UNIVERSITY OF REGINA. Tuition and fees

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY OF REGINA Tuition and fees The following tuition and fee changes will be effective September 1, 2017: Tuition for all undergraduate credit hours will be increased by 2.5%, rounded to the nearest 0.25; Tuition for master s and PhD students will be increased by 2.5%, rounded to the nearest 0.25, Tuition for courses in the certificate programs in the Centre for Continuing Studies will be increased by 2.5%; The Co-op Fee will be increased by 2.5%; The Recreation and Athletic Fee will be increased by 2.5%; and The Graduate International Surcharge will be increased from 1,100 per term by 2.5% to 1, per term. Background The recommended increases fall within the context of the operating budget recommended in the Comprehensive Budget Plan for They conform to the tuition policy adopted by the University s Board of Governors in July 2014: GOV html. The general increase in tuition of 2.5% is reduced from the 3.8% general increase in each of the past three years. The recommended tuition rates are set out in Tables 1 and 2 that follow. Table 1: Proposed Undergraduate Tuition, September 2017 ( per credit hour) Faculty Fall/Winter Fall/Winter Increase Arts % Business Administration % Continuing Education % Education % Engineering & App. Science % MAP % Kinesiology % Nursing % Science % Social Work %

2 Table 2: Proposed Graduate Tuition, September 2017 ( per credit hour unless noted) Program Fall/Winter Fall/Winter Increase MA, MSc, MASc, MENG-1, etc % MN, MEng-2, MJ % PhD (per term) 1, , % MBA, MHRM, MAL % MBA International % MBA with Specialization 1, , % EMBA (program) new entrants 49,203 50, % Post-Grad Dip in Bus. Foundations % MPA (old program: 10 courses) % MPA (new program: 12 courses) % MHA % MPP, JSGS PhD (per term) , % Tuition in the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School (JSGS) The proposed tuition rates for the JSGS programs continue the agreed alignment of University of Regina JSGS program tuition rates with those for JSGS at the University of Saskatchewan, which has already set its rates. International Fees No change is proposed in the undergraduate international differential multiplier (3.0). The rate is unchanged since The dollar amount for undergraduate tuition for international students automatically increases as domestic undergraduate tuition increases. The graduate international surcharge is charged on a per term basis. The increase to 1, is exactly 2.50% Revenue from international students contributes to the operations of UR International, the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Student Affairs, and other offices. It makes possible services that are key to the retention and academic success of international students, both undergraduate and graduate. These services include orientation, peer advising, language coaching and support, study assistance and tutoring, and more. Recreation and Athletic Fee The revenue generated from this fee is used solely for athletic and recreation purposes. The fee increase to per term is a 2.54% increase. It is the only universal mandatory fee charged to students by the University. 2

3 Tuition policy The Board of Governors tuition policy (see link on page 1) has been referenced in arriving at the approved changes. 1. The recommended Comprehensive Budget Plan for describes in detail: a. The revenue available to the university s operating budget for including provincial and federal government grants, recoveries, interest income, and tuition and fees; b. The efforts made in the budget with respect to cost reduction and high-priority reinvestments; and c. How the recommended tuition increases are necessary to produce a balanced operating budget. 2. Analysis by Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) has concluded that Canada spends as much on non-repayable aid as its PSE institutions collect in tuition fees for domestic students meaning, in net terms, that Canadian students pay, on average, zero tuition ( April 22, 2014). In other words, the total of student aid loan remissions, student aid grants, tuition rebates or discounts, tax credits, the Canada Education Savings Grant, the Canada Learning Bond, First Nations Band funding for post-secondary education, and institution scholarships and bursaries is almost exactly the tuition paid by Canadian university and college students. a. The proposed operating budget for decreases the level of financial assistance provided from operating funds for University of Regina students by 262,000 compared to the spending. This reduction is primarily the result of the 476,000 cut in funding to the University from the provincial government for Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunities Scholarships. However, the Comprehensive Budget Plan for includes the use of one-time funds from the fiscal year to backfill this loss in scholarship funding for , recognizing that much of the expected funding has already been awarded to students. In addition, the proposed operating budget provides for increased expenditures for athletic scholarships and awards (140,000), graduate scholarships (3,000), and base-budget funding to match URSU s support for the World University Service of Canada assistance for refugee students (100,000). b. According to the most recently available data from Statistics Canada, the University of Regina, at 32%, ranks very high among Canadian comprehensive universities in total scholarship funding (from all sources) provided to its students as a percentage of tuition and student fee revenue (See Chart 1). Only Memorial University, which has significantly lower tuition levels, has a percentage above 32%. The U of R provision is well above the average for Canadian comprehensive universities (20%) and consistent with the percentage at the University of Saskatchewan (32%) which is included in the chart for comparison purposes, although it is not classified as a comprehensive university. 3

