TORONTO, February 25, 1998 -- More students will be able to attend university, emerging with reduced levels of debt, thanks to yesterday's multi-faceted federal budget, York University President Dr. Lorna Marsden said today.

Marsden, who leads the country's third largest university, applauded the wide range of flexible initiatives announced in yesterday's budget -- from tax breaks, to grants, to the Millennium Scholarship Fund, to increased dollars for research granting agencies. She said students and faculty will benefit from the restoration of research dollars, especially at York University where teaching and research are inseparable.

"Students have been genuinely worried about being able to finance their education and pay back their loans, some while struggling to feed themselves and their families," said Marsden. "This important commitment recognizes not only the economic imperative of creating an educated labour force, it also signals an understanding of the social and personal significance of such an investment. I applaud the federal Government for responding so thoroughly to students," said Marsden.

She praised in particular the Government's decision to extend the initiatives to part-time and single-parent students, many of whom are enrolled in programs at York University's Atkinson College, a leader in part-time and adult education. She added that the restoration of the granting councils' funding is good news for York University, whose faculty members compete successfully for those dollars.

Marsden said she hopes the provincial Government will harmonize its student loan program with the federal Government. And as the Ontario Government prepares for its spring budget, Marsden said she is looking to it for some short-term debt relief for students, and more provincial research money.

"I am encouraged that the Ontario Minister of Education and Training is listening to our arguments, and I look forward to the restoration of our operating grants so we can recruit and retain award-winning faculty and provide the high quality education our students demand and deserve," said Marsden.

For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
sinem@yorku.ca
YU/016/98