Changes to the Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students
Edmonton, AB - The Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) is deeply concerned about the news regarding the Government of Alberta’s changing eligibility requirements for the province’s Student Grant for Full-Time Students. In particular, CAUS has noted the absence of communication around this eligibility shift, both to student advocacy organizations and to the individual students who rely on these funds.
“This lack of transparency, and it being communicated over the summer, means that the students impacted by this funding decision will be scrambling to cover costs, and have just a few weeks to do so,” said Samantha Scott, Chair of CAUS. “Now, some students may even have to reconsider their ability to attend post-secondary come September.”
While CAUS appreciates the commitment of the Ministry of Advanced Education in supporting lower-income students, the funding for such students should not come at the expense of other, slightly higher income students. The reality is that, given the current rate of inflation, ongoing tuition increases, and a rising cost of living, all Albertan students are being impacted by the issue of affordability. If the current $54.4 million grant is not enough to sustain the needs of all applicants, CAUS would request an expansion of funding, versus increased eligibility restrictions.
“Instead of pitting struggling students against students who are struggling just slightly less, why isn’t the Government of Alberta doing more to actively invest in our post-secondary system?” asked Tera Cardinal, Vice Chair of CAUS. “Our students, who are our province’s future, are a worthwhile investment. It’s disappointing to see funding decisions that indicate otherwise.”
“It is very disappointing that the UCP government would make this move without consulting students first,” said Nicole Schmidt, President of the University of Calgary Students’ Union. “This move makes a university education more difficult for low and middle income students. The UCP government has made massive cuts that increased tuition, eliminated the tuition tax credit, and increased student loan interest rates. As a result, education is less affordable for students and their families.”
Students at all levels of study will face the negative impacts of the altered eligibility requirements. “We have heard loud and clear from graduate students that they are struggling to afford their education with the rising inflation,” said Janmejay Rao, Co-Chair of ab-GPAC. “Further reductions in student aid will only amplify these struggles and serve as a barrier to obtaining graduate-level education.”
As students across the province prepare to return to school, CAUS hopes that the Ministry of Advanced Education will reconsider the decision to reduce the province’s Student Grant for Full-Time Students. And, given that the Government of Alberta has a $3.9 billion surplus, CAUS would instead like to see increased access to non-repayable grants for all students.
All Albertan students deserve the opportunity to access higher education, just as all Albertans deserve transparency and adequate communication from their respective government officials.
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The Alberta Graduate Provincial Advocacy Council (ab-GPAC) represents 20,000 graduate students across Alberta, with members including the Graduate Students’ Associations of The University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Athabasca University, and Concordia University of Edmonton.
The Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) represents the interests of over 140,000 undergraduate students at Athabasca University, MacEwan University, Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and the University of Lethbridge.
The University of Calgary Students’ Union represents over 26,000 undergraduate students.
For more information please contact:
CAUS
Alexandra Ages, Executive Director
ed@caus.net
ab-GPAC
Brandon Simmons, Executive Director
ed@abgpac.net