Higher education in Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia
Historically, Saskatchewan's higher education
system has been "significantly shaped" by demographics In 1901, six years prior to the 1907 founding of a university in Saskatchewan, 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%). Over time the province's higher education system has changed significantly in response both to this demographic shift and to provincial politics.
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". 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 the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). 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
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, according to the SAEE website:
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. It remains to be seen which, if any, of the recommendations of the McCall report will be implemented by the new government.
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."
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.
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."
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."
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, and each offers undergraduate degree programs and pre-professional studies.
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.
Saskatchewan’s eight regional colleges allow students from rural Saskatchewan to access post-secondary education and training from the University of Saskatchewan the University of Regina and SIAST. Students are also able to access televised and other materials through the Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN). Some of the regional colleges offer university-transfer programs while others are primarily focused on adult basic education and trades/ technical training.
The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) was established through The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology Act, 1986 (amended 1996). The Dumont Technical Institute is federated with SIAST and is the adult upgrading and technical training arm of the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research , created and operated by the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan.
The Regional Colleges Act created the regional colleges to provide adult basic education and skills training to people in areas of the province without easy access to post-secondary education.
The First Nations University of Canada is technically a federated college (its degrees are conferred by the University of Regina); “it is the only First Nations-controlled post-secondary institution in Canada that operates in partnership with a university”. According to their website,
In November, 2005, the All-Chiefs’ Task Force on the Future of the First Nations University of Canada released a report outlining their findings and recommendations following a forensic audit of the First Nations University of Canada. The report identifies “institutional governance [as] the most important of its recommendations.”. The 2007 FNUC Board of Governors has 27 members, including Chiefs, Grand Chiefs, students, and both federal and provincial representatives As recently as May 6, 2008, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) was contemplating censuring FNUC (or “FNUniv” as CAUT and others call the institution) “unless the university agrees to remedy gross violations of basic university governance principles, address concerns about academic freedom and respect collective agreements it has negotiated”. As of June 24, 2008, CAUT was reporting some progress in discussions with FNUniv.
The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies(SIIT) is administered under The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act, 2000. It is governed by a board composed of senators, Saskatchewan Tribal Council appointees, and a Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations executive member.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research (GDI)is the educational institution created and operated by the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. It is “the only wholly Métis owned and controlled education institution of its kind in Canada” according to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.
The Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) is accredited by the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, and the First Nations University of Canada. The Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) “is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Education program, offered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute in cooperation with Saskatchewan Learning, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. The program is offered in three urban centres--Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina”.
According to CAUT, over the period 1993-1994 to 2004-2005, only British Columbia (2%) and Saskatchewan (24%) increased provincial funding to post-secondary education. In 2005, tuition represented 29% of University Operating Revenue in Saskatchewan, with 60.6% of operating revenue coming from (presumably both provincial and federal) government.
Budget breakdown
According to the 2008-09 Budget estimates for the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, the following amounts are estimated in the 2008-09 fiscal year. (Note: a partial breakdown is provided for student support services and post-secondary education:
Student Funding
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour oversees a number of programs to assist current and potential students. A selection is listed below.
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (ABE) is an umbrella term that refers to a wide range of services, credit, and non-credit programs designed to help adult learners achieve their goals.
Credit Transfer (CT)
Credit Transfer (CT) is defined as the process by which credit is granted towards a credential by one institution for programs or courses previously completed at a recognized institution.
Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD)
The EAPD Program provides funding to assist adults with disabilities to prepare for, secure and maintain employment.
Employment Programs (including SaskJobs and SaskNetWork)
These programs can help individuals transition into and within the workforce.
General Educational Development (GED)
The GED Tests measure the academic skills and knowledge expected of high school graduates. Recognized throughout North America, the GED Testing Program has served as a bridge to education and employment. The GED Tests provide a reliable vehicle through which adults can certify that they possess the major and lasting outcomes of a traditional high school education.
Graduate Retention Program
The Graduate Retention Program (GRP) is a refundable income tax credit to rebate up to $20,000 of tuition fees paid by eligible graduates. This initiative replaces the previous Graduate Tax Exemption beginning January 1, 2008.
