The creation of a Canadian University Application Centre would also assist. A central measurement department or agency would lend greater coherence to our programs. Further to measuring accessibility, our student assistance plan should work towards a clear articulation of why those students choose not to participate. Debt level is often indicated as a greater barrier than tuition. Yet, people take on higher debt for houses than they do education.
Studies examining rates of return indicate that individual investment in education is a wise choice.
Such studies, however, assume that students have perfect knowledge. A student assistance plan cannot underestimate the impact of risk averse cultures. Greater efforts towards educating potential students would yield significant results. This would include the terms of student loans and bursaries, interest rates and the real level of risk when investing in their human capitol. If we more clearly understand the barriers much needed reforms to student aid can be closely targeted at areas of high need.