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J3 }% i/ P# }% r$ vDecember 1, 2004 – University of Alberta administrators met with international students yesterday to hear some of their concerns about the proposed increase to international differential fees that would constitute a 23.5 per cent jump in tuition. h/ ?9 ^' e! c0 L
3 `: V. q. E; x; LU of A Provost and Vice President (Academic) Dr. Carl Amrhein, Vice President (Finance) Phyllis Clark and other administrators attended two “town hall” meetings – one at Myer Horowitz Theatre and one in the university Senate chambers – set up to allow international students to voice concerns about the proposed hike. Though he expressed sympathy for the students’ concerns, Amrhein remained adamant about the necessity of the proposed increase, noting that all students are going to see their tuition rise next year. 5 g/ i) ^# m+ e
N. `# N, r# y2 s. G1 O“Why are we proposing an increase?” Amrhein said in his opening remarks. “The simple answer is we have a budget deficit, we’ve had a budget deficit for the last few years, we have made all the reasonable assumptions about government revenue, we have made all the reasonable assumptions about other revenue sources, and yet we persist in having a budget deficit, so the administration is looking for new revenue streams.”
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) |) k) l! C5 l4 MAmrhein cited “spectacular” increases in energy and insurance costs, among others, contributing to the university’s revenue shortfall, and that this shortfall is causing an erosion of the tenure-stream professoriate. Last year, the university was forced to eliminate 50 professorial positions, despite an increase to parking fees, the introduction of an application fee, and internal cost-containment measures that yielded $18 million in savings, he said.
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4 O9 R9 h) e1 c7 q# eHe added that the increases to domestic tuition and the international differential rate conform with guidelines set by the Alberta government.
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For a full-time international undergraduate student, the proposed differential change would mean an annual increase from $11,660 to $14,394 for tuition. Graduate students would see their annual tuition increase from $6,384 to $7,884. While some graduate students can offset their expenses with teaching assistant and research assistant jobs, undergrads are only allowed to work on campus and are not eligible for student loans.
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" U1 h* Y, @9 V7 q" rMany of the students at the undergrad town hall questioned the decision to impose the proposed rate increase all at once.
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“We’re proposing to do this in one step for a couple of reasons,” Amrhein said. “I do not believe in grandfathering – we do not grandfather any other students from tuition increases. I believe the issue is not so much what we charge, but what you pay based on your ability to pay. By doing it in one step, we can create substantial new sums of funding for bursaries or scholarships, so that those of you who have limited or no ability to pay, you might see the entire amount alleviated through bursaries or scholarships.” ) H$ ]6 m. N* H- x6 t! d
* N; c' c7 @) o: @" A! M" }$ Z7 TReception to Amrhein’s explanations was generally civil, but some reactions were tinged with frustration.
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Amrhein responded that the university has been petitioning the federal government to change its policy on allowing international students to work off campus, and is investigating the statutory amendments and capacity limitations of co-op programs. He pointedly denied insinuations that international students are less valued by U of A administration than other students. 8 `0 A# U5 q" c; [# E) m/ K% a
% F# }; W0 I, f1 X$ f“My model of an internationally significant teaching and research university is one in which there is a large population of international students,” Amrhein said. “The value of international students is something I have promoted my entire academic career, and I expect to do so in the years to come.” , g O( H) P1 B2 S
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The university is also proposing a 5.75 per cent increase in tuition for Canadian students, raising average annual fees from $4,537 to $4,798 for undergraduates and from $3,192 to $3,376 for graduate students. A final decision on the proposals will be made at the Jan. 14 Board of Governors meeting. |
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发表于 2004-12-5 15:34
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