Tolou Mahani
Contributor
At 52 years old, York is considered a spring chicken among universities; but its population would tell you otherwise.
According to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), York received nearly 54,000 secondary school and non-secondary applications, an increase of nearly 2.4 per cent.
York President Mamdouh Shoukri is highly optimistic about the increase.
“I am proud that York University is growing, particularly in the areas of science and engineering, and health,” stated President Shoukri in a media release. “More and more students are coming to our university because of the strength of our academic programs, faculty, and staff.”
Sandy Hudson, Ontario chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), is positive that a rising population with higher education is beneficial for the future.
“More students and families are realizing it’s more important to have credentials for their future careers, and 70 per cent of jobs require post-secondary education,” she says. “The values of post-secondary education are much more appreciated.”
However, she expresses concern about the financial costs international students face. International applications have seen a four per-cent increase, bringing the incoming population to about 1,500 students enrolled for fall 2011.
“The government made it clear to make more spaces for international [students], but tuition varies for them,” says Hudson. “My concern is that international students should not be used as ‘cash cows’. [Access to higher education] should not be based on wealth, but merits, and desire to attend. Hopefully it means that as new jobs are available, more people are prepared to go into these jobs.”
According to the Council of Ontario Universities, more than 90,000 students will be heading to their first university classes this year.
With files from York Media Relations
