Provincial Overview

Postsecondary education in Saskatchewan is delivered through two publicly funded universities and their federated and affiliated colleges; the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), with institutes in four locations; eight regional colleges that broker programs offered by the universities and SIAST to communities throughout the province; the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies; the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC); and approximately 45 private vocational schools.

The University of Saskatchewan has one federated college -- St. Thomas More College -- and seven affiliates -- St. Andrew's College, the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Central Pentecostal College, St. Peter's College, the College of Emmanuel and St. Chad, Briercrest College, and the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research.

The University of Regina has three federated colleges -- Campion College, Luther College, and First Nations University of Canada (formerly known as the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College) and one affiliate -- the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research.

Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour is the provincial Ministry responsible for Saskatchewan's postsecondary education system, including adult learning.

History

The University of Saskatchewan, located in the city of Saskatoon, was established by an act of the provincial legislature in 1907, just two years after the province joined Confederation. In 1912, the university assumed responsibility for educational programs that previously were provided through the provincial Department of Agriculture.

The University of Regina, located in the city of Regina, was established as Regina College in 1911. The college became a constituent part of the University of Saskatchewan in 1934. It obtained degree-granting status as a separate institution in 1974.

Several other postsecondary institutions trace their histories to the early decades of this century. Luther College was founded in 1913, Campion College in 1917, and St. Thomas More in 1936. The Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, the only fully accredited First Nations-controlled university college in North America, was founded in 1976. In June 2003, the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College relocated to a new building and officially changed its name to the First Nations University of Canada.

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) was founded in 1976 to offer educational programs to First Nations adults through an academic partnership with SIAST. On July 1, 2000, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies Act was established to allow SIIT to design, establish, and provide courses and programs of study, instruction, and training in academic, applied, scientific, trade, technical, and vocational fields.

The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research (G.D.I.), the only wholly Métis owned and controlled educational institution of its kind in Canada, was established in 1980 to provide educational and cultural programming to the province's Métis and Non-status Indian populations. As the educational arm of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, the institute works cooperatively with a number of educational partners and is affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. The institute also has a federation agreement with SIAST to have its subsidiary, the Dumont Technical Institute (D.T.I), deliver adult basic education and skills training.

The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) was established by the provincial legislature in 1987 with an act that amalgamated four technical institutes, an advanced technology centre, and four urban community colleges. Today, SIAST's four campuses -- Kelsey Campus in Saskatoon, Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw, Wascana Campus in Regina, and Woodland Campus in Prince Albert -- offer a wide range of programs, including adult basic education, certificate and diploma programs, apprenticeship training programs, cooperative education, and customized training.

The province's eight regional colleges were formed in 1988, based on colleges originally formed in the 1970s and given the mandate to broker university and SIAST programs to communities throughout the province. Regional colleges also offer a wide array of non-credit programming and services such as literacy training, customized training for industry, and career counselling. Lakeland College (established under Alberta legislation) also provides education and training programs and services to Saskatchewan residents in the Lloydminster area.

The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) was established in 1999 to create a relevant, accessible, and responsive apprenticeship training and certification system to meet employers' and employees' needs and priorities. SATCC is responsible for managing and administering all apprenticeship training for apprentices in Saskatchewan. Apprenticeship technical training is delivered by SIAST, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, regional colleges, private vocational schools, SaskPower, the Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council, and out-of-province colleges.

Campus Saskatchewan was established in 2002, as a partnership of the province's postsecondary institutions with Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, to use technology-enhanced learning (TEL) to increase opportunities for people in Saskatchewan to access flexible, high quality education and training at times and in places that best meet their needs. Through Campus Saskatchewan, the postsecondary institutions coordinate development of courses and programs using TEL that respond to student demands and provincial economic and social needs. The Campus Saskatchewan partnership provides a forum for the institutions to work together to coordinate on-line and other services to support students. The partnership also reviews and revises institutional academic and administrative policies to make it easier for students to take courses delivered using alternative formats from more than one institution. The institutions also coordinate support for faculty developing TEL courses and resources through the Campus Saskatchewan partnership. The partners have created a Campus Saskatchewan Website that provides a one-stop location for information, announcements, and links related to technology-enhanced learning. The website houses a comprehensive directory of Saskatchewan postsecondary credit courses delivered in alternative formats, including on-line, televised, off-campus classes, independent studies, and other multimedia technologies.