4 Chart 1: Total Scholarships as a Percentage of Tuition and Fees among Comprehensive Universities, % 43% 40% 35% 32% 32% 32% 30% 27% 25% 25% 20% 15% 12% 13% 13% 14% 14% 14% 15% 17% 17% 18% 20% 10% 5% 0% Source: CAUBO: Financial Information of Universities and Colleges, Notes: Federated colleges not included. Average is for Maclean s Comprehensive Universities only and thus does not include the U of S in the calculation. Approximately 39% of the U of R s student financial assistance comes from the operating budget, 44% from special purpose and trust funds (donations and endowments), and 17% from research funds. The Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship (SAS) program, funded by the Government of Saskatchewan, provides an immediate tuition discount of 500 to any University of Regina student who graduated since January 2012 from a Saskatchewan high school and who takes one or more credit courses, undergraduate or graduate, to a lifetime maximum of 2,000. For example, eligible undergraduate students in Arts who are taking a full load of courses will receive a 7.9% reduction in tuition as a result of the SAS program. They will be paying only 100 more in net tuition in than they would have paid in without this program, a 1.7% total increase over three years. The SAS program is expected to provide U of R students 3.0 million in tuition discounts in

5 The Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship (SIOS) funding, although decreased, will still make available 770,000 to University of Regina students in To satisfy the SIOS program requirements, these funds from the Government of Saskatchewan will be more than matched by awards from donors and endowments. For the University will backfill the reduction in provincial SIOS funding. Students who receive a University of Regina undergraduate degree and who remain in the province are also eligible under the province s Graduate Retention Program for tax credits of up to 20,000 in tuition costs over ten years after graduation. c. Last year s federal budget included a major reorganization of post-secondary student assistance. The Canada Student Grants were increased by 50%, an increase of 1,000 per year for low income students, 400 for middle income students, and 600 for eligible parttime students. The budget also announced plans over the next four years to smooth the transition between low and middle income funding levels and expand the eligibility of the Canada Student Grants program to more middle income students. (This increase in grant levels is being funded in part by the elimination of the education and textbook tax credits, but not the tuition tax credit.) The 2016 federal budget also included changes benefiting student loan borrowers who experience difficulties with debt repayment, increasing the threshold annual income under which no repayment is required from 20,000 to 25,000, and reducing the payment amount for those with incomes between 25,000 and 60,000. This year s 2017 federal budget included further improvements to the Canada Student Loans program, with improved support for part-time students (17 million per year) and students with dependents (29.3 million), as well as a pilot project to support adult students returning to post-secondary education (287.3 million over three years). These changes are targeted for More immediately, the 2017 federal budget provides 50 million per year in funding support for First Nations students, an increase of more than 14%, for the next two years. There is also increased funding for Youth Employment programming and for Mitacs to fund Work-Integrated Learning placements for graduate students. The 2017 Saskatchewan budget also included improvements to the student aid program: a new system of up-front grants, in amounts up to 1,000, student and family income. Also, students assessed contribution to their educational costs will move to a fixed contribution student and family income in the previous year so that students may work and not have a reduction in their financial assistance because of income earned during the year. d. A 2015 survey of U of R undergraduate students about to graduate found that 49% of the respondents reported having no education-related debt. This compares to 44% in the 2012 survey. The average debt for all graduating undergraduates was 14,085. Chart 2 shows the average debt (adjusting for inflation) reported by University of Regina graduating students (including those who report no debt) increased from 2006 to 2009 before dropping considerably in 2012 and further in In part, the decrease appears to 5

