aging Nova Scotia population and a retiring workforce – that’s a recipe for economic disaster.”

The recommendations outlined in the report will serve as the grading criteria for an all-party report card to be released once party platforms on post-secondary education have been released.

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To view a copy of the report, Click Here.

For Immediate Release May 6, 2009

(Halifax) – Nova Scotia students are tired of seeing their province repeatedly run elections at inopportune times. Post-secondary education is an important issue in this election, and now many of them cannot even vote in the election that determines their future. A summer election means that many students attending school in Nova Scotia from other provinces, or Nova Scotian students working outside the province, are less likely to vote.

“Nova Scotia has had the highest tuition in Canada for the last nine years on record,” said Emma Cullen, Chair of the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA). “We’ve seen some progress in the last few years, but we’re still very far away from where we need to be as a province.”

48.1% of Nova Scotian students graduate with debt, compared to the national average of 42%. Nova Scotia students pay more out-of-pocket for their education, as a percentage of income, than anybody else in North America.

Mark Coffin, Executive Director of ANSSA, says that an investment in higher education is an investment in the future of Nova Scotia. “Students want a government that thinks long term. When education costs are so high, we risk forcing our best and brightest out of province after graduation to places where they can earn better money to better pay off their debt.”

“In order for Nova Scotia to have more money for transportation, health care and other services, it needs sustainable economic growth. Growth will come from innovative Nova Scotians. We’re educating them here, but how can they afford to take the risk of starting a small business or being innovative when some have debt loads the size of mortgages?”

ANSSA is looking to party platforms for a commitment to conducting a comprehensive review of post-secondary education in Nova Scotia and a viable plan that ensures our higher education system is both accessible and affordable to all academically qualified Nova Scotians.

Ms. Cullen added, “ANSSA is aggressively pushing the higher education agenda this election with a visible media and grassroots campaign. It is important that our next government recognize the necessity of this important investment in the future of Nova Scotia.”

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For Immediate Release May 4, 2009

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, expected more in the 2009 provincial budget. ANSSA welcomes the announcement of increased infrastructure funding, but is extremely disappointed in the lack of funds for student financial aid and the failure to live up to student expectations and funding commitments to the province’s universities outlined just over a year ago.

“We are pleased that the government has recognized the importance of infrastructure funding at our universities,” explained ANSSA Executive Director, Mark Coffin. “Unfortunately, this spending is only a drop in the bucket compared to the $422 million backlog of accumulated deferred maintenance projects at Nova Scotia universities.”

“While infrastructure spending is a much needed investment, the government must keep their previous commitments on student financial aid and on funding to the universities in order to ensure higher education remains accessible, affordable and of the highest quality,” added Coffin. The province of Nova Scotia still boasts the highest tuition rates in the country, with average undergraduate tuition fees totaling $5,932.80 annually. Additionally, the province of Nova Scotia dedicates only 5.5% of total expenditures to post-secondary education; four points below the national average .

Students are disappointed that the province has failed to live up to funding commitments promised last year in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the province and its universities. The tabled budget indicates that Nova Scotia’s universities will receive roughly $1.5 Million less than was originally promised, and according to department spokespeople the MOU has been renegotiated without student consultation. “We are extremely disappointed that students were not involved in the negotiation process for the new MOU, as expected from a clause in the previous MOU and we are concerned about the risk of a reduced quality of education associated with decreased operating revenue at universities,” said Coffin.

In addition to infrastructure spending for universities, ANSSA made the following recommendations in their pre-budget submission to the provincial government earlier this year, none of which were acted upon in this provincial budget:

o The implementation of an up front grants system to support underrepresented students in the higher education system, specifically a grants system that supports Aboriginal and African Nova Scotians as well as first-generation university students.
o The initiation of a comprehensive review of the post-secondary education system in Nova Scotia.
o Increasing the province’s total expenditures on post-secondary education to the national average, 5.9% of all provincial expenditures.
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For Immediate Release May 1, 2009

Concern lingers about provincial funding for higher education

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 80% of the students in Nova Scotia, welcomes the provincial government’s announcement of $114 M million in funding for infrastructure projects at universities and colleges in Nova Scotia. This funding announcement is a response to a proposal put forth by the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents, a call that was echoed by ANSSA earlier this year as a part of its’ pre-budget submission to the provincial government.

