Proposed post-secondary funding model misses the mark: Prof

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This article was published 24/06/2022 (1545 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A meeting over possible changes to post-secondary funding in Manitoba has left a Brandon University professor with more questions than answers.

Faculty members from Manitoba’s colleges and universities met for consultations with the province to discuss a proposed funding change that would see a performance-based funding approach.

This proposal is concerning to members of the Manitoba Organization of Faculty Members (MOFA) and Red River College Faculty Association (RRCFA) because it could mean closing the doors of post-secondary education to certain groups, said Kelly Saunders, a political science professor at Brandon University.

What worries her and many of her colleagues is it mirrors an American-style funding model for institutions, where they will be forced to pick only high-performing and low-risk students to keep their grade averages and graduation levels high.

She described the meeting as frustrating and felt the province had their mind made up.

“We felt like decisions were made and reasons were not shared with us on the basis of no evidence,” she said Friday.

The first problem they have with this proposal is why this, she said. All the faculty members in attendance were very clear they are opposed to this funding model. Scholarly evidence on this is clear that these funding models only serve to hurt post-secondary in the long-run, she said. It marginalizes large segments of the population, such as older students, students with families, people that may have struggled in secondary school and people who may have full-time jobs and are trying to upgrade.

As a political science professor, Saunders said post-secondary institutions, especially rural and smaller ones, have a mandate to be open to everyone, not just what she called the “model” student: fresh out of high school, an average of 80 to 90 per cent and living at home with their parents.

“If you are going to be funded based on how well you perform, you are going to dance to that tune,” she said. “You are only going to let in what is seen as the best and the brightest. You are going to gain your system in order to get more money for your school.”

It will also hurt the community and ultimately the economy, as people won’t be able to further their education, apply and qualify for better-paying jobs or earn more income.

Faculty members like herself kept raising these issues with Eric Charron, deputy minister of advanced education, skills and immigration, and were told the province and institutions had to improve accountability. The MOFA and RRCFA have suggested many ways to improve accountability, she said, and they want to know what problems the province have with how they are running their institutions and their programs.

Despite the frustration, she said they were left with the impression the province and ministry were willing to listen and felt the government representatives in attendance were truly surprised over the pushback. This proposal is not a certainty, but it concerns them because it is still an option.

She’s hoping, like many of her fellow professors, the swift reaction will give the province pause over this proposal.

A statement from the provincial government stressed this is a consultation and it has been clear on numerous occasions it is seeking feedback from stakeholders. The reason for this proposal is based on recommendations from an audit by the Office of the Auditor General in 2020, which plainly states the province should be tracking institutional outcomes using results-based performance metrics.

These consultations, the statement read, are about accountability to Manitobans, as that audit also stated, “…existing monitoring activities do not ensure adequate oversight of the institutions’ financial and operational performance.”

The province is not trying to fix a problem with advanced education, it said. It is trying to improve accountability and oversight for the public funding the province provides to post-secondary institutions to help illustrate the value Manitobans expect.

“That is why the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration are reaching out to post-secondary institutions, student groups and faculty associations to consult on a Post-Secondary Accountability Framework. A well-developed framework can provide greater oversight for the use of public funding, in accordance with auditor recommendations, and improve ability to report and celebrate Manitoba’s institutions’ positive outcomes to the public.”

The province, it said, is striving to give stakeholders ample opportunity to provide input and share their feedback for consideration before a framework is drafted.

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com

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