Graduate Tax Benefit Programs
From 2000-2007, the Government of Saskatchewan had two previous graduate tax benefit programs for graduates from post-secondary programs.
Innovation and Science Fund
The Innovation and Science Fund (ISF) will provide funding to Saskatchewan universities, colleges and research institutes to support projects.
Institutional Quick Response Training (Quick Skills)
JobStart/Future Skills links training to employment. The program provides a range of skills training solutions for Saskatchewan people.
JobStart/Future Skills
JobStart/Future Skills Program - Quick Skills option provides funds to public training institutions to train the unemployed to meet industry requirements for skilled workers. Training should lead to ongoing permanent employment. The program also provides access to credit training in rural and northern Saskatchewan.
Joint Task Force - Aboriginal Education and Employment
An agreement with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) was signed on May 17, 2011, to establish a joint task force on aboriginal education and employment, to consult on and identify practical, grass-roots solutions for eliminating current gaps in education and employment outcomes for First Nations and Métis people in Saskatchewan.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a systematic process that assesses and recognizes an individual’s knowledge and skills regardless of where or how the learning was acquired.
Provincial Training Allowance (PTA)
The Provincial Training Allowance (PTA) is grant funding to assist with the costs of living for low income adult students enrolled in basic education and bridging programs. In addition, the PTA provides assistance for Quick Skills Training of four to eleven weeks for programs not funded by student loans.
Qualification Recognition (QR)
Qualification Recognition (QR) practices involve the fair, credible, and standardized assessment of credentials to assist employers, educational institutions and professional regulatory bodies in making informed decisions.
Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL) is a broad umbrella concept which values all learning that people have gained in their lives.
Skills Training Benefit (STB)
The objective of the Skills Training Benefit program is to assist clients who are EI eligible to return to the labour market as quickly as possible and to improve their employability.
Student Employment Experience
The Student Employment Experience (SEE) program is a year-round funding program for Saskatchewan employers to hire students.
Student Loans
The Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loans Program offers a needs based supplement to your existing resources to help you fund your education.
Student/Participant Placement Injury
Procedures in the event of a Student/Participant Injury on a Work-based Learning Placement or Work Placement.
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW)
The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour is working in partnership with the Federal government to deliver a two year initiative to help older workers be reintegrated into the workforce.
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)
Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions and the ministry work together through the provincial TEL Action Plan to extend access to education and skills training and enrich learning by adapting technology-based tools, teaching methods and resources to meet the diverse needs of learners, both on- and off-campus.
In an address to the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education on June 3, 2008, Parkland Regional College now Parkland College
CEO Dr. Fay Myers observed that the goals of Saskatchewan's Regional Colleges need to change in response to the booming economy. She argues that the Regional Colleges need to take a "collaborative systems approach" to providing education in Saskatchewan and must be aware "of global forces" while developing "innovative industry partnerships" and "provid[ing] niche training."
According to the Saskatchewan Party's 2011 platform document, Moving Saskatchewan Forward, the province will be a place where "young people have the best educational and career opportunities." Their platform outlines a plan for a Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings in which the government will match 10% of the annual contribution to a child's RESP, to an annual maximum of $250. Their platform also commits to "creating more training opportunities, including improving education and employment outcomes for First Nations and Métis people
The impact the Saskatchewan Party will have on the higher education system in Saskatchewan remains to be seen. With the possible expansion of degree-granting institutions, the examination of how the Regional colleges serve the province and a recent agreement signed between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and The Government of Saskatchewan to work together to establish a Joint Task Force on Improving Education and Employment Outcomes in Saskatchewan, higher education in the province is expected to continue to change.
Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Association of University Teachers
Canadian Federation of Students
SaskNetWork
University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association
University of Regina Faculty Association
forms the first government.
1907 The Act establishing the University of Saskatchewan is passed.
1911 The Methodist Church registers the first students in Regina College, which becomes a second campus of the University of Saskatchewan in 1925, then becomes the University of Regina in 1974.
1930 The Progressive Conservative Party
is elected.
1934 The Liberal Party
is returned to power.