“We are pleased that the government has recognized the importance of maintaining educational institutions in our province,” explained ANSSA chair Emma Cullen. “Investing in university infrastructure benefits students and researchers, stimulates our economy, and helps ensure our universities remain strong into the future.”

“It is important to note that this investment is just a drop in the bucket for universities in Nova Scotia,” adds Mark Coffin, Executive Director of ANSSA. Nova Scotia universities face a roughly $422 million backlog of accumulated deferred maintenance (ADM) projects. Substandard classrooms, poor air quality, mold, poor lighting, and a lack of accessible facilities negatively impact the learning experience. The persistence of these problems has placed an increased expectation on student’s pocketbooks.

“While infrastructure spending is a step in the right direction, the government must maintain existing student financial assistance programs – like the tuition freeze, grants and bursaries introduced last year – and dedicate additional funding where it is needed most,” explained Coffin. Nova Scotia students are still concerned about the state of higher education in the province. The province of Nova Scotia still boasts the highest tuition rates in the country, with average undergraduate tuition fees totaling $5,932.80 annually.

ANSSA made three additional recommendations in their pre-budget submission to the provincial government earlier this year:
o The implementation of an up front grants system to support underrepresented students in the higher education system, specifically a grants system that supports Aboriginal and African Nova Scotians as well as first-generation university students.
o The initiation of a comprehensive review of the post-secondary education system in Nova Scotia.
o Increasing the province’s total expenditures on post-secondary education to the national average, 5.9% of all provincial expenditures.
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For Immediate Release
March 10, 2009

Government reaffirms commitment to tuition freeze and reduction

(Halifax, NS) – Nova Scotia students are relieved to have obtained assurances from the Premier's Office that the Government does not intend to break its promise to students. Last year, the Conservative government committed funds to freeze and reduce tuition to the national average for Nova Scotia students.

“Premier MacDonald and Minister Streatch understand how important this agreement is to students,” says ANSSA Chair Matt Risser. ANSSA would be shocked if there was a retraction on the commitment to freeze tuition and reduce it to the national average.

The tuition freeze and reduction represents a critical commitment to Nova Scotia students and their families. Any deviation from this plan would run contrary to the governments goal of building a highly-skilled knowledge economy in Nova Scotia.

This is not an issue for students, but for the whole province. “This commitment represents an investment in students, families, and the economy,” says ANSSA Chair Matt Risser. Nova Scotia's track record as the least affordable post-secondary jurisdiction must be addressed, and ANSSA looks forward to the government seeing through its commitment to students.

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For Immediate Release November 8, 2008

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Students Associations is encouraged by the results of a recent study released by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and the Canadian Council on Learning.

The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Canadian Council of Learning, has undertaken a study on the employment trends of students with disabilities in Nova Scotia. This study follows 259 former students over a period of five years. The study reports that of the 259 students surveyed, 195 graduated from either Nova Scotia Community College or a Nova Scotia University, while 64 withdrew before graduating. University grads employed in their educational fields earned an average of $32,941 per year, while college grads earned $28,331. Those who withdrew earned an average of $28,101.

ANSSA welcomes this news. “While students with disabilities earn slightly less then students without disabilities, the gap appears to be closing. It’s also promising to see that students are being employed in areas that are related to their education. This is a win for students and a win for Nova Scotia” says Matt Risser, President of ANSSA.
While outside the scope of this study, it’s interesting to note the high percentage of students withdrawing from their program prior to completion. The article reports that of the 259 students involved in the survey, 23% of college students and 31% of university students with disabilities withdrew from their program prior to completion. Meaning, almost 1 in 4 students withdrew from their program and were not granted a diploma or degree.

While these numbers are not drastically out of step with national figures, they may represent a point of opportunity. “We must continue to identify areas of unmet need for students with disabilities and aim to address the myriad of issues around retention and persistence in post secondary education” says ANSSA Executive Director, Kelly Wilson.

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For Immediate Release Februrary 26, 2009

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing 75% of undergraduate, professional and graduate students in Nova Scotia is concerned with recommendations made in a report released yesterday by the Educational Policy Institute.

The report, titled “On the Brink: How the Recession of 2009 Will Affect Post-Secondary Education,” outlines a number of potential outcomes that this recession will have on the post-secondary sector.

While many predictions outlined in the report are likely an accurate representation of the times to come, ANSSA is concerned by some of the suggested policy responses, specifically the suggestion to “allow tuition increases.”

