September 2, 2010
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$570/year fee approved by GFC
On Monday afternoon, the General Faculties Council approved a proposal that could see a $285 per term mandatory fee imposed on students beginning on May 1, 2010.
The new charge, called the Common Student Space, Sustainability, and Security Fee, is in response to the University of Alberta’s $59-million operating budget deficit for the 2010/11 school year.
The GFC is the governing body in charge of all academic and student affairs. It is chaired by President Samarasekera, and includes all faculty deans, University vice presidents, and student and staff representatives.
University Provost and Vice President (Academic) Carl Amrhein presented the proposal to GFC, arguing that it’s required to maintain quality levels and avoid hundreds of staff layoffs.
The fee would apply to all graduate students, and full-time undergraduates. Part-time undergraduate students would be on the hook for half the amount.
The administration estimates revenue from the fee to be $20 million.
The Board of Governors will have final say on the proposal in March. The fee will go through the GFC Academic Planning Committee and the Board Finance and Property Committee before the BOG considers its final approval.
“We’re disappointed with the outcome of today’s GFC meeting,” said SU President Zach Fentiman. “It’s starting to seem more and more like a bailout fee that’s being imposed on students.”
Glad to feel we're not alone
By Noah MillerOn the bright-side this may make U of C students feel, if only slightly, better. At least we know that we are not the only ones getting screwed.
Why isn't the SU protesting
By My Name HereWhy isn't the SU protesting the hell out of this? This is an ENORMOUS tuition increase that seems primarily designed to compensate for the administration's apparent inability to manage the University's endowment. I'm not sure how there can be ANY goodwill between students and the administration when their solution to the budget deficit is to impose a new fee without any substantial warning. Gotta love the ridiculous name too. I'd ask "how dumb do they think we are?" but the better question is "how apathetic can students get?"
“We’re disappointed with the
By Mike“We’re disappointed with the outcome of today’s GFC meeting,” said SU President Zach Fentiman. “It’s starting to seem more and more like a bailout fee that’s being imposed on students.”
He's kidding, right? "Starting to seem more"?
Presumably he meant "been quite transparently right from the beginning".
Where did you guys find this toothless hack?
It's worth noting that while
By MikeIt's worth noting that while Carl was making that presentation, he was earning about $35 per MINUTE in salary and benefits, or more per day than most students earn in a month.
Just imagine what we'd be paying the senior administration if they HADN'T managed us into $60 million deficit.
We have a Facebook group!
By AndreaFor anyone interested in this issue, staying updated on news as it comes out and showing support in general, please join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=280223218933&ref=nf
It just takes one click to show your support. Thank you!
How many student knows about
By by the name of justHow many student knows about it? I hope it is not too late before they know about it.
We get to choose to vote on a
By DOUBLE YEW TEE EFFWe get to choose to vote on a $7.50 fee. We don't get a voice in this. What the fuck. They might as well name it "We Can't Plan For Shit, So Fuck The Students" Fee. And what fucking nerve do they have awarding themselves bonuses? We've TRIED peaceful protest, as evidenced by our huge gathering last year. Anything short of burning down a building probably will get us nowhere. Anyone feel like pulling a York? "Common Student Space, Sustainability, and Security Fee"... The fuck does that mean? If they're imposing this shit on us, I want to know where every fucking penny goes... See if it lives up to the damn name.
There are students who live
By Tuition and food dilemmaThere are students who live on foodbank already. Forcing them to pay $570 starves the students! Many would have no choice but to quit school and find a job. It's sad that university education becomes too expensive that we can no longer afford it.
quodcumque est carus
By Whatsoever is expensiveI think the UofA is indeed following the motto "quodcumque est carus" - Whatsoever is expensive.
This is gay
By This is a load of shitWhat the fuck??!?!? Seriously, we broke-ass students already pay so much for education. On top of that, the teaching quality of some profs aint even good to begin with. These people need to get their fucking act together and stop scapegoating the innocent students. This fee should be called, "Screwing students because of imcompetent Shitheads Fee"
Going on the rice diet
By MichaelThere are probably hundreds of individuals who can be blamed for this. I really, really, REALLY, hope that this money doesn't go to a few buckets of paint and a garbage can, otherwise this charge can go expletive itself.
Growing the Gap
By saddened studentIn my opinion, a very unfortunate outcome of this fee will be that low income students will be unable to attend postsecondary. I feel like university should be a place dedicated to giving all students a chance to advance themselves, especially in a democratic society such as ours. Instead, this allows those with higher income families to put themselves farther ahead, while deserving students from lower income households are left to scrounge for other jobs. This disappoints me immensely. Why should deserving students be priced out simply because they have smaller bank accounts?
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