6 be related to lower levels of government student loans, as there was a considerable drop in reported debt from this source in 2012 compared to For 2015, University of Regina graduating students reported an increase in student loan debt; all other commonly cited sources of debt remained steady or continued to decline, as did the overall average. The declining levels of debt seen from 2009 onward may reflect students choosing to work more while attending university, as well as the new provincial scholarship programs and the increasing assistance from the University. The graduating student survey will be repeated in A recently released report of a survey of all 2014 graduates from post-secondary programs in Saskatchewan conducted by the Ministry of Advanced Education shows very similar results for U of R graduates. Chart 2 Average Debt Among University of Regina Graduating Students: (Constant ) 22,000 20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2, Government student loans Loans from parents and family Loans from financial institutions Total debt e. A recent study by Statistics Canada found that individuals who have a bachelor's degree or a college certificate have more favourable labour market outcomes over their working lives than individuals who have only a high school diploma. More specifically, the earnings premium associated with a bachelor's degree over the 20-year period (from their mid-30s to their mid-50s) ranges, on average, from 728,000 for men to 442,000 for women. For a college certificate, the premium is 248,000 for men and 180,000 for women, on average. The study also found that, for both men and women, a bachelor's degree and a college certificate are associated with more years of coverage in an employer-sponsored 6

7 pension plan and fewer layoffs than are associated with a high school diploma ( f. Table 3 contains a comparison of undergraduate Arts tuition and mandatory fees at Canadian universities in It demonstrates that the total of undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Regina compares favourably to other institutions. Only 20 of 58 other English-language universities in Canada have a total tuition and mandatory fee package for full-time undergraduate Arts students that is less than the total tuition and fees at the University of Regina. (This comparison does not include the impact of the 500 discount from the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship or other similar assistance programs available only to in-province students at other Canadian universities.) Note that the fees figures exclude health and dental insurance premiums and transit pass fees since these programs vary by university and students may be able to opt out for various reasons. It should also be noted that many Canadian universities have tuition structures that differentiate tuition the discipline of the course taken rather than, as at the University of Regina, the program in which the student is enrolled. Accordingly, the figures in Table 3 compare tuition for students taking courses in Arts only. The University of Saskatchewan, for example, provides on its website typical tuition fees for full-load students in various programs. An undergraduate student in Arts at the U of S, taking a mix of Arts and Science courses, would pay a total of 6,103 in tuition, 227 less than her counterpart at the U of R. However, she would be charged mandatory fees (athletic, recreation, and student services fees) that are 97 more than the U of R s sole mandatory fee for athletics and recreation. Tables 4 and 5 provide a comparison for graduate student tuition and fees. Only 5 Englishlanguage Canadian universities had lower costs for master s students than the University of Regina in Table 6 provides a comparison of the proposed undergraduate tuition rates for the University of Regina with those approved recently at the University of Saskatchewan, where the average increase has been described as 2.5%, with increases ranging from zero to 5%. 7