While ANSSA is acutely aware that government and institutional funding is tightening, accessibility to education must remain a top priority if Nova Scotia wants to emerge as a power player in the new economy. “An investment in students is an investment in our collective future as a province. We have spent the last decade reconciling cuts to post-secondary education during the last recession. Let us not make the same mistake again,” says Kelly Wilson ANSSA Executive Director.

Nova Scotia, year over year, continues to be the least affordable post-secondary jurisdiction in Canada. Last year, the Government of Nova Scotia made a funding commitment to freeze and reduce tuition to the national average by 2010-2011. “ANSSA looks forward to the maintenance of this promise and an ongoing commitment to affordability and accessibility of post-secondary education in Nova Scotia,” says Matt Risser ANSSA Chair.

For Immediate Release January 27, 2009

Concern lingers for students feeling the crunch

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing 75% of undergraduate, professional and graduate students in Nova Scotia is cautiously optimistic about the federal government's budget which includes a two billion dollar infrastructure investment in Canada's post-secondary insititutions.

“While we are pleased that the government has made a significant investment in infrastructure, we remain cautiously optimistic until more details are revealed around how these funds will be distributed, said ANSSA President Matt Risser. “The devil is really in the details in this case. These funds must fairly account for Nova Scotia's eleven universities and 42,000 students, and must be delivered through a streamlined and accessible process,” comments Risser.

While infrastructure represents a sound and timely investment, ANSSA is disappointed that the government did not move forward to provide targeted-grants to potential students who may be experiencing a heightened inability to pay their bills. Students are, and will remain, the primary stimulant of the knowledge economy, and the government must ensure that students are filling seats in Universities and Colleges across Canada,” commented Kelly Wilson, ANSSA Executive Director.

ANSSA and its partners made the following recommendations for targeted investments in post-secondary education coming from a federal stimulus package:

• Increase up-front grants to students who find themselves unable to cope with costs of post-secondary education
• Invest 1.5 billion in Accumulated Deferred Maintenance at post-secondary institutions across the country
• Extend the non-repayment period for Canada Student Loans from the current 6 months to 12 months and make it interest free
• Provide a one time earmarked transfer to the provinces for post-secondary education to offset freezes or claw-backs in provincial post-secondary education funding

ANSSA delivered these recommendations to Minister Flaherty in partnership with the Alberta College and Technical Institute Student Executive Council (ACTISEC), the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS), the College Student Alliance (CSA), the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) and the New Brunswick Student Alliance (NBSA).

Nova Scotia students are now looking ahead to Nova Scotia Premier Macdonald's provincial budget. Expected to be released this spring, students are looking for support for all students in order to contribute to Nova Scotia's economic and social prosperity agenda. Students hope that the next steps from the provincial government will include upfront and targeted help for underrepresented groups including rural, aboriginal, and non-traditional students.

For Immediate Release
January 7, 2009

(Halifax, NS) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), representing over 75% of students in Nova Scotia, looks forward to working with newly appointed Education Minister Judy Streatch.

Last year, the Government committed to reducing tuition to the national average by 2010. ANSSA looks forward to seeing this goal through to fruition with Minister Streatch. Nova Scotia is host to eleven universities and thirteen community colleges which boast high quality and innovative practices in education. “Investing in our resources requires a long term commitment on behalf of our governments. An integral aspect of this investment involves a commitment to reduce tuition fees in Nova Scotia to the national average by 2010-2011,” says Matt Risser, ANSSA President.

In the wake of economic uncertainly, it is imperative that post-secondary education remain a high government priority. “Census data tells us that an aging population will soon leave Nova Scotia without a viable workforce.” says Matt Risser, ANSSA President. In an effort to curb this trend, the government must actively work to lessen the burden on students and create financial incentives for them to remain within the province.

Education is a critical piece of the 'provincial prosperity' puzzle. Investment in education is an investment in Nova Scotia's political, social, and economic capital. “As a former educator, we are confident that Minister Streatch understands the value of an accessible, affordable, and high quality post-secondary education” says Kelly Wilson, ANSSA Executive Director.

ANSSA also wishes to thank and congratulate former Education Minister Karen Casey on a productive and successful term. Throughout the last two years ANSSA has been impressed with the government's record on post-secondary education, including the implementation of a tuition freeze and reduction, the introduction of grants, and several positive changes to the student financial aid system. We wish her the best of luck in her new portfolio.

