Alberta extends post-secondary tuition freeze

The Alberta government is extending a tuition freeze for post-secondary students by another year as it continues a thorough review.

The extension means there will be no increase in tuition or fees at universities, colleges and technical schools through the 2017-18 academic year.

“This review will ensure a longterm solution to keep education accessible and affordable for Albertans,” Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt stated in a news release. Last fall, the NDP reversed a cut that had been announced by the previous Tory government and instead increased base funding by $40 million. Post-secondary schools had mixed reactions to the announcement of the continued tuition freeze.

“We understand the decision of the government in terms of extending the tuition freeze in this economic climate and the benefit of that decision for our students,” Mount Royal University president David Docherty said in a statement. “However, it is important to recognize that our costs for providing quality programs and services to students continue to rise.”

He noted that the government has been consistent in providing operating funds to compensate for the tuition freeze and accommodate rising costs.

“We hope that the government will continue this compensation program over the third year of the freeze,” said Docherty.

Both the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta agreed that it’s important to have stable funding.

“Predictable and sustainable funding is critical to the long-term success of Alberta’s post-secondary institutions and students,” U of A president David Turpin said in a news release.

“We look forward to continuing our work with government and students in developing a funding model that will ensure the highquality education that Albertans expect and deserve.”

Elizabeth Cannon, president of the U of C, added that they welcome the public consultations reviewing the tuition and fee model in Alberta over the coming year.

“As revenue from tuition represents approximately 27 per cent of our operating budget, this is a significant issue for the University of Calgary,” she said in a statement.

“As costs on campus continue to rise, it is increasingly important that we work together to preserve our ability to provide the educational options that Albertans expect.”

Student organizations, meanwhile, were pleased with the freeze being extended.

“The extension of the tuition freeze is definitely a good first step for students to find a really permanent solution toward tuition,” said Tristan Bray, vice-president of external relations with the U of C Students’ Union. “As students, we’re really excited that the government is going to be doing a more thorough review of what tuition looks like in the province.

“Promises for consultation really are going to enable us as students to have our voices heard.”

The government says an estimated 250,000 full- and part-time students and apprentices will save a total of about $16 million a year through the freeze.

Wes Taylor, education critic for the Opposition Wildrose, said students will end up paying more as universities look to make up their shortfalls once the freeze is lifted.

“The NDP is taking a short-sighted approach to an issue that needs a long-term, fiscally sustainable solution,” Taylor said in a news release.