The Ontario Liberal government has promised to create three new undergraduate campuses to improve access to postsecondary education.
These universities will provide high-quality education for students at a more affordable cost. These new campuses will combine college and university instruction, incorporating hands-on training and new technologies, such as e-learning. Class sizes will be smaller—averaging about 45—with the intention of allowing the professor to spend more of their time teaching rather than conducting research. This allows for greater interaction between faculty and students, a factor in how well students succeed.
Since the number of students attending universities in the GTA is expected to increase from 30,000 to 50,000 over the next 15 years, new campuses must provide new opportunities for undergraduates. It is recommended that these new campuses create different programs from most universities in order to vary the choices students have.
The new campuses are supposed to be more affordable than creating universities that follow the traditional university model. They may also require a lower tuition, with estimates of up to $2,000 less over the course of a four-year program. Students will be able to select the campus that best satisfies their learning requirements.
