Dental Education in Saskatchewan
Posted February 01, 1999
Tweet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 1, 1999
99-01-11-DE
U of S Board of Governors considers
new model for dental education
SASKATOON -- The University of Saskatchewan's Board of
Governors today considered a report that proposes a
new model for dental education in Saskatchewan. If
adopted, the model would provide a world-class dental
program for Saskatchewan residents; encourage
students to practice in Saskatchewan following
graduation; and foster financial stability for the College
of Dentistry.
The College of Dentistry admits 25 new students each
year. Under the new model, 10 of these students would
pay full cost tuition for their programs, at about $30,000
each. It is likely that these students would be recruited
from elsewhere in Canada or internationally. The College
has also proposed changing the current five-year
program to a four-year program, which would bring it in
line with dental programs offered elsewhere.
Fifteen spaces would be reserved for Saskatchewan
students. The University of Saskatchewan would
continue to cover over half of the cost of the program
for those students by providing bursaries of $17,225
each from its operating budget. The Government of
Saskatchewan would provide forgivable bursaries of
$5,000 per year for Saskatchewan students who chose
to remain and practice in the province after graduation.
Students who chose that option would therefore see
their total tuition payable reduced to $7,775 per year for
four years, or a total of $31,100, compared with the
current total of $28,500 ($5,704 per year for five years).
Currently the University of Saskatchewan's operating
budget covers 81% of the total cost of a dental student's
education, while the student pays 19% of the cost. Under
the new model, the student would pay 26% of the cost
of his or her education.
The proposed model will also permit some reinvestment
in the College of Dentistry to help strengthen and
enhance the quality of teaching, research, and clinical
service provided by the College.
For more information please contact:
Dr. Ken Sutherland, Dean
College of Dentistry
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5122
or
Dr. Michael Atkinson
Vice-President (Academic)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8484
The Business Plan and Future
Directions for the College of Dentistry
BACKGROUND
The report on The Business Plan and Future Directions for
the College of Dentistry, which was commissioned by the
College of Dentistry, springs from a decision made by
the University's Board of Governors in its April 1997
operating budget. At that time the Board was forced to
balance a zero percent increase to its operating grant
from the Provincial Government with increasing costs
caused by inflation and contractual obligations through
a combination of tuition increases, base budget
reductions, and increased revenue targets.
One of the measures of the 1997 budget was a
requirement for the College of Dentistry to reduce its
dependency on the University's operating budget by $1.5
million per year. The College of Dentistry is one of the
highest cost-per-student colleges at the U of S; it has
the lowest annual enrollment, even though each year it
has many more applicants than it can accommodate; and
no other academic programs at the U of S depend on it to
supply courses for their students.
In response to the Board's directive, the College
commissioned KPMG LLP Consulting to assist it in
developing a business plan. A steering committee to
develop the plan was struck and included representation
from the College of Dentistry's administration, faculty,
staff and students; central university administration;
the College of Medicine; and the College of Dental
Surgeons of Saskatchewan. This committee consulted
with other U of S colleges, other dental colleges in North
America, professional dental organizations, the
Saskatchewan departments of Health and Post-
Secondary Education and Skills Training in the
development of the plan, which took place in November
and December 1998.
The KPMG report outlines four options that were
considered for the future of the College of Dentistry. The
first was to maintain the status quo, which was
dismissed early on as untenable given the Board's
directive to increase the College's financial viability.
The second option was for a combination of cost-saving
measures and the recruitment of 15 international
students with tuition of $30,000 each. This option was
considered to leave the College vulnerable to economic
turmoil in other countries.
The third option is the one being considered by the Board
of Governors. Dubbed "collaborative enterprise" by
KPMG, this option combines the cost-efficiencies of the
second option with an increase in tuition for all
students, recruitment of 10 students from elsewhere in
Canada or internationally, introduction for
Saskatchewan students of University bursaries of
$17,225 that would help reduce the impact of tuition
increases, and a government bursary of $5,000 per
student per year for Saskatchewan residents, forgivable
if students choose to practice in Saskatchewan
following graduation. This option would provide for some
revenue to reinvest in the College to strengthen aspects
of teaching, research and clinical services.
The fourth option considered was an "opting out" of
responsibility for training dentists at the University of
Saskatchewan, relying on others with the capacity and
commitment to provide dental education to
Saskatchewan residents. This option was rejected
because the cost to Saskatchewan would include the
loss of the College's economic impact on the province,
the cost (less tuition) of preparing 11 to 13 dentists to
practice in Saskatchewan upon completion of their
education elsewhere, and the cost of closing the College
of Dentistry, including disposal of facilities and
allocation of faculty and staff.
