Higher education in Saskatchewan, Canada, includes several universities and colleges. __TOC__
History Historically, Saskatchewan's higher education system has been "significantly shaped" by demographics. In 1901, the urban population in Saskatchewan was 14,266 (16%) while the rural population was 77,013 (84%). One hundred years later, the proportions had changed significantly: urban population in 2001 was 629,036 (64%) while the rural population was 349,897 (36%). The province's higher education system has changed significantly in response both to this demographic shift and to provincial politics.
Saskatchewan became a province on September 1, 1905. In 1907, the University Act created the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. The Methodist Church established Regina College in 1911; fifteen Bible colleges were also established in Saskatchewan between 1928 and 1945. In 1944, following the election of Tommy Douglas and the CCF party, Teachers' colleges were moved into the University, and Regina College became a second campus of the University.
In 1958, the Moose Jaw Normal School was converted into the Saskatchewan Technical Institute. The Central Saskatchewan Technical Institute opened in Saskatchewan in 1963, followed by the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Arts and Science in 1972. During this period, in 1964, the Liberals returned to power in Saskatchewan; between 1964 and 1961 they oversaw a program of "expansion and centralization of higher education".Muir, William R. (1997). Higher Education in Saskatchewan. In G.A. Jones (Ed.), Higher education in Canada. (pp. 93-114). New York: Garland. In 1972 the NDP (formerly the CCF) were re-elected, and in 1973 the community colleges act was passed. By 1981, there were sixteen regional colleges.
In 1974, the University of Regina became independent.
In 1976 the Saskatchewan Indian Institution of Technologies (SIIT) was established in academic partnership with what was then called the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (renamed as Saskatchewan Polytechnic in 2014). In 1980 the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan created the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies. Over the next several years Aboriginal-controlled Institutions would expand to include the First Nations University of Canada, the Dumont Technical Institute, the Northern Teacher Education Program, and the Northern Professional Access College (NORTEP/NORPAC).
In 1982 the Progressive Conservative Party returned to power, abolishing the Universities Commission (established in 1974 by the NDP to coordinate the two Saskatchewan Universities) and establishing the Advanced Technology Training Centre in 1984. In January 1988, The Institute Act and the Regional Colleges Act amalgamated Saskatchewan's technical institutes, urban community colleges and the Advanced Technology Training Centre to form the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology. On September 24, 2014, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology was renamed as Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SaskPolytech) with multiple campuses across the province.
In response to the needs of rural residents, a Distance Education Program Review Committee was created in 1987 by 1989 the Saskatchewan Communications Network had been created to deliver "cultural, informational and educational programming and [act] as an enabler for the regional film and television industry". In September 2011, the SCN re-branded itself and became a commercial entity. It currently has a combination of educational and popular program and no longer remains commercial-free.
Distance education was further expanded with the 2002 creation of Campus Saskatchewan in response to "identified common interests in expanding the use of technology enhanced learning".
From 1992 - 2007, the NDP were again in power in Saskatchewan. Their major policy paper on post-secondary education, Post-Secondary Education Accessibility and Affordability Review,(generally known as the McCall Report was published October 9, 2007. Less than a month later, the NDP were defeated by the Saskatchewan Party. The new Minister, the Honourable Rob Norris, has the following mandate:
[The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment, and Labour] focuses on three strategic areas to meet its mandate of creating a vital, educated and skilled workforce that meets the labour demands of Saskatchewan employers. The approach is to retain educated and skilled workers in the province, develop a skilled workforce by providing education and training programs, and attract educated and skilled workers and their families from outside of the province and the country by promoting Saskatchewan's opportunities.
Among the first of the new government's actions was to introduce the $12 million Graduate Retention Program intended to address the mandated goal of retaining "educated and skilled workers" in Saskatchewan. The GRP provides a refund up to $20,000 of tuition fees paid by eligible graduates who live in Saskatchewan and who file a Saskatchewan income tax return. It remains to be seen which, if any, of the recommendations of the McCall report will be implemented by the new government.