1941 Saskatchewan's population is 67% rural 33% urban.
1944 Tommy Douglas (CCF) is elected Premier of Saskatchewan . The province passes the first Saskatchewan Apprenticeship Act, which provides a system for the training and certification of apprentices and the trades.
1952 The first National Conference on Apprenticeship in Trades and Industries provides a stimulus for the development of the Red Seal program.
1959 Saskatchewan’s first technical school, the Saskatchewan Technical Institute, opens in Moose Jaw. The University of Saskatchewan offers for the first time an Arts and Science degree at Regina College.
1961 July 1, Regina College is renamed the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus.
1963 A second technical institute, The Central Saskatchewan Technical Institute, opens in Saskatoon.
1964 The Liberal Party
is elected.
1971 The NDP
(formerly the CCF) is elected.
1971 Parkland Regional College is established (1971–2008). (Later renamed Parkland College
(2008).
1972 Chaired by Ron Faris, the Minister’s Advisory Committee on Community Colleges is established to develop a plan for community colleges in the province. The Department of Continuing Education is established to coordinate post-secondary education in Saskatchewan. The Faris Report recommends the establishment of community colleges in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences is established in Regina.
1973 The Community Colleges Act is passed, establishing the community college system in Saskatchewan. The Hall Commission, consisting of Emmett Hall, Stewart Nicks and Gordon Sout, is established to examine the need for a university in Regina.
1974 The University of Regina is established (U of R, 2004).
1976 The Saskatchewan Indian Community College is established. The Saskatchewan Indian Federated College is established at the University of Regina.
1980 The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research is established.
1982 The Progressive Conservative Party
is elected.
1985 Saskatchewan Indian Community College is renamed the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.
1986 Prince Albert’s Northern Institute of Technology opens.
1988 Saskatchewan passes the Regional Colleges Act, renaming the community colleges regional colleges, reducing their number, and restructuring them as the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology.
1992 The NDP is elected. The Dumont Technical Institute is established to serve the educational and technical needs of Saskatchewan’s Métis, as the adult upgrading and technical training arm of the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research.
2000 The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act is passed to establish the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, which provides adult basic education, post-secondary training programs, and related educational programs.
2002 Campus Saskatchewan is established.
2003 On June 21, National Aboriginal Day, the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College is renamed The First Nations University of Canada.
2006 NDP Premier Lorne Calvert commissions Advanced Education, Employment, and Labour Minister Warren McCall to produce an extensive review of the post-secondary sector.
2007 October 9: the NDP's Post-Secondary Education Accessibilty and Affordability Review is published . November 7: The Saskatchewan Party
is elected.
2008 Parkland Regional College is renamed Parkland College
2010 Campus Saskatchewan, including the Saskatchewan Council for Admissions and Transfer, ceased operations.
2011 Province is considering expanding degree granting beyond the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. "Expansion of Degree - Granting Status in the Province of Saskatchewan Report on Consultations and Recommendations" is published by Alex Usher
2011 (April) Dr. Brian Gillespie to lead Quality Assurance Review to develop a quality assurance review process that could be used to assess applications for new degree-granting institutions and programs in Saskatchewan.
2011 An agreement was signed between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and The Government of Saskatchewan to work together to establish a Joint Task Force on Improving Education and Employment Outcomes in Saskatchewan. The agreement commits to improving early childhood outcomes, increasing high school and post-secondary completion rates and improving participation in the labour market and employment rates
2011 Saskatchewan's Regional Colleges: Towards a New System is published, examining a new future for the regional colleges of the province
2011 The Saskatchewan Party
and Premier Brad Wall re-elected
2011 Bridging the Aboriginal Education Gap in Saskatchewan by Eric Howe is published, suggesting increased education of the Aboriginal population in the province is key to creating an economic boom
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
system has been "significantly shaped" by demographics In 1901, six years prior to the 1907 founding of a university in Saskatchewan, 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%). Over time the province's higher education system has changed significantly in response both to this demographic shift and to provincial politics.
