Tuition increases feared with impending release of provincial review

By LIAM CLARKE  

A provincial government review examining the financial sustainability of B.C.’s 25 public colleges and universities has created fear among faculty and students that tuition will increase.  

The provincial government knows that “the status quo is not sustainable,” and “tuition increases are explicitly on the table,” said Debi Herrera Lira, chairperson of the B.C. Federation of Students. “The government is considering asking students to pay more, while also refusing to commit to new public funding.” 

The federal government’s recent limits on international student study permits have reduced enrolment and revenue for many of B.C.’s post-secondary institutions. Langara’s projected deficit has doubled from $16 million to $32 million in the past six months, and 219 instructors have been laid off.  The provincial government launched a review to establish a plan to keep B.C.’s post-secondary system financially sustainable. 

Taking the lid off tuition

Herrera Lira said some post-secondary institutions have asked the provincial government to remove the two per cent annual tuition cap. 

Lifting the tuition cap will make higher education less accessible, said Niall Christie, a history instructor at Langara. 

 “If you create a situation where colleges and universities can charge whatever they want for tuition, we go back to a situation where education becomes increasingly available to only the financial elite,” Christie said. “What the higher education sector needs is more funding.” 

Sarah Warr, a first-year psychology student at Langara, said she came to Langara because it was cheaper than other schools.  

“I’m paying for my tuition myself. It won’t help if they make it more expensive than it needs to be,” said Warr.  

“I’d be pissed” if tuition at Langara was increased, said Bodhi Cutler, a second-year fine arts student at Langara. 

“I already feel like I don’t get enough resources for the amount of money that I pay,” Cutler said.  

Everything riding on the review results

The review will be delivered by Don Avison, former B.C. deputy minister and former board chair of Emily Carr University of Art + Design, by March 31. 

Jessie Sunner, minister of post-secondary education and future skills, said in an email to the Voice that she understands “the stress and anxiety” felt by students and faculty because of the review. “I want to reassure all our partners that our number one priority throughout this work is ensuring accessible education.” Sunner said. “We’re open to exploring different options and pathways to help bring stability back to the sector.”  

Domestic students to be burdened with the bill

With public institutions unable to rely so heavily on international students’ tuition fees, the financial burden will “absolutely” fall on domestic students said Korky Neufeld, post-secondary education critic for the Conservative Party of B.C. 

“Without that money, they’re going to have to close some programs and those domestic students will have to go elsewhere,” Neufeld said.  

Bernie Maroney, a business professor at Langara who will be laid off at the end of April, said he expects layoffs to continue and fears the cost of Langara’s deficits will ultimately fall on students. 

Maroney said there are instructors at Langara that have spent over 20 years in education have lost everything.  

The post-secondary review is the provincial government “covering their ass, that’s it.”  

“They’re going to come out with a bunch of blanket PR statements that justify them doing nothing.” Maroney said.