U of R students' union concerned about effect of tuition hike on students
As an international student already paying more for her education compared to domestic students, Navjot Kaur says a 3.5 per cent tuition hike planned for the fall means students will have to work more to make ends meet.
“Students are here to focus on studies,” Kaur, president of the University of Regina's Students' Union, said Thursday. “They shouldn't be focused on making their ends meet and paying their tuition.”
In her second year of a master's degree in chemistry, she previously paid her way through part-time jobs, but now relies more on scholarships and work as a teaching assistant.
“It's a little load off for me and other graduate students, but for undergraduate students it's really a big issue,” Kaur said of the increase.
The increase was announced in a news release issued by the university Thursday, which provided highlights for the recently approved 2022-23 budget.
The increase is comparable to, “or in many cases lower than,” other western Canadian post-secondary institutions, the release said, adding it “continues to position the University of Regina midrange among Canadian universities in total cost to undergraduate students.”
When asked what message he has for students concerned with the increase especially after two years of a pandemic, vice-president of administration Dave Button said anything that may deter a student from getting their education is “front of mind” in all their decisions.
“The reality is it's an expensive business to take and operate and there is the balance between quality and price,” Button said.
“If you get too cheap, students wouldn't be happy with that either.”
The budget was approved late last week. It includes revenues of $245.3 million and expenditures of $248.7 million, resulting in a projected, “structural shortfall” of approximately $3.5 million.
“To manage the shortfall, the University will reduce base budgets in faculties, departments, and administrative units by an average of 2.7 per cent for the coming fiscal year,” the release said.
Button said reductions in all parts of administration total almost $5 million and noted there is no allocation next year to account for inflation.
He said the board focused on finding efficiencies rather than reducing services.
While most tuition rates are rising by 3.5 per cent, a handful of programs are facing much steeper hikes.
The master of public policy program is increasing 21 per cent, the PHD in public policy by 18 per cent and the master in public administration by six per cent. Button said the costs for those programs were “out of sync” and the increase brings them more in line with comparable programs.
When asked why freezing tuition, as URSU often calls for in rallies held on campus, isn't an option, Button again pointed to the need for balance.
“Freezing tuition or reducing tuition or eliminating tuition would all be an enviable stage,” he said.
“The reality as we see across the board whether it's governments, municipalities, universities, businesses (is) the cost of running the business, providing a quality service is going up.”
For those who feel burdened by the increase, he said the university excels in the area of bursaries and scholarships, which are targeted supports for those most in need.
He also noted a program introduced this year for international students that freezes costs for four years when a student is enrolled in a “bundle of services” ranging from bus passes and medical and dental, to food and living in residence.
But Kaur said not all students qualify for the program because it depends on your program and what services you're using.
“It would be a really bad impact on the students because they are already working a lot to make their ends meet,” Kaur said. “It would create a lot of stress.”
Kaur says URSU is reaching out to allies this summer, such as the faculty association, Urpride and more, to form a coalition for September.
“It is our hope that this coalition will provide a space for students, staff and community members on campus to work together to fight for our rights such as the lowering of tuition fees,” Kaur said.
Students who need help can also use the union's pantry and community fridge and apply for emergency bursaries. Visit ursu.ca for more information.