Programs and Credentials Offered

Programs and Credentials Offered by Degree-Granting Institutions

The University of Saskatchewan offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. These include programs in the arts and sciences, agriculture, kinesiology, physical therapy, biotechnology, medicine, law, engineering, pharmacy, education, dentistry, commerce, and nursing. The university is also home to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, which serves all four Western Canadian provinces.

The University of Regina offers undergraduate degrees in arts, business administration, education, engineering, fine arts, journalism, computer science, the natural sciences, kinesiology and health sciences, and social work. The university also offers a number of graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels, as well as one- and two-year certificate programs in fields such as vocational education, visual arts, computer science, human justice, and social work.

For both universities, general arts and science degrees usually require four years of full-time study. Honours degrees, which require a higher concentration in the honours subject and a higher level of academic performance, are offered as well. This is also true of undergraduate degrees in specialized fields such as journalism, education, engineering, agriculture, commerce, nursing, and social work.

Students registered with the universities' federated colleges receive degrees from the parent university. Most of the affiliated colleges grant degrees in theology and divinity.

The First Nations University of Canada offers programs and services on three campuses: Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert (Northern Campus). Within the university, there are 10 academic departments and/or schools that offer a variety of programs and courses. The Northern Campus maintains the responsibility of coordinating and delivering community based and distance education programs. The Indigenous Centre for International Development (ICID) maintains international partnerships with other countries for university programming.

The university has increasingly moved into higher-cost professional programs in health and science. These have been developed in consultation with First Nation communities who identify areas of demand. The programs have often involved close collaboration with academic and government partners. In 1996, the National School of Dental Therapy program became part of the university. More recently, First nations University of Canada has delivered a degree nursing program in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan and SIAST.

The university has also begun to expand its range of graduate programs. These programs include a special case Masters program in Arts and Science, a First Nations Masters in Business Administration and a Masters of Aboriginal Social Work Program in Aboriginal Therapy.

Programs and Credentials Offered by Non-Degree-Granting Institutions

SIAST offers a broad range of career-oriented certificate and diploma programs in business and agriculture, the applied and visual arts, community services, construction, electronics, the environment, equipment operation, health sciences, hospitality, information systems, engineering technologies, laboratory technology, manufacturing, and mechanical servicing. In addition, the institute offers adult basic education, vocational training, customized training for industry, and various cooperative education programs.

SIAST diploma programs require two years of full-time study, while certificate programs are usually completed in one year. Some of SIAST's programs include a mandatory cooperative education component, where students spend 16 to 19 months in academic study and an additional 11 to 12 months engaged in paid work experience.

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) offers certificate and diploma programs in administration, business administration, Indian business management, local health administration, integrated resource management, integrated land management, automotive service technology, community health, and chemical dependency worker training. Certificate programs usually require 24 weeks to one year of full-time study. Diploma programs generally require two or three years of full-time study. The institute also offers various adult basic education and literacy programs.

In cooperation with the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, and SIAST, the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research and its subsidiaries offer certificate and diploma programs in Native human justice, Métis management, Métis social work, Métis entrepreneurship, chemical dependency worker training, adult basic education, vocational and preparatory programs, and the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP). Certificate programs can require one or two years of full-time study; diploma programs usually require two years of study. SUNTEP and the Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP) offer a four-year bachelor of education program for aboriginal teachers in cooperation with Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour and the two universities. Dumont Technical Institute (DTI) maintains a federation agreement with SIAST, which allows it to broker provincially and nationally accredited programming. DTI also delivers basic education courses and partners with SIIT and regional colleges in the delivery of other technical and community-based programs.

