The NACC recently met in Ottawa to represent and promote its member’s best interests through discussing several important key topics and issues with government officials. The topics and issues discussed during the meetings are as follows:

November 25 – Anne Burns and President Michael McAllister represented NACC at the National Advisory Group on Student Financial Assistance.
Discussion Topics included:

Growth in the number of students – 365,00 in 2008/09 to 414,000 in 2009/10
Growth in the number of part-time loans – 1,425 in 2008 to 2,698 in 2009
Growth in number of borrowers YTD – 6.5%
Growth in $ - 8%
Number of students in the Repayment
Assistance Plan with $0 Payment – 143,114 (whose income is less than $20,000)
Number of students making RAP affordable payments – 12,068 – geared to income and never more than 20% of income
Current delinquency rate – student has missed one payment – 13%
The 3-year cohort default rate (public and private) is 15%
The federal government is moving ahead with designation by program, however no date for implementation has been set

November 30 – Anne Burns and Serge Buy represented NACC at the meeting with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Federal Provincial Consultative Committee on Education Related International Activities (FPCCERIA), Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC).
Key issues discussed were:

Decision to the CIC to expand the off-campus and post-graduate work permits to eligible private career colleges
Decision to the CIC to expand the off-campus and post-graduate work permits to eligible private career colleges
Eligible institutions to be determined by each province
Concern about study permits – institutions will be responsible for confirming that the students are actually attending classes
Concern about fraudulent agents
Minimum standards for all educational institutions (to be established)
Emphasis on stakeholder participation from all stakeholders
Need for all stakeholders to ensure the integrity of the system
Promotion of Canadian education internationally
Use of the Education au/in Canada brand

December 1 - Council of Ministers of Education Canada.
Topics discussed were:

Coordination of activities by independent central agency
Importance of promoting Canada first
Need to work together
Need to collect data to support current activities and identify emerging markets
International mobility – value of credential
Priorities and budgets
Need for measurable goals
Need to improve Canada’s ranking as destination for international students