Saskatchewan Higher Education: Quick Facts
- 91.4% of post-secondary graduates were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the overall quality of their educational experience, as reported in the 2004-2005 Graduate Outcomes review.
- Saskatchewan had the highest per-FTE post-secondary funding of any province in 2004-05.
- The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour’s total budget for 2010-1011 is $846.1 million (compared to $761 million in 2008-09).
- In 2010/2011, Canadian students studying in Saskatchewan paid an average of $5,431 in tuition (slightly above the Canadian national average of $5,138)
- According to the 2011 Statistics Canada Education Indicators in Canada: An International Perspective:
- Saskatchewan's upper secondary graduation rates for the 25-34 year old age group in 2009 was 93% (national average in Canada was 92% while the OECD average was 81%)
- Saskatchewan's population that had attained at least tertiary education in the 25-34 year old age group in 2009 was 37% (national average in Canada was 50% while the OECD average was 30%)
- Saskatchewan's Tertiary-type A graduation rates (first-time graduation) in the 25-34 year old age group in 2009 was 24% (national average in Canada was 30% while OECD average was 28%)
- Saskatchewan's Tertiary-type B graduation rates (first-time graduation) in the 25-34 year old age group in 2009 was 16% (national average in Canada was 26% while OECD average was 11%)
History
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 1974, the University of Regina became independent.
In 1976 the Saskatchewan Indian Institution of Technologies (SIIT) was established in academic partnership with the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). 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
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, according to the SAEE website:
[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. It remains to be seen which, if any, of the recommendations of the McCall report will be implemented by the new government.
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."
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.
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."
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 Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST); the eight regional colleges; private vocational schools or training institutions; and Aboriginal-run institutions and programs (including the Gabriel Dumont Institute and the Indian Institute of Technologies).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.
Saskatchewan’s eight regional colleges allow students from rural Saskatchewan to access post-secondary education and training from the University of Saskatchewan the University of Regina and SIAST. Students are also able to access televised and other materials through the Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN). Some of the regional colleges offer university-transfer programs while others are primarily focused on adult basic education and trades/ technical training.
Governance
The post-secondary sector in Saskatchewan includes public institutions, Aboriginal-controlled institutions and programming, private vocational schools and apprenticeship programs.Public Institutions and Aboriginal-controlled Institutions and Programming
The University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan were established by provincial statute and are regulated by their respective acts: The University of Regina Act and the University of Saskatchewan Act.The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) was established through The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology Act, 1986 (amended 1996). The Dumont Technical Institute is federated with SIAST and is the adult upgrading and technical training arm of the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research , created and operated by the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan.
The Regional Colleges Act created the regional colleges to provide adult basic education and skills training to people in areas of the province without easy access to post-secondary education.
The First Nations University of Canada is technically a federated college (its degrees are conferred by the University of Regina); “it is the only First Nations-controlled post-secondary institution in Canada that operates in partnership with a university”. According to their website,
the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College Act of the Legislative Assembly of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) established the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC) (now the First Nations University of Canada) as an institution that is administratively and financially autonomous, but academically integrated with the University of Regina. The SIFC Act specifies the composition and responsibilities of the board of governors. Two members of the board are appointed directly by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN). Other members are appointed by the senate, Agency/Tribal Councils of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan universities, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Saskatchewan Learning, First Nations University of Canada faculty and the First Nations University of Canada Students' Association.
In November, 2005, the All-Chiefs’ Task Force on the Future of the First Nations University of Canada released a report outlining their findings and recommendations following a forensic audit of the First Nations University of Canada. The report identifies “institutional governance [as] the most important of its recommendations.”. The 2007 FNUC Board of Governors has 27 members, including Chiefs, Grand Chiefs, students, and both federal and provincial representatives As recently as May 6, 2008, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) was contemplating censuring FNUC (or “FNUniv” as CAUT and others call the institution) “unless the university agrees to remedy gross violations of basic university governance principles, address concerns about academic freedom and respect collective agreements it has negotiated”. As of June 24, 2008, CAUT was reporting some progress in discussions with FNUniv.
The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies(SIIT) is administered under The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act, 2000. It is governed by a board composed of senators, Saskatchewan Tribal Council appointees, and a Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations executive member.
