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Campus Bulletin

March 24, 2006

Tuition Rates Proposed

The University has released its proposed multi-year framework for tuition rates beginning in the 2006/2007 academic year. As reported previously in At Guelph, U of G anticipates a gap of about $8.7 million between expenditures and expected revenues in its preliminary 2006/2007 operating budget.

In order to help address this shortfall, the University has determined that additional revenues from the tuition increases will be needed to help close the gap. President Alastair Summerlee met with the Student Budget Advisory Group March 22 to discuss the proposal. The new fees will be included in the University’s preliminary budget, which will be presented to Board of Governors.

U of G’s fees reflect the new framework for setting tuition that was unveiled by the provincial government March 9. Currently, tuition fees at Guelph are, on average, lower than those at other Ontario universities.

Proposed Tuition Increases
Domestic
• Entering undergraduate students, 4.5 per cent ($94 per semester)
• Entering undergraduate students, special programs: 8 per cent ($168 to $182 per semester)
• Continuing undergraduate students, 4 per cent ($84 per semester)
• Entering graduate students, 4.5 per cent ($77 per semester)
• Continuing graduate students, 4 per cent ($69 per semester)

International
Tuition fees for all currently registered international students will be frozen for the remainder of their program. From 2006/07 onwards, the University will introduce a program fee for all international students so they will know before they accept an offer at Guelph, the total cost of tuition for the normal duration of their program.

The new fees will be similar to international fees at other Ontario universities. This will mean a significant increase in tuition fees, but it will only apply to new, entering students. The proposed fee increase for entering undergraduate international students will be $2,000 per semester for regular programs and $2,500 per semester for professional programs. The increase for entering international graduate students will be $1,333 per semester for all programs.

Overall, the changes in domestic and international tuition fees are expected to generate an additional $3.7 million in revenue. Summerlee had said earlier that, given the current budget situation, the University would be hard-pressed not to increase tuition to the new allowed maximum for provincially regulated programs.

The government has also announced significant changes to student financial aid programs, including extending eligibility for Access Grants, which are aimed at helping lower-income students access postsecondary education. This will mean more money and improved access, but it’s not clear how this financial aid will work or how many U of G students will benefit.

The University is currently reviewing these changes and will combine the impact of the government’s announcement with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on Accessibility to University Education and seek to direct financial aid to support students who have not been eligible for such aid in the past, and seek to support graduate students and international students who will be affected by the proposed increases in tuition for next year.

Opportunities for public discussion on all components of the University’s budget will continue March 31 at two town hall meetings, April 4 and April 11 at Senate and April 19 at a special open forum the night before the B of G meeting. In addition, the location of the April 20 B of G meeting will be changed to accommodate a larger audience.