The operating budget for this academic year received far less than a seal of approval from Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) and attending students when the Board of Governors approved it on April 23.
Of the 32 board members, only four opposed the budget, including three students. Many students who were present and members of CUSA who stood at the back of the Senate Room cried out “shame” throughout the budget presentation, which included notable increases in tuition costs.
According to the budget report, the Ontario government’s tuition fee policy is “based on the principle that tuition fees may increase annually within specific limits and with the total tuition increase not to exceed five per cent.”
While the tuition fee increases follow this policy to its utmost limitations, exceptions to the rule remain. From first year to second year, undergraduate students in commerce and international business will see a 7.1 per cent increase in their tuition, while journalism students will see a 14.3 per cent increase, which contrasts with the standard four per cent increase from first to second year that most other undergraduate programs face.
The reason for these exceptions, according to the report, is that these particular programs have higher fees in their upper years and the proportionate fee difference between the years can be maintained, resulting in a higher tuition increase.
Tuition hikes for international students was another point of concern for students who attended the meeting. While most undergraduate and graduate international tuition fees rose by no more than eight per cent, new students enrolled in a master’s of business administration will see fee increases of 17 per cent.
Many students in the room felt that these increases represented the unwillingness of the administration to work alongside students in order to create a more representative budget.
“We don’t accept a dichotomy of students versus the administration,” said Erik Halliwell, president of CUSA. He said he thinks that more could be done on the side of the administration to relieve tuition hikes.
The recent release of the “Sunshine List,” an annual list published by the Ontario government of public employees whose annual salary is $100,000 or more, has students like Halliwell wondering if a portion of the administration’s salaries and benefits could be reallocated to students.
“If they cut some of their own benefits, it would represent symbolic support . . . it would show that the administration is willing to take pay cuts and tighten their belts,” he said.
Student board member Andrew Monkhouse has a different perspective. Monkhouse was the only student on the board who voted to approve the budget, and said he believes that the issues of tuition increase are complex.
“Everyone wants lower taxes and more services. All students would love to see lower tuition, but that might mean less access to [services], having larger class sizes and fewer professors,” said Monkhouse.
“There needs to be a balance there. I’m not saying that the university’s proposal was the best balance, but it was acceptable given the time and given the state of the economy.
We are in an extraordinarily difficult time right now,” he said.