K’JIPUKTUK/HALIFAX – On Tuesday, April 9, students will be delivering almost a thousand petition signatures to Dalhousie University interim president Peter McKinnon, rejecting the proposed 3% tuition fee increases for all students, and an 8.1% yearly increase to International differential fees for the next 4 years.
“It is unacceptable that Dalhousie is balancing their budget on the backs of international students,” said Tabasa Shimada, on behalf of the Dalhousie International Students’ Association (DISA). “International students come to study at Dalhousie to start building a better future, not to be used to fund institutions. Dalhousie must seek alternatives to imposing the cost of public education onto us, vulnerable International students, and cannot claim to be supporting international students, equity and diversity while forcing this increase through”.
Despite wanting to attract International students, the Nova Scotia government has failed to regulate International student tuition fees, leaving the door open to massive increases. International students already pay on average 3.7x more than domestic tuition fees, and lack access to student assistance and financial aid. Average tuition fees for undergraduate science programs at Dalhousie are currently $18,177 and would increase by $1,473 for the 2019-2020 academic year should this proposal go through, and result in a $8000-$10,000 increase over the next 4 years.
WHAT: Rally and Petition Delivery
DATE: Tuesday, April 9
TIME: 10:00 AM
PLACE: Dalhousie University (starting at the International Centre, LeMarchant Place Building)
WHO: Dalhousie International Students’ Association, Dalhousie Association of Graduate Students.
“The proposed budget includes some of the most aggressive tuition fee increases nationwide” says Laura Cutmore, External Vice-President of the Dalhousie Association of Graduate Students. “This proposal would also affect non-thesis International master students – who already lack options for funding and financial aid, and face limitations to co-op and employment options. We demand a new budget proposal”. The final budget will be voted on by the Dalhousie Board of Governors on April 16.