8 Table 3: Tuition and Additional Compulsory Fees Charged by English-Language Canadian Universities to Domestic First-Year Full-Time Undergraduate Arts Students Prov University 1st Year 3rd Year 8 RANK 1st Year (1=Low est) Lower Amount Upper* Amount RANK Upper (1=Low est) Total (1st year tuition + upper fees) RANK Total (1=Low est) NL Memorial University of Newfoundland 2,550 2, ,073 1 MB Brandon University 3,336 3, ,252 2 MB Manitoba, University of 3,299 3, ,265 1, ,564 3 BC Capilano University 3,756 5, ,742 4 MB Winnipeg, University of 3,405 3, ,492 1, ,897 5 BC Vancouver Island University 4,261 4, ,042 6 BC University of the Fraser Valley 4,182 4, ,026 1, ,208 7 BC Kwantlen Polytechnic University 4,089 4, ,198 1, ,287 8 BC Thompson Rivers University 4,064 4, ,275 1, ,339 9 AB Grant MacEwan University 4,620 4, ,096 1, , AB Lethbridge, University of 4,974 4, ,017 1, , BC Northern British Columbia, University of 5,111 5, , BC British Columbia, University of 5,088 5, , BC Victoria, University of 5,368 5, , BC Simon Fraser University 5,428 5, ,009 1, , AB Mount Royal University 5,213 5, ,257 1, , AB Calgary, University of 5,386 5, ,204 1, , SK Saskatchewan, University of 5,790 5, , AB Alberta, University of 5,321 5, ,559 1, , PE Prince Edward Island, University of 5,860 5, ,047 1, , SK Regina, University of 6,195 6, , ON Windsor, University of 6,134 6, , NB St. Thomas University 6,276 6, , ON Laurentian University - Université Laurentienne 6,285 6, , ON Nipissing University 6,055 6, ,178 1, , ON Lakehead University 6,268 6, , ON Algoma University 6,143 6, ,102 1, , ON Brock University 6,378 6, , ON Ryerson University 6,400 6, , ON Wilfrid Laurier University 6,346 6, ,064 1, , ON McMaster University 6,329 6, ,083 1, , ON Carleton University 6,356 6, ,073 1, , NB New Brunswick, University of 6,496 6, , ON Ottawa, University of - Ottawa, Université de 6,376 6, ,115 1, , ON Queen's University 6,384 6, ,118 1, , ON Waterloo, University of 6,420 6, , , ON York University 6,407 n/a 39 1,159 1, , ON Guelph, University of 6,379 6, ,177 1, , NS Cape Breton University 6,960 6, , NS Nova Scotia College of Art and Design 7,098 7, , NS Mount Saint Vincent University 6,845 6, , ON Western University 6,338 6, ,383 1, , ON Toronto, University of 6,400 6, ,400 1, , AB Athabasca University 6,050 6, ,910 1, , ON Trent University 6,408 6, ,516 1, , MB Canadian Mennonite University 7,280 7, , NS Saint Mary's University 7,550 7, , AB Concordia University of Edmonton 7,000 7, ,147 1, , NS Dalhousie University 7,200 7, ,065 1, , QC Concordia University 7,228 7, ,107 1, , NB Mount Allison University 7,765 7, , QC Bishop's University 7,228 7, ,378 1, , NS St. Francis Xavier University 7,626 7, ,193 1, , NS King's College, University of 7,200 7, ,375 1, , QC McGill University 7,228 7, ,813 1, , NS Acadia University 7,944 7, ,491 1, , AB King's University, the 11,780 11, , , ON Redeemer University College 15,982 15, , BC Trinity Western University 22,260 22, , * The additional fees upper amount includes student fees charged only in a student's 1st year. Tuition Additional Fees Tuition & Add. Fees