The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research (GDI)is the educational institution created and operated by the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. It is “the only wholly Métis owned and controlled education institution of its kind in Canada” according to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials.
The Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) is accredited by the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, and the First Nations University of Canada. The Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) “is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Education program, offered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute in cooperation with Saskatchewan Learning, the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. The program is offered in three urban centres--Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina”.
Private Vocational Schools
Private Vocational Schools are regulated by the Saskatchewan Advanced Education and Employment, Training Institutions Branch under the authority of the Private Vocational Schools Regulation Act, 1995 and the Private Vocational Schools Regulations, 1995. According to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials:The legislation requires that institutions, programs, and instructors be registered with the ministry. The ministry does not directly evaluate private vocational school programs for quality. However, registration and monitoring of program, curricula, including a review of labour market research to support new programs, has an impact on quality. The Canadian Education and Training Accreditation Commission (CETAC) is a national association that accredits Canadian private vocational schools at the institutional level. Accreditation is voluntary.
Apprenticeship programs
The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) oversees apprenticeship programs in Saskatchewan. According to their website,Saskatchewan's Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Act 1999 establishes the Commission as a Corporation and Agent of the Crown. A Board of twenty or fewer members is appointed by the Provincial Government. The majority of the members of the Board are selected by industry, equally representing employers and employees. The Commission Board also has representation from SIAST, the Provincial Government and equity groups. The Commission reports to a Minister of the Provincial Government who is responsible for the administration of the Act, usually the Minister of Advanced Education and Employment.
The Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Act 1999 authorizes the Commission to manage the Apprenticeship and Trade Certification system.
Campus Saskatchewan
As a partnership of provincial post-secondary institutions and the government, Campus Saskatchewan was established in 2002 “to use technology-based learning to increase access to post-secondary studies in the province”. Partners in Campus Saskatchewan are the following: Gabriel Dumont Institute/Dumont Technical Institute, First Nations University of Canada, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), Saskatchewan Advanced Education and Employment (ex officio), Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), Saskatchewan Regional Colleges, University of Regina, and University of Saskatchewan. Effective March 31, 2010, Campus Saskatchewan, including the Saskatchewan Council for Admissions and Transfer, ceased operations.Funding
According to the 2008-09 Budget, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment, and Labour has a total budget of $761 million. Spending plans include the following:
- $12 million for the new Graduate Retention Program, which will provide tuition rebates of up to $20,000 for post-secondary graduates from Saskatchewan who stay in the province for seven years after graduation.
- $10.5 million to fund a 120 seat expansion for nursing education.
- $3.2 million to train more doctors, by expanding medical student training to 100 and residency training to 120 by 2010-11.
- $0.9 million to SIAST for 12 medical diagnostic technician seats and 42 new trades training seats.
- $4.1 million for Regional Colleges, including support for a 200 seat expansion of on-reserve Adult Basic Education.
- $33 million to enhance affordability for post-secondary learners, including supporting the tuition freeze for university students for a final year, and additional funding for SIAST.
- $5 million for community-based organizations, including immigrant training programs.
- $1 million to the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) for on-reserve adult basic education and skills training.
- $45.8 million for post-secondary institution capital, including $6.8 million for health professional training capital.
- $2.2 million increase for the International Vaccine Centre.
- $2.4 million for settlement and training supports for new immigrants, and to quicken processing time for potential immigrants to Saskatchewan.
According to CAUT, over the period 1993-1994 to 2004-2005, only British Columbia (2%) and Saskatchewan (24%) increased provincial funding to post-secondary education. In 2005, tuition represented 29% of University Operating Revenue in Saskatchewan, with 60.6% of operating revenue coming from (presumably both provincial and federal) government.
