POST-SECONDARY CUTS WILL HARM QUALITY AND SERVICES

STUDENTS FEAR DRASTIC TUITION INCREASES

October 24, 2019 Edmonton, AB – Alberta’s university students are disappointed the Government of Alberta reversed its commitment to support accessible post-secondary education and is cutting post-secondary funding. The Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) calls on the United Conservative Government to keep their previous promises and protect the quality and accessibility of Alberta's universities.

“The government committed to support ‘post-secondary education as critical to both Alberta’s future economy and to a vibrant Alberta’,” said Sadiya Nazir, CAUS Chair. “Cuts to funding for these institutions that impact the quality of instruction or student supports outside of the classroom should be a last resort.”

Students fear budget cuts could lead to further deferrals in infrastructure maintenance and limit future campus improvements. Students are especially concerned that budget cuts will lead to the cancellation or reduction in the quality of services, such as mental health supports or sexual violence prevention programs currently available on campuses, and be the catalyst to change the legislated tuition policy.

“Students are concerned the government's next step will be to remove the controls on tuition from the Post-secondary Learning Act,” stated Bailey Harray, CAUS Vice-Chair. “The current framework ensures tuition remains affordable and predictable for students. Deregulation means returning to a time when students were not protected from unpredictable and drastic increases to the cost of their education.”

CAUS represents over 100,000 undergraduate students from the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge, Mount Royal University, and MacEwan University.

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