9 Table 4: Tuition and Additional Compulsory Fees Charged by English-Language Canadian Universities to Domestic First-Year Full-Time Master of Arts Students Prov University NL Memorial University of Newfoundland 2, , terms SK Saskatchewan, University of 3, , terms SK Regina, University of 4, , terms (15 cr hrs) NS Mount Saint Vincent University 4, , cr units (1/2 of program requirement) PE Prince Edward Island, University of 3, ,007 4,940 5 program cost/2 yr ON Ryerson University 4, , terms AB Alberta, University of 3, ,938 5, terms NS Saint Mary's University 4, ,159 5,701 8 Annual program fee BC Northern British Columbia, University of 4, , terms MB Manitoba, University of 4, ,168 5, FT program fee (Fall-Winter) BC British Columbia, University of 4, ,186 5, terms ON York University 4, ,207 5, terms AB Concordia University of Edmonton 5, , terms of fees BC Victoria, University of 5, ,237 6, terms ON Carleton University 5, ,272 6, FT fees Fall+Winter BC Simon Fraser University 5, ,481 6, terms MB Winnipeg, University of 6, , terms AB Lethbridge, University of 5, ,290 7, terms AB Calgary, University of 5, ,696 7, terms ON Queen's University 6, ,126 7, terms NB New Brunswick, University of 6, ,226 7, terms MB Canadian Mennonite University 7, , cr hrs (Fall-Winter) ON Western Ontario, University of 6, ,495 8, terms ON Toronto, University of 7, ,462 8, FT fees Fall+Winter AB Athabasca University 8, , program cost/2 yrs NS Acadia University 7, , Annual program fee (fees Fall-Winter) ON McMaster University 7, ,615 8, terms ON Waterloo, University of 7, ,301 8, terms NS St. Francis Xavier University 7, ,193 8, Full time rates ON Windsor, University of 7, ,087 8, terms QC McGill University 7, ,687 8, terms (30 cr hrs) NS Dalhousie University 7, ,422 9, terms ON Lakehead University 8, , terms BC Vancouver Island University 8, , tuition cost: program cost/1.5 yrs; fees: 30 cr hrs over 12 months ON Guelph, University of 7, ,567 9, terms ON Laurentian University 8, , terms QC Concordia University 8, ,454 9, terms ON Trent University 8, ,192 9, terms ON Ottawa, University of 8, ,633 9, terms ON Brock University 8, , terms ON Nipissing University 8, ,010 9, terms BC Trinity Western University 9, , cr hrs ON Wilfrid Laurier University 8, ,704 10, terms BC University of the Fraser Valley 10, , terms (18 cr hrs) * 1 = Lowest Tuition Rank* Tuition Fees Total Tuition + Fees Rank* Total Calculation 9

10 Table 5: Tuition and Additional Compulsory Fees Charged by English-Language Canadian Universities to Domestic First-Year Full-Time PhD Students Prov University Tuition Rank* Tuition NL Memorial University of Newfoundland 2, , terms QC McGill University 2, ,687 4, terms (30 cr hrs) QC Concordia University 2, ,454 4, terms SK Saskatchewan, University of 3, , terms PE Prince Edward Island, University of 3, ,007 4,940 5 PhD:program cost/3 yr ON Ryerson University 4, , terms AB Alberta, University of 3, ,938 5, terms BC Northern British Columbia, University of 4, , terms MB Manitoba, University of 4, ,168 5,762 9 FT program fee (Fall-Winter) BC British Columbia, University of 4, ,186 5, terms ON York University 4, ,207 5, terms SK Regina, University of 5, , terms (15 cr hrs) NS Saint Mary's University 5, ,159 6, Annual program fee BC Victoria, University of 5, ,237 6, terms ON Carleton University 5, ,272 6, FT fees Fall+Winter BC Simon Fraser University 5, ,481 6, terms AB Lethbridge, University of 5, ,290 7, terms AB Calgary, University of 5, ,696 7, terms ON Queen's University 6, ,126 7, terms NB New Brunswick, University of 6, ,226 7, terms ON Western Ontario, University of 6, ,495 8, terms ON Toronto, University of 7, ,462 8, FT fees Fall+Winter ON McMaster University 7, ,615 8, terms ON Waterloo, University of 7, ,301 8, terms ON Ottawa, University of 7, ,633 8, terms ON Windsor, University of 7, ,087 8, terms ON Lakehead University 8, , terms ON Nipissing University 8, ,010 9, terms ON Guelph, University of 7, ,567 9, terms ON Laurentian University 8, , terms NS Dalhousie University 7, ,422 9, terms ON Trent University 8, ,192 9, terms NS Acadia University** 9, , Yr1 program fee NS Mount Saint Vincent University** 9, , Yr1 program fee NS St. Francis Xavier University** 9, , Yr1 program fee ON Brock University 8, , terms ON Wilfrid Laurier University 8, ,704 10, terms Fees Total Tuition + Fees * 1 = Lowest ** Acadia, Mount St. Vincent and St. Francis Xavier offer a joint inter-university PhD program Rank* Total Calculation 10

