OUR MISSION
Strong Students :: Strong Leadership :: Strong Colleges
This is achieved through a dedicated concentration in advocacy on:
Effective Student Leadership
Student Associations making informed decisions through our unique Leadership Success program, the CSA provides leadership skills training and a support network through peer to peer mentorship. Member student associations gain additional skills and knowledge to advocate more effectively on behalf of their student body. Many of these skills and the experience are of value for career and life development.
Accessibility to College Education
Appropriate college per student funding. In order for Ontario to become a leader in learning, the government must provide sustainable college funding, keep tuition fee increases reasonable and ensure that financial aid available reflects the true cost of education. The CSA is a major player in budget consultations with the Ministries of Finance and Training, Colleges and Universities.
Keep the Decision-Makers Informed of Student Positions
When the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training Colleges and Universities, needs to consult a student source before making a decision that affects our province’s college students, he can not visit with each individual student or each student association. The Ministry calls upon the CSA, since it represents over 126,000 college and college-university students, to provide insight into the real needs of today’s postsecondary student. Relationships such as this, combined with high-impact, creative campaigns and policy papers make the CSA that much more influential in having its member students’ voices heard.
College Administration
From tuition set-aside (TSA) to ancillary fees, every term a student association will need to work with their college administration on a regular basis discussion the daily needs of their students. The CSA is proud to work with individual members to ensure that their students’ best interests are kept first and foremost in mind while still maintaining a strong partnership with their college decision makers and when approaching the government for the benefit of their students.
Quality Education
Establishing colleges as a valuable, equal choice for postsecondary education. Universities have such a long history in postsecondary education that it is often a challenge to ensure that all prospective students completely understand the outstanding value of a college education. Ontario college graduates are the lifeblood of the future workforce in our province. Understanding this, the CSA works to ensure that college certificates, diplomas and applied degrees recognizable at other institutions receive appropriate funding to provide an exceptional learning experience.
Resource Accountability
Providing industry-driven curriculum by qualified teachers using state-of-the-art resources should remain paramount at all Ontario Colleges across all levels of management, staff and faculty. The CSA forms strategic partnerships with other stakeholders to ensure students are provided with the greatest possible value for their tuition fees.
Proper Recognition of Prior Learning Experience
Fluidity of transfer credits between and within institutions be it college-to-college, college-to-university or university-to-college, has become an increasingly burning issue as a result of the CSA. It is important that all students are granted advanced standing and transfer credit appropriately for work they have completed at previously at other institutions or in the workforce.
