News Articles
Senate
Senate reviews U of G tuition recommendation
Senate was updated on the University's tuition fee proposal for 2008/2009 during its April 1 meeting. The tuition recommendation needs to be set in the context of the continued fiscal challenges facing U of G, president Alastair Summerlee and Brian Pettigrew, assistant vice-president (institutional research and planning), told members.
They said the University's budget was balanced last year using $14.3 million of one-time revenue which will not be available in the coming year. In addition, there is no additional revenue expected to cover inflation for 2008/09.
In an attempt to keep pace with costs and avoid quality erosion, the proposal is that domestic tuition be increased to the maximum allowed under the current framework. Even with the increases, U of G tuition will remain in the middle of the pack among comparable Ontario universities. The proposed tuition increases are:
- Entering undergraduate students, 4.5 per cent ($103 per semester),
- Entering undergraduate students, professional programs, eight per cent ($195 to $212 per semester),
- Continuing undergraduate students, four per cent ($91 per semester),
- Entering graduate students, eight per cent ($155 per semester),
- Continuing graduate students, four per cent ($78 per semester),
- International tuition increases will only affect entering students, and the fee increases will vary from zero to eight per cent, depending on the program.
Overall, the changes in domestic and international tuition fees are expected to generate about $3 million to $3.5 million in additional revenue.
Summerlee told Senate that the University is going to be considering various ways to increase revenue and reduce costs as it prepares its preliminary Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities 2008/2009 budget, which will be presented to the Board of Governor's in June. The tuition framework will go before the board during its April 16 meeting.
In other business, Senators discussed a policy for awarding academic credit for co-op education work experience. Senate approved the concept in principle; a detailed policy will be presented in the fall, with consideration for implementation to follow in fall 2009.
Senate also approved new bylaws and membership for the Senate Priorities and Planning Committee. The committee will facilitate the strategic directions for Senate and recommend priorities, with members including the president, provost, undergraduate and graduate students, the Council of Ontario Universities academic colleague and senators.
In addition, membership of the selection committee for the vice-president (research) was approved. Members are: Chris McKenna, CME dean; professors Andrew Gordon, Environmental Biology; Brian Husband, Integrative Biology; and Smaro Kamboureli, English and Theatre Studies; graduate student Michael Schumaker; staff member Mary Fowler of the Office of Research; and the dean of Graduate Studies or designate.
Senate also approved a mechanical engineering specialization, which will now be sent to the ministry for approval, and voted to phase out the joint PhD in resource and environment economics.