Budget breakdown
According to the 2008-09 Budget estimates for the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, the following amounts are estimated in the 2008-09 fiscal year. (Note: a partial breakdown is provided for student support services and post-secondary education:
| Recipient | Estimated expense ($CDN) |
|---|---|
| Student support services (total budget) | 55,984,000 |
| * Sask. Student aid fund | 6,749,000 |
| * Provincial training allowance | 28,889,000 |
| * Skills training benefit | 9,257,000 |
| * Apprenticeship training allowance | 1,584,000 |
| * Employability assistance for people with disabilities | 5,570,000 |
| Post-secondary education (total budget) | 566,877,000 |
| * Universities, federated & affiliated colleges & educational agencies | 333,862,000 |
| * SIAST (operating) | 99,939,000 |
| * SIAST (accommodation services) | 24,435,000 |
| * SIIT | 3,000,000 |
| * Regional Colleges | 24,818,000 |
| * Capital transfers | 36,736,000 |
| * Apprenticeship and trade certification commission | 13,811,000 |
| * Technology enhanced learning | 5,086,000 |
| * Innovation and science fund | 15,010,000 |
| * Interprovincial agreements | 1,426,000 |
| Training programs | 37,976,000 |
| Graduate Retention program | 12,000,000 |
Student Funding
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour oversees a number of programs to assist current and potential students. A selection is listed below.
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (ABE) is an umbrella term that refers to a wide range of services, credit, and non-credit programs designed to help adult learners achieve their goals.
Credit Transfer (CT)
Credit Transfer (CT) is defined as the process by which credit is granted towards a credential by one institution for programs or courses previously completed at a recognized institution.
Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD)
The EAPD Program provides funding to assist adults with disabilities to prepare for, secure and maintain employment.
Employment Programs (including SaskJobs and SaskNetWork)
These programs can help individuals transition into and within the workforce.
General Educational Development (GED)
The GED Tests measure the academic skills and knowledge expected of high school graduates. Recognized throughout North America, the GED Testing Program has served as a bridge to education and employment. The GED Tests provide a reliable vehicle through which adults can certify that they possess the major and lasting outcomes of a traditional high school education.
Graduate Retention Program
The Graduate Retention Program (GRP) is a refundable income tax credit to rebate up to $20,000 of tuition fees paid by eligible graduates. This initiative replaces the previous Graduate Tax Exemption beginning January 1, 2008.
Graduate Tax Benefit Programs
From 2000-2007, the Government of Saskatchewan had two previous graduate tax benefit programs for graduates from post-secondary programs.
Innovation and Science Fund
The Innovation and Science Fund (ISF) will provide funding to Saskatchewan universities, colleges and research institutes to support projects.
Institutional Quick Response Training (Quick Skills)
JobStart/Future Skills links training to employment. The program provides a range of skills training solutions for Saskatchewan people.
JobStart/Future Skills
JobStart/Future Skills Program - Quick Skills option provides funds to public training institutions to train the unemployed to meet industry requirements for skilled workers. Training should lead to ongoing permanent employment. The program also provides access to credit training in rural and northern Saskatchewan.
Joint Task Force - Aboriginal Education and Employment
An agreement with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) was signed on May 17, 2011, to establish a joint task force on aboriginal education and employment, to consult on and identify practical, grass-roots solutions for eliminating current gaps in education and employment outcomes for First Nations and Métis people in Saskatchewan.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a systematic process that assesses and recognizes an individual’s knowledge and skills regardless of where or how the learning was acquired.
Provincial Training Allowance (PTA)
The Provincial Training Allowance (PTA) is grant funding to assist with the costs of living for low income adult students enrolled in basic education and bridging programs. In addition, the PTA provides assistance for Quick Skills Training of four to eleven weeks for programs not funded by student loans.
Qualification Recognition (QR)
Qualification Recognition (QR) practices involve the fair, credible, and standardized assessment of credentials to assist employers, educational institutions and professional regulatory bodies in making informed decisions.
Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognizing Prior Learning (RPL) is a broad umbrella concept which values all learning that people have gained in their lives.
Skills Training Benefit (STB)
The objective of the Skills Training Benefit program is to assist clients who are EI eligible to return to the labour market as quickly as possible and to improve their employability.
Student Employment Experience
The Student Employment Experience (SEE) program is a year-round funding program for Saskatchewan employers to hire students.
Student Loans
The Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loans Program offers a needs based supplement to your existing resources to help you fund your education.
