THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN’S MAIN CAMPUS IS SITUATED ON TREATY 6 TERRITORY AND THE HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS.
Everyone likes to think their college and degree of choice is better than everyone else’s, but does this translate to a hierarchy between colleges at the University of Saskatchewan? More than a question of funding and administrative priorities, I wanted to know what students’ attitudes are towards each other, their own college and other colleges. This can tell us a lot about the sense — or lack of — community on campus. It seems there is no general consensus as to a hierarchy; some students see one, others do not. But predictably, most students value their own educational choice above others. Here’s what students answered to the question of whether or not a hierarchy exists between colleges on campus.
Sarah Ledoux. Age 23.College of Education, elementary program. Third year.
“I think that in some ways a lot of people consider the arts program to be the very bottom of the scale and a lot of science departments to be the upper end of the scale, and then everyone else falls in between.”
“A lot of people consider the education program to be sub-par, like a professional college but almost — just barely. If you’re in education — and even if you’re planning on being a high school math teacher — it’s still like, ‘Oh you couldn’t cut it in the professional world, so you chose education.”
College of Engineering, chemical engineering. Second year.
“I’d say yeah, there is. I know that in engineering we usually beak arts and science students, so I would say that there is. I’d say engineering is definitely better than agriculture. I know there’s a rivalry between agriculture and engineering students, but as for the main reason under it, I’m not really sure why.”
College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, pharmacy. First year.
“I think different colleges are more prestigious. There’s always the big buzz about being in medicine — even I look up to people who are in medicine. But I don’t think anyone’s better than anyone else is.”
NZ: If you had to put pharmacy and nutrition in a hierarchy of colleges from top to bottom, where would you put it?
“I would say it would be kind of with physiotherapy — I think it’s great, but it would be better than your typical arts and sciences, just because you have to go through a whole application process and we’re hand-picked. So I would say it’s on the upper end.”
College of Arts and Science, music. Fourth year.
“I think so. I used to be in the College of Engineering and then I transferred here. I would definitely say it has something to do with workload and then secondly, what kind of job you’re going to get out of it. I feel like those that do have a higher workload tend to feel that they are higher up because they have to put so much more in to get their degree. Apart from that, it seems like everyone else is at a level playing field.”
College of Arts and Science, biology. Second year.
“I absolutely do — for sure. I think that medicine and law are right up there and then it just goes down and down and down. I think it’s based mainly on salary, what your end profession will be and the time dedicated. I know that law is quite a lengthy degree to get and medicine is as well, whereas arts and science only takes three or four years.”
College of Law. Third year.
“Probably to an extent. If we’re talking about hierarchy amongst professional colleges, it might be different than just generally speaking. Probably all the professional colleges see themselves above [others]. I’m an arts and science grad and I really value arts and science education, but I spent a lot of time defending myself in what I studied because a lot of people just didn’t see the value in an arts and science education.”
College of Arts and Science, political studies. Third year.
“I think that in general, arts and science is not undervalued as a college, but people forget that a good portion — or a disproportionate — operating cost of the university is paid for through revenue from arts and science tuition. I think it’s good for people to realize that and to appreciate the contribution of tuition that comes from the College of Arts and Science.”
College of Medicine. Second year.
“Yeah I think one does exist. Through administration it’s fairly equal, but some programs are more important to the university title-wise. Because of that, university has sort of turned into a business because colleges and universities are known for certain programs. But on an administration level, I don’t feel medical students or dentistry students get special privileges over anybody else. We’re still the same student body-wise and admin-wise — we’re all treated the same. There may be some attitudes within students, but that’s very individualized.”
College of Agriculture, animal biosciences. First year.
“Yes, definitely. From Facebook page posts and USask Confessions you kind of hear more about engineers or lawyers as part of this whole hierarchy.”
NZ: If you had to put agriculture in a hierarchy of colleges from top to bottom, where would you put it?
“I’d say pretty high up because of the funds we get and the building we have compared to other colleges — especially being in Saskatchewan.
College of Kinesiology. Second year.
“I think people think there’s a hierarchy. My opinion is that there isn’t. Everyone does their own thing and goes for the degree that they want. Obviously some people feel that their degree is better because it’s what they enjoy, but I think it’s kind of an imaginary thing. I don’t think less of anyone by the degree or college they choose.”
Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Third year.
“Honestly, coming from the vet college, we tend to stay over here and don’t have a lot to do with the other colleges aside from extracurricular activities or some of the professional colleges. Other than that, I couldn’t really give you a valid opinion on it. It’s definitely isolated.”
Edwards School of Business, management. Fourth year.
“No, I do not feel there is a hierarchy. I feel like the colleges are mostly secluded from each other. I don’t feel I’m more prestigious because I’m in Edwards, but you don’t really talk with the engineers much or it seems like everybody’s in their own world, so I don’t really see it as a hierarchy.”
NZ: Do you think the separation is a bad thing?
“Yes… Because if there ever was that hierarchical sense, then it’s really easy to feel that way if you don’t talk to people from other colleges. It’s kind of like when you’re in high school and you’re like, ‘Aw those kids from that school over there, I hate them!’ But then you get to know them and you like them.”
The determining factor in who is better seems to boil down to one thing — money. Whether it’s the salary expected post graduation, the profession a student will directly enter after they complete their degree or where colleges get funding from outside of the university, much of the debate is centered around financial capabilities and post-grad income. And then of course, there’s the classic distinction between the humble humanities and the lowly arts fitting below the superior sciences — or the distinction some students made between “professional” colleges and everyone else. Coming from the arts side of the College of Arts and Science myself, I have to say that perhaps there is an assumed hierarchy, but when it comes down to it, nobody is guaranteed anything after graduation and neither are they inferior or more prestigious for their education choice. If university is about studying what you enjoy, then ranking peoples’ interests is far too subjective and doesn’t contribute to a sense of campus community at all.
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Naomi Zurevinski / Opinions Editor
Photos: Katherine Fedoroff / Photo Editor
