Rise in fees finalized

International students face an 80 per cent increase in deferential fees

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

In a meeting on May 23, the University of Manitoba’s board of governors finalized the 2006-2007 operating budget which includes an 80 per cent increase in tuition for all international students, as well as a $100 increase in fees for the rest of the student population. International students will now pay 180 per cent of what other students pay in tuition.

Despite the province’s contribution of an extra $60 million to Manitoba universities and colleges over the next three years, the University of Manitoba administration says it was still forced to raise tuition and other student fees.

John Danakas, director of communications at the U of M, explained that the funding received from the province is very welcome, and that the three-year commitment the government is making towards higher education is something new and very good to see. However, Danakas says the increased funding is still not enough.

“Because of years of under-funding, because of years of rising costs, the University certainly cannot sustain its infrastructure, and cannot, never mind improve, but maintain its programs and services at current levels,” he said.

When asked about the provincial government’s financial contribution, advanced education minister Diane McGifford commented on the province’s commitment to education and the need for greater federal funding.

“We want education to be accessible and affordable to our students, so I think generous funding is necessary to the institution. We just wish the feds would come on board and pay their share,” said McGifford.

To find the extra money the U of M administration says it needs, the university turned to raising ancillary fees, as well as raising tuition fees for international students, who are not covered under the tuition freeze. Other financial options were presented to the board, such as raising every student’s fees by $250. However, according to Danakas, this amount was too high.

“The information that we had coming back to us from the province was that the limit that was acceptable would be $100,” he said.

Danakas said that the amount available to international students in bursaries has increased from $60,000 to $200,000. McGifford also mentioned the fact that an international student officer has been hired out of the extra revenue to make any transitions to Manitoba easier, and also to encourage students to work off-campus and immerse themselves in the community.

“That’s part of the internationalization or globalization of education,” she said.

UMSU president Garry Sran expressed concern with the final decision and doesn’t think the extra tutition and ancillary fees are necessary. He said that the money raised from these fee increases will not go towards beneficial services for students.

“We can outline various spending amounts, such as [promotional] spending in the Globe and Mail . . . that are, to us, not justified [and] do [not] do anything to the quality of our education,” he said.

Sran also questioned what he sees as a lack of openness in the way board of governors meetings are conducted.

“What we’ve seen is, not only have these budget meetings become more closed and more confidential, they’ve also been pushed towards the summer,” Sran said. “Time and time again we’ve wanted more and more open process, but what we usually notice is that students have been shut out of the process,” Sran added.

When asked whether or not he thinks the university will lose students due to the current increases Sran said, “I would say we’ll see an effect.”

The $100 ancillary fee increase can be broken down into three areas; $35 is allotted for libraries, $35 for registration and $30 for student services. Sran also questioned whether these amounts will be dispersed to their designated areas. He believes the $100 fee will be put into general revenue and will not directly correlate with what the university says the money is for.

Danakas argued that the $100 from each student is, in fact, going to serve the area it is designated to.

“We’ve seen a lot of increasing costs, like library acquisitions, for example, [and] registration costs with the new systems that are now active for registration, so there are additional costs in those areas. The money raised in those areas is used for those areas,” Danakas stated.

Danakas and McGifford both said that the University of Manitoba is still an affordable institution.

Sran disagrees: “I wouldn’t say we’re affordable. Everyone else is just more expensive.”