Student/Participant Placement Injury
Procedures in the event of a Student/Participant Injury on a Work-based Learning Placement or Work Placement.
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW)
The Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour is working in partnership with the Federal government to deliver a two year initiative to help older workers be reintegrated into the workforce.
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL)
Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions and the ministry work together through the provincial TEL Action Plan to extend access to education and skills training and enrich learning by adapting technology-based tools, teaching methods and resources to meet the diverse needs of learners, both on- and off-campus.
Future Directions and Challenges
Given Saskatchewan's booming economy and recent change of government, the shape of higher education in the province may be changing.In an address to the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education on June 3, 2008, Parkland Regional College now Parkland College
Parkland College (Saskatchewan)
The Parkland College is a post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan, Canada.-Vision:Parkland College's Vision is to be the College of choice celebrating quality learning and service...
CEO Dr. Fay Myers observed that the goals of Saskatchewan's Regional Colleges need to change in response to the booming economy. She argues that the Regional Colleges need to take a "collaborative systems approach" to providing education in Saskatchewan and must be aware "of global forces" while developing "innovative industry partnerships" and "provid[ing] niche training."
According to the Saskatchewan Party's 2011 platform document, Moving Saskatchewan Forward, the province will be a place where "young people have the best educational and career opportunities." Their platform outlines a plan for a Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings in which the government will match 10% of the annual contribution to a child's RESP, to an annual maximum of $250. Their platform also commits to "creating more training opportunities, including improving education and employment outcomes for First Nations and Métis people
The impact the Saskatchewan Party will have on the higher education system in Saskatchewan remains to be seen. With the possible expansion of degree-granting institutions, the examination of how the Regional colleges serve the province and a recent agreement signed between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and The Government of Saskatchewan to work together to establish a Joint Task Force on Improving Education and Employment Outcomes in Saskatchewan, higher education in the province is expected to continue to change.
Associations
The following organizations may be of interest to people who want to know more about issues in post-secondary education in Saskatchewan and Canada. Each is described by a snippet quoted from the association’s “about us” page.Association of Canadian Community Colleges
- The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) is the national, voluntary membership organization created in 1972 to represent colleges and institutes to government, business and industry, both in Canada and internationally.
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
- The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada is the voice of Canada's universities. We represent 92 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.
Association of University Teachers
- Founded in 1951, CAUT is the national voice for academic staff. Today, representing 55,000 teachers, librarians, researchers and other academic professionals and general staff, CAUT is an outspoken defender of academic freedom and works actively in the public interest to improve the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education in Canada.
Canadian Federation of Students
- The Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Federation of Students-Services were formed in 1981 to provide students with an effective and united voice, provincially and nationally.
SaskNetWork
- The SaskNetWork web site is about helping the people of Saskatchewan connect to the resources they need in the areas of jobs, work, education and training, career planning, self-employment, labour market information, financial help and the workplace.
University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association
- The Faculty Association was founded in 1952 to negotiate salaries and other benefits with the Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan. On January 26, 1977, the USFA was certified under the Trade Union Act.
University of Regina Faculty Association
- The University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA) is a professional organization for members of various bargaining units on the University of Regina campus. We are a member of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), and the Saskatchewan Association of University Teachers (SAUT). URFA serves as the collective bargaining agent for approximately 1200 full and part time members.
Chronology
1905 The Saskatchewan Act is passed and the province of Saskatchewan is formed. The Liberal PartySaskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
forms the first government.
1907 The Act establishing the University of Saskatchewan is passed.
1911 The Methodist Church registers the first students in Regina College, which becomes a second campus of the University of Saskatchewan in 1925, then becomes the University of Regina in 1974.
1930 The Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan
The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan is a right-of-centre political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Prior to 1942, it was known as the Conservative Party of Saskatchewan. Members are commonly known as Tories....
is elected.
1934 The Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
is returned to power.
1941 Saskatchewan's population is 67% rural 33% urban.
1944 Tommy Douglas (CCF) is elected Premier of Saskatchewan . The province passes the first Saskatchewan Apprenticeship Act, which provides a system for the training and certification of apprentices and the trades.
