Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced today that her government is taking steps to ensure that more students can pursue undergraduate degrees close to home. The province is inviting universities to submit proposals for new or expanded campuses in underserved areas (colleges are encouraged to partner with universities to submit proposals).

This call for proposals is part of the government’s commitment to provide funding for 60,000 additional postsecondary education spaces across Ontario. The government will collaborate closely with municipalities, colleges and universities to ensure that capacity is increased where it is needed the most.

The proposals will be evaluated based on their potential to:

• Increase postsecondary spaces in underserved areas
• Improve quality, innovation and competitiveness
• Demonstrate cost-effectiveness to both students and taxpayers
• Help stimulate growth and economic development in Ontario

This will help establish a formal, transparent and competitive process to evaluate decisions about future expansions.

Improving access to postsecondary education is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan that is creating jobs for today and tomorrow. The comprehensive plan and its six priorities focus on Ontario’s greatest strengths — its people and strategic partnerships.

QUICK FACTS

• The call for proposals is open to all publicly assisted universities and all colleges of applied arts and technology in Ontario with a deadline for submissions of Sept. 26, 2014. Colleges must partner with universities to be eligible for major capacity expansion projects.
• Municipalities interested in being considered as host locations are expected to work in collaboration with institutions that are submitting a proposal.
• The province released the Major Capacity Expansion Policy Framework in December 2013 to identify priority areas for growth.
• In the last 10 years, full-time enrolment in Ontario’s postsecondary system has grown by more than 160,000 — more than in any decade in the province’s history.
• The province’s 30% off Tuition Grant helped more than 230,000 students start college or university last year.