College tuition increases

Okanagan College is raising its tuition for both domestic and international students, the board decided Thursday.

Domestic student tuition will increase by two per cent in the coming school year, while international student tuition will rise by 5.9 per cent for courses in business, arts, science and English as a second language.

Tuition for all other programs for international students will rise by two per cent.

A two per cent tuition increase is the maximum allowed by the provincial government for domestic students, while there is no cap on tuition increases for international students, said Allan Coyle, Okanagan College spokesperson.

Last year, domestic tuition also increased by two per cent, while international tuition rose by five per cent.

For a domestic arts student taking five classes, the increase will amount to $33.42 per semester, rising to $1,704.73.

For an international student taking the same courses, the increase will amount to $382.91 per semester, rising to $6,872.91.

“The increase in tuition is one of the mechanisms we have to …support much-needed additional services,” said Okanagan College board chairman Chris Derickson.

The students’ union is calling for the college to use these tuition increases to increase support for students struggling financially and for those with mental-health issues.

The primary concern of the students’ union is the limited number of counsellors available for students, Jennifer Meyers, student council member, said Thursday.

There is currently one counsellor for every 3,670 students, or the equivalent of 1.6 full-time counsellors at the Kelowna campus.

The students’ union is calling for the number to increase to four full-time counsellors by 2020, or one counsellor for every 1,500 students.

“Right now, if someone is experiencing a mental-health emergency, they might have to wait two weeks before they can get in and talk to somebody,” said Meyers.

Requesting more counsellors is not a new issue for the students’ union.

Last January, the union made a presentation to the board, highlighting a report from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services that suggested more than two-thirds of students are dealing with mentalhealth issues.

“The board definitely seems earnest and seems as if they are listening and care about students, but it hasn’t translated into action yet, and we’re hoping this will be the year it does,” said Meyers.

“As part of the students’ union, it will be our intention to hold the school accountable so if they go ahead with these increases, the services we are requesting for students be implemented in a timely manner.”

The students’ union is also asking the board to address several issues affecting students’ financial well-being, including increasing access to affordable student housing and decreasing the cost of textbooks.

“In the Okanagan, the cost of living is a challenge for students,” said Meyers. “Between the fees increasing and the tuition increasing, that puts a lot of pressure on students.”

Derickson acknowledged the board has received requests for additional services by the students’ union.

“I know that administration is looking closely at how the college can address those,” he said.

The college budget will be finalized by the end of the month.