11 Table 6: Comparison with University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Tuition, ( per credit hour, ) Faculty/Program U of Regina (proposed) U of Saskatchewan (approved) U of S Increase (%) Arts Business Administration Education Engineering Kinesiology Nursing Science Computer Science MAP Applied Music Looking at tuition increases for universities in other provinces, in Ontario tuition increases continue to be capped for one more year at 3% on average for undergraduate students and 5% for professional and graduate programs. Most universities are applying the maximum allowable increases. Universities in Alberta are subject to a provincial tuition freeze which applies to domestic students tuition only; the provincial government is not backfilling the foregone revenue in as it has in recent years. Universities in British Columbia are increasing tuition by 2.0%, the maximum allowable under provincial regulations. In Manitoba, provincial tuition policy has changed with maximum allowable increases to be the provincial rate of inflation plus 5% beginning in For , tuition increases are limited to 1.3%. g. The unemployment rate in Saskatchewan, at 6.0% in March 2017, is unchanged from March 2016 and remains below the national average (6.7%), and Alberta (8.4%), but above that in Manitoba (5.5%). Nationally, StatsCan noted gains in full-time employment in March, up 0.6% from February. Saskatchewan experienced drops in both employment and unemployment in March compared to February. The 2017 federal budget has directed an additional 395.5M to the Youth Employment Strategy over the next 3 years (150M in each of and 18-19, the rest in ) The report of the survey of 2014 graduates of all post-secondary education programs in the province provides current employment rates for graduates various institutions. The University of Regina s rate is the highest of all institutions at 88%. This rate has remained in the 88 to 90% range over the past decade. The majority of respondents to the survey who are not employed are not looking for work, because they are in school or for personal reasons. 11

12 While completing their degrees, University of Regina students earned 9.3 million in 2016 from co-op placements. h. The most recent Statistics Canada release of Consumer Price Index information (February 2017) shows the year-over-year CPI increase for Saskatchewan at 1.4%, unchanged from a year ago. Food costs are down 2.5% while shelter costs are up 1.4%. i. Research continues to show that, compared to other socio-economic determinants, tuition fee levels are not a major factor in post-secondary education accessibility and participation. j. Rental housing vacancy rates have risen in Regina to a healthy 5.5% (CMHC, Oct 2016) from 5.4% the previous year and 3.0% in With this increased availability, average rents for private apartments have largely stabilized across the city, up 1.0% for a two bedroom apartment, for example, compared to The rental market in the immediate neighbourhood of the University also shows increased availability with an October 2016 vacancy rate of 3.8% compared to 3.0% the year before and 0.9% in Rental inflation in this zone also shows signs of moderating, from 3.6% in October 2014 and 3.4% in October 2015 to 1.7% in late The University s expanded residence spaces in and the increased private rental availability should save students on both housing and transportation costs. The Board has recently approved residence rate increases of 3% for the next three years and an average increase in parking fees of 5%. k. The University of Regina has engaged in the Open Textbook movement that, over time, will significantly reduce the costs of widely used texts. In a joint effort between the University and URSU many textbooks are available for borrowing in the Archer Library. The student-approved UPASS has lowered the cost of public transit for U of R students and enjoyed good usage; however, the transit cost will not be tax-deductible as of July May 3,