For Immediate Release October 10, 2008

Stats Canada Results Disappointing to Students

(Halifax) – The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations is disappointed that Nova Scotia continues to top the list as most expensive post secondary province in Canada. The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA), which represents over 75% of Nova Scotia's university students is sounding the alarm bell that the financial burden on students is still too heavy.

Canada-wide tuition numbers released yesterday by Statistics Canada have reinforced students' worst fears about affordability of education in Nova Scotia. This academic year saw a freeze on tuition and a bursary for Nova Scotia Students. “Despite these measures, Nova Scotia remains the least affordable province in the nation. The government's goal of aligning tuition with the national average by 2010-2011 promises to be a significant challenge,” says Matt Risser, President of ANSSA.

Statistics Canada announced that the average undergraduate tuition fees for full-time Canadian students has risen to $4,724. The province of Nova Scotia is still, after tuition freeze and reductions, the most expensive province in the country with average undergraduate tuition fees costing out at $5,932.

The Memorandum of Understanding and bursary commitments were successful in addressing some of the issues plaguing our post secondary system. However, out of province students continue to pay significantly higher tuition fees, which averaged $6,200 in 2008/09. The gap between tuition paid by Nova Scotia students and out of province students plays a significant role in the disappointing Stats Canada results.

Nova Scotia is host to eleven universities and thirteen community colleges which boast high quality and innovative practices in education. ANSSA Executive Director, Kelly Wilson advocates that “investing in our resources requires long term commitment on behalf of our governments. An integral aspect of this investment involves a commitment to reduce tuition fees in Nova Scotia to the national average by 2010-2011 and eliminating differential tuition fees altogether. ANSSA looks forward to working with the province in realizing this goal.”

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For Immediate Release
March 10, 2009

(Halifax, NS) – On March 18th and 19th Cape Breton University students voted to join in the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA). ANSSA now represents over 36,000 students at Dalhousie, Cape Breton, St. Mary's, Acadia, and St. Francis Xavier Universities.

With the membership of Cape Breton University, ANSSA will now represent over 80% of students in Nova Scotia. “We are now truly a province-wide voice for students,” says Matt Risser, ANSSA Chair. “We are eager to have CBU around the table, discussing issues of importance to students.”

“ANSSA has made headway into the fields of government relations, policy development, and public relations” remarked Students’ Union President, Matt Stewart. He added, “We are excited to have this new partnership and look forward to having a strong voice around the ANSSA table.”

As we creep closer to the release of the provincial budget, ANSSA looks forward to a continued commitment to freeze and reduce tuition to the national average. The tuition freeze and reduction represents a critical commitment to Nova Scotia students and their families.

For Immediate Release September 16, 2008

Funding our Future in Education

(Halifax) – Nova Scotian students headed back to school with more then academics in mind. With a federal election date set, students will look to their federal leaders for a vision on Post-Secondary Education in Canada.

Every September, Nova Scotia’s population swells as the province welcomes thousands of out-of-province students. In 2006-2007, over 14,000 students from out-of-province selected one of Nova Scotia’s eleven Universities or thirteen Community Colleges to pursue their studies.

These out-of-province students face unique financial challenges to their education. Students who have moved to Nova Scotia for Post-Secondary are required to pay approximately $1000 in additional tuition, when compared with Nova Scotian residents. For example, this academic year, an Acadia Student from Halifax would pay $5891 in tuition, versus an Acadia student from Ottawa who would pay $6652 in tuition fees.

This differential fee is a result of the Federal government funding our institutions though an equation that disserves the province of Nova Scotia. Currently, the Federal model distributes education funding to the provinces on a per capita basis. Essentially, the Federal government examines the overall population of the province, without consideration of post-secondary participation rates of out-of-province students, and allocates the monies accordingly. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of students attending University in Nova Scotia are originally from outside the province. As one of the highest importers of students, this funding deficit leaves Nova Scotia’s out-of-province students bearing the brunt of this underfunding.

As Nova Scotia prepares for significant demographic and labor market challenges, students urge our government to recognize our Post Secondary Institutions as a mechanism of prosperity by funding our system on a per-student basis.
Approximately 20% of students who come to Nova Scotia from outside the province make Nova Scotia their long- term home post-graduation. This student immigrant population provides the province with resources to mitigate the pending labor shortage and fill gaps in our economy.

“In this changing economy, we know that Nova Scotians will head to the polls with education on their minds. The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations is committed to working with stakeholders, students and partners to help Nova Scotians raise the profile of differential tuition with our federal government,” says Matt Risser, President of the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations.

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