The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) manages apprenticeship training and trade certification for the 50 designated trades in Saskatchewan. Apprenticeship training varies by trade but is typically delivered over four years, including up to eight weeks of technical training sessions each year and on-the-job training provided by employers. At the end of the training period, apprentices write an examination and, if successful, receive a Journeyperson Certificate issued by ATCC.

The province's regional colleges broker programs and courses offered by SIAST and the universities to communities throughout the province.

There are 43 private vocational schools in Saskatchewan offering a broad array of employment-related training programs in areas such as business and computer skills, cosmetology and esthetics, fashion design, hospitality management, massage therapy, and radio and television broadcasting. Private vocational schools are privately owned and operated. For consumer protection purposes, legislation requires that the schools, along with their programs and instructional staff, be registered with Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour.

Through the Campus Saskatchewan partnership, the universities, SIAST, regional colleges, Métis and First Nations institutions, and the ministry also collaborate to provide an array of university and technical credit courses, as well as other postsecondary education and training opportunities by alternative means. These include courses offered on-line via the Internet both on- and off-campus, as well as televised and mixed mode courses, using the provincial satellite telecommunications infrastructure provided by the Saskatchewan Communication Network.

The universities and SIAST also offer independent home-study programs at a distance using one of a combination of print, video and audio tapes, Internet, and other communication media.

First- and second-year university courses, technical programs, and general interest, non-credit courses are delivered to communities throughout the province via the Saskatchewan Communication Network, a partnership involving the universities, SIAST, and the regional colleges. Off-campus instruction is provided through satellite communication, computer technologies, and independent study.

Under the province's Multimedia Learning Strategy, a Program Development and Support Fund encourages and supports collaborative efforts among educational institutions, educators, film and video producers, and software specialists to develop courses, learning materials, and support services for education and training. The Multimedia Learning Network builds upon the province's existing telecommunications infrastructure to facilitate province-wide access to education and training opportunities.

Admission Requirements

Secondary school includes grades 10 through 12. Complete secondary-level standing requires 24 credits, with each credit representing about 100 hours of classroom instruction.

The two universities require secondary-level standing for admission. Some programs require minimum grade point averages of 65 per cent or more.

Admission requirements for SIAST certificate and diploma programs vary from program to program but generally include secondary-level standing, with specific high school course requirements for some SIAST programs.

Although the majority of trades no longer require specific prerequisites to enter apprenticeship training, employers will indenture apprentices only if the individuals have the educational qualifications, skills, and aptitude needed to be successful in the trade. It is recommended that individuals who plan to enter apprenticeship training complete high school, since many of the trades require math, science, and communications.

Most of the province's postsecondary institutions have special provisions for mature students who have not completed high school.

Tuition and Financial Assistance

Tuition varies according to the courses that students choose. The average undergraduate tuition in 2007-08 was $4,474. The average cost of compulsory fees was $525. The average graduate tuition was $2,837.

In 1998-99, the universities fully implemented a differential fee structure for international students. For all undergraduate programs except dentistry, the University of Saskatchewan charges international students a differential fee which is 2.5 times the fee charged to Canadians and permanent residents. At the University of Regina, the differential fee for visa students is twice that charged to Canadians and permanent residents.

Tuition fees for SIAST programs in 2007-08 average approximately $3,026 but vary from program to program.

In July 2002, tuition fees were implemented for apprenticeship technical training. As of April 1, 2007, these fees were $30 per week.

Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour provides financial assistance to provincial residents through the Saskatchewan Student Loans Program, which complements the Canada Student Loans Program. Various scholarships are available to students of exceptional promise through the universities, SIAST, and private agencies.

January 25, 2008