1952 The first National Conference on Apprenticeship in Trades and Industries provides a stimulus for the development of the Red Seal program.
1959 Saskatchewan’s first technical school, the Saskatchewan Technical Institute, opens in Moose Jaw. The University of Saskatchewan offers for the first time an Arts and Science degree at Regina College.
1961 July 1, Regina College is renamed the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus.
1963 A second technical institute, The Central Saskatchewan Technical Institute, opens in Saskatoon.
1964 The Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
is elected.
1971 The NDP
Saskatchewan New Democratic Party
The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It currently forms the official opposition, but has been a dominant force in Saskatchewan politics since the 1940s...
(formerly the CCF) is elected.
1971 Parkland Regional College is established (1971–2008). (Later renamed Parkland College
Parkland College (Saskatchewan)
The Parkland College is a post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan, Canada.-Vision:Parkland College's Vision is to be the College of choice celebrating quality learning and service...
(2008).
1972 Chaired by Ron Faris, the Minister’s Advisory Committee on Community Colleges is established to develop a plan for community colleges in the province. The Department of Continuing Education is established to coordinate post-secondary education in Saskatchewan. The Faris Report recommends the establishment of community colleges in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences is established in Regina.
1973 The Community Colleges Act is passed, establishing the community college system in Saskatchewan. The Hall Commission, consisting of Emmett Hall, Stewart Nicks and Gordon Sout, is established to examine the need for a university in Regina.
1974 The University of Regina is established (U of R, 2004).
1976 The Saskatchewan Indian Community College is established. The Saskatchewan Indian Federated College is established at the University of Regina.
1980 The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research is established.
1982 The Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan
The Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan is a right-of-centre political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Prior to 1942, it was known as the Conservative Party of Saskatchewan. Members are commonly known as Tories....
is elected.
1985 Saskatchewan Indian Community College is renamed the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.
1986 Prince Albert’s Northern Institute of Technology opens.
1988 Saskatchewan passes the Regional Colleges Act, renaming the community colleges regional colleges, reducing their number, and restructuring them as the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology.
1992 The NDP is elected. The Dumont Technical Institute is established to serve the educational and technical needs of Saskatchewan’s Métis, as the adult upgrading and technical training arm of the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research.
2000 The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act is passed to establish the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, which provides adult basic education, post-secondary training programs, and related educational programs.
2002 Campus Saskatchewan is established.
2003 On June 21, National Aboriginal Day, the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College is renamed The First Nations University of Canada.
2006 NDP Premier Lorne Calvert commissions Advanced Education, Employment, and Labour Minister Warren McCall to produce an extensive review of the post-secondary sector.
2007 October 9: the NDP's Post-Secondary Education Accessibilty and Affordability Review is published . November 7: The Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
is elected.
2008 Parkland Regional College is renamed Parkland College
Parkland College (Saskatchewan)
The Parkland College is a post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan, Canada.-Vision:Parkland College's Vision is to be the College of choice celebrating quality learning and service...
2010 Campus Saskatchewan, including the Saskatchewan Council for Admissions and Transfer, ceased operations.
2011 Province is considering expanding degree granting beyond the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. "Expansion of Degree - Granting Status in the Province of Saskatchewan Report on Consultations and Recommendations" is published by Alex Usher
2011 (April) Dr. Brian Gillespie to lead Quality Assurance Review to develop a quality assurance review process that could be used to assess applications for new degree-granting institutions and programs in Saskatchewan.
2011 An agreement was signed between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and The Government of Saskatchewan to work together to establish a Joint Task Force on Improving Education and Employment Outcomes in Saskatchewan. The agreement commits to improving early childhood outcomes, increasing high school and post-secondary completion rates and improving participation in the labour market and employment rates
2011 Saskatchewan's Regional Colleges: Towards a New System is published, examining a new future for the regional colleges of the province
2011 The Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
and Premier Brad Wall re-elected
2011 Bridging the Aboriginal Education Gap in Saskatchewan by Eric Howe is published, suggesting increased education of the Aboriginal population in the province is key to creating an economic boom