Students concerned over possible tuition hikes at University of Ottawa
Posted May 19, 2022 08:06:04 PM.
International and out-of-province students might have to start emptying their pockets a bit more if they plan on attending the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
The University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) is warning students that a tuition hike is likely to take place for those two specific student groups. In a release, the UOSO says the increase is permitted by the provincial government's tuition guidelines that allow for a five per cent increase for out-of-province students, while international student tuition fees remain unregulated.
“With less and less funding to the post-secondary sector, aggressively clawing back at student financial aid, and setting us up for more and more tuition increases, our provincial government has once again failed students,” said Armaan Singh, UOSU president. “We need to organize, not just to elect a provincial government that will work for us, but also to send a clear message to the university against tuition increases.”
There was a tuition hike announced recently by the University of Toronto for out-of-province, international and graduate students.
“Out-of-province and international students already face many financial barriers to education, which have only been amplified over the course of the pandemic,” said Chelsey-Lynn Rousselle, UOSU advocacy commissioner. “As a New Brunswicker, I know this well. Raising tuition would only cause to further hinder students' academic careers and quality of life, and is frankly unacceptable.”
The UOSU noted the high cost of living and inflation rate as additional barriers for students to afford increased tuition fees. The union launched a campaign against the university to stop any tuition increases involving letters written to provost and vice-president of academic affairs at uOttawa, Jill Scott, to highlight the negative impacts the price hike would have for students.
The average tuition price for a Canadian undergraduate student has increased two-and-a-half times since 1990.
