UNB-SJ receives low marks by students in Globe and Mail feature

While the Telegraph Journal writes about students marching to save the Saint John campus, the Globe and Mail today included a feature that tells us another story. The University Report Card 2007 was included in todays newspaper. It is also available online here.

It surveyed students at Universities all across the country and graded them based on the responses. It also grouped them so that similar sized Universities were listed together.

The result? UNB-SJ received low marks when compared to similar sized Universities (under 4,000 students).

Some of the lower graded items include:

• Number of courses to choose from
• School spirit
• Assistance with locating part-time jobs to fund education
• Co-op/internship opportunities
• Career counselling services
• Career placement services
• Quality of the food available on campus

I want to see the University remain in the city; however, changes need to be made to make it better. Too much focus has been on marching to protest the education report, while issues like these, raised today by the national newspaper, are left alone. Doing nothing is not an option!

I believe the University needs to focus in on certain areas that we can do very well such as Business and Medicine. Courses and programs that are not being run to an above average quality should be removed. There shouldn’t be any average quality courses, what is the point, there are a number of other Universities, in this province alone, that could do the exact same thing. And why stop there? Work towards more focus areas such as a Pharmacy program. There isn’t a University in this province where you can earn your Pharmacy degree. Focus areas like this is what will keep people in our province and in our city.

Bring on the focus in areas where we can exceed average quality, enhance the reputation of the campus, and make a difference in this city. It’s all within reach when we start discussing the issues openly!