Equity and access
First Nations and Métis students
Even a cursory reading of Saskatchewan's post-secondary education history reveals the number and variety of institutions and programs specifically for Aboriginal students. According to Bouvier and Karlenzig,
Compared to other provinces, a relatively high proportion of Saskatchewan's population is Aboriginal (13.5% according to the 2001 census). This proportion is growing, although recently the trend has been slowing down somewhat (Saskatchewan Learning, 2004b: 6-7). In addition the median age (20.1 years) of Aboriginal persons in Saskatchewan is younger than in any other province. Approximately 20% of the province's school-aged population is Aboriginal (Saskatchewan Learning, 2004b: 109). While a high proportion (82%) of First nations students living on-reserve attend First nations schools, most First Nations students living off-reserve as well as Métis students in Saskatchewan are enrolled in the provincial system.
While the interim version of the Post-Secondary Education Accessibility and Affordability Review points out that Saskatchewan was spending "$572 per capita" on post-secondary education, Banks (2007) argues that "[i]f the province were to fund post-secondary education institutions on a per capita basis, then First Nations and Métis institutions, who serve 13.5% of the population should receive approximately $75 million per annum. Instead they receive in the neighbourhood of $7 million per annum from the province."
Given the demographic imperatives and the long-standing commitments to strengthen Aboriginal education in the province, it is difficult to comprehend why McCall recommends: "In the short to medium term, a dialogue must begin among the provincial government, the federal government and Aboriginal people around financial supports for Aboriginal people wanting to enter and complete post-secondary education". Surely we are far beyond ‘beginning a dialogue, particularly since Aboriginal post secondary education institutions have existed in the province since the 1970s. One of the main issues is to recommend increase funding for the teachers education program and other technical and university programs.
While some of this discrepancy is addressed in the 2008-09 Budget (see Finance, below), it remains to be seen how well Saskatchewan's new government will do in terms of increasing access to post-secondary for First Nations and Métis students.
A November 2011 report "Bridging the Aboriginal Education Gap in Saskatchewan" by Eric Howe suggests that the province could experience an economic boom if the Aboriginal population were better educated. Increasing the level of education in this population, the report argues, would better position Aboriginal people to enter the workforce.
One of the main goals The Ministry of Advanced Education Plan of 2015-16 is to increase participation and completion of higher education for all especially for the First Nations and Metis people by designing and delivering effective financial supports for current and future students through the Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loan, Saskatchewan Student bursaries, grants and scholarships. Non financial support plans include seamless credit transfer between the province post-secondary institutions, increase student accessibility to open education resources, focus on the underrepresented groups on post-secondary attainment and increase enrolment and retaining the people of Aboriginal descent.
Rural students For students outside urban centres, Saskatchewan offered online education through Campus Saskatchewan. It was a partnership, directed and managed by members, to support them in developing and advancing inter-institutional initiatives to achieve shared goals and priorities for the use of technology enhanced learning.
To enhance student mobility, the Saskatchewan Council for Admissions and Transfer (SaskCAT) was created to offer an online transfer credit guide called the Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Online Transfer Guide. According to its website, "The Transfer Credit Guide database allows users to search for credits transferable from one Saskatchewan institution to another. It provides information on both Course Equivalency and Program Agreements from either the Sending or Receiving Institution."Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Online Transfer Guide. (2011). Homepage. Retrieved November 2, 2011 from
However, at its final meeting on December 2, 2009, the Campus Saskatchewan Board of Directors determined that "the Campus Saskatchewan partnership had fulfilled its mandate, and instructed that effective March 31, 2010, the partnership, including the Saskatchewan Council for Admissions and Transfer, would cease operations."
Structure The higher education system in Saskatchewan includes two universities, the University of Saskatchewan (in Saskatoon) and the University of Regina and their federated and affiliated colleges; the three campuses of the First Nations University of Canada; the four campuses of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SaskPolytech); the eight regional colleges; private vocational schools or training institutions; and Aboriginal-run institutions and programs (including the Gabriel Dumont Institute and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies).
The four federated colleges—Campion College, Luther College, St. Thomas More College and the First Nations University of Canada—are each academically integrated with a university, but legally and financially independent with different governing boards. They generally offer undergraduate Arts and Science degree programs recognized by the universities. Their degrees are conferred by the university which they are federated.
Affiliated colleges are similar to federated colleges but are not academically merged with a university. These institutions—St. Peter's College, Briercrest College and Seminary, the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Horizon College and Seminary the Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Andrew's College—offer courses to fill the first and second year Arts and Science requirements for students’ chosen degree programs or to meet the entrance requirements for one of the professional colleges. Most of the Affiliated Colleges are theological colleges.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute and the Teachers’ Education Program also have partnerships with the universities that allow them to offer accredited courses to Aboriginal students and students in the north of the province.