Persistent under-funding by governments to “provincial universities” has been a fact of life for decades.
Universities should be commended, of course, for their ongoing commitment to help all academically qualified citizens and permanent residents achieve their educational goals as free from financial concerns as possible. With Canada’s approach to multiculturalism, the need to build on this commitment looms even larger.
Such persistent under-funding also has been present when it related to the physical education / recreational interests of students at all educational levels. Physical activity education. including competitive sports, has been indubitably shown be a worthwhile social institution contributing vitally to the well being, ongoing health and longevity of humankind.
At Western, for example, the four methods of financial assistance available include (1) OSAP and other government assistance programs; (2) bursaries (admissions and in-course); (3) government assistance program; and (4) work study.
All well and good. However, I don’t think they go far enough.
All students who (1) meet admission requirements; (2) have proven financial need; and (3) carry out a satisfactory program of study should be helped by scholarships, fellowships, grants-in-aid, part-time work, loans, etc. so that they can earn their respective degrees without hardship. At that point a student should not face an extended period in which he or she must pay down a debt incurred as a student.
If such a plan were implemented, monetary grants to low-income and middle-income families would increase significantly. In addition, students would find that the amount they must contribute from their own earnings would decrease. In addition to money earned from summer employment, additional funds should be earned from no more than 10 hours of on- or off-campus employment. There should be no need to work longer or to take out monetary loans.
This proposal is not radical. It is forward looking and should be implemented at the first possible moment. Qualified young people of today should not be burdened with financial problems during the vital university period. Athletes, for example, who automatically spend a lot of time pursuing their sporting interests should not have to be looking for dubious athletic scholarships in The States or Canada. Under-the-table help to athletes by non-related alumni should be monitored and exposed.
Provincial governments, universities, foundations, alumni and business should commit at this time to create an ideal situation for all qualified people to obtain full benefit from the university experience.
All students should have the opportunity while at Western to take part in healthful, educational and recreational sport and physical activity. This is especially important because the earlier, mandated physical education requirements have long since vanished.
The “administration” does not directly fund extramural sport, intramural sport, or physical recreation at Western. In fact, most indirect-cost funding is gone as well. Hence, student fees fund varsity sport and intramural sport (physical recreation). The percentage of students’ athletic fees that go to which of these programs has varied over the years and is subject to ongoing debate.
Western should continue its tradition of excellence in interuniversity sport, but it must be careful to do it in a manner that is fair to all students. Western was previously able to field as many as 42 interuniversity sports (21 for men and 21 for women); the financial situation has changed.
Although some sports have a stronger “tradition” than others at Western, every effort should be made to be as fair as possible when it comes to division of the money derived from fees paid by all students.
The majority of Ontario universities voted to follow a sort of American “Ivy-League approach” in respect to the offering of scholarships and other inducements to athletes who play in the “visibility sports.” However, this is not desirable, nor should it be necessary if ALL needy students are helped to finance their university education.)
Athletic scholarships plus under-the-table funding from alumni and business interests in the overly commercialized intercollegiate athletic programs in the United States have made a mockery of the higher-education process there. Canada should studiously avoid following a similar route. Fortunately, the gate-receipt issue has not “befallen” the Canadian scene. (We can’t afford such gargantuan stadia!)
In summary, qualified students who earn their degrees successfully, should be able to do so without undue hardship and should not end up with a large debt to pay off.
Similarly, all students should have an opportunity for a wholesome physical activity educational and recreational experience even though at present such is not considered worthwhile for provincial funding.
Finally, working together, we in Canada should be able to do it in the right way.
Earle F. Zeigler served as a professor and department head of physical education/kinesiology at The University of Western Ontario from 1949-56, and then again as professor from 1971-1989 (dean of faculty from 1972-77).