GSA discusses proposed tuition increase, protesters asked to leave
"I think if you'd ask any of us, we would not want any tuition increase for the students," interim provost and vice-president says.
Lily PolenchukA protest against the proposed tuition increase at the University of Alberta occurred at a Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) meeting on January 23.
Dr. Verna Yiu, U of A’s interim provost and vice-president (academic), and Melissa Padfield, deputy provost (students and enrolment), were in attendance. The protest led to a discussion about the proposed tuition increase, and the possibility of the GSA going on strike. The GSA’s efforts towards truth and reconciliation were also discussed.
“A strike is outside my mandate” GSA president says
At the beginning of the meeting, two people carrying a sign saying “Stop Tuition Hikes!” began chanting. They carried the sign to the front of the council chambers, repeatedly chanting “stop tuition increase,” until they were told that security would be called.
After the protesters left, Cheryl Pan, a psychology councillor and co-chair of the Graduate Psychology Association (GPA), mentioned that according to a poll GPA did in December 2022, approximately 80 per cent of its graduate students are willing to go on strike to protest the proposed tuition increase.
Telisa Courtney, a political science councillor added that a recent poll was sent out to graduate students in the department as well, and showed that 75 to 80 per cent of graduate students are willing to strike.
According to GSA President Anas Fassih, the GSA is unable to strike as the GSA is not currently in bargaining with the U of A.
“A strike is outside my mandate as president. It is with the bargaining unit,” Fassih said.
“We have already concluded our bargaining process with the university. A strike only happens when the bargaining unit and the university do not reach a consensus and agreement about priorities, and even then it’s not enough in itself to organize a strike.”
Fassih added that because he is a member of the Board of Governors (BoG), striking is “kind of a conflict of interest.”
“We actually have no idea what our 2023-24 budget is going to be,” interim provost and vice-president says
Dr. Verna Yiu, U of A’s interim provost and vice-president (academic), Melissa Padfield, deputy provost (students and enrolment), and Roger Epp, interim vice-provost and dean (faculty of graduate studies and research), gave a presentation on different supports for graduate students.
“I think if you’d ask any of us, we would not want any tuition increase for the students,” Dr. Yiu said, in response to the protest that occurred. “We understand the financial burden for students — especially for graduate students who are almost from a different demographic than your typical undergraduate students.”
“We also have to deliver a balanced budget at this university,” she said.
Dr. Yiu explained that in light of budget cuts, tuition increases are required.
“The university just doesn’t have enough funding from government to be able to manage. And this is a consequence of that.”
In order to make it easier for students, according to Dr. Yiu, there needs to be an increase in needs-based scholarships and bursaries, rather than merit-based.
Fassih asked Dr. Yiu if a commitment could be made to increasing supports for graduate students, such as “emergency bursaries, child-care grants, awards, and travel grants.” Dr. Yiu replied that the U of A is expecting to run a deficit, meaning that expenses will exceed revenue.
“We still anticipate that we’ll be running a deficit. So anytime there’s a deficit, at the end of the day, that’s the big black hole that everybody has to contribute to. So there is no new money,” Dr. Yiu said.
“We don’t know what the government is allocating us for the budget. We actually have no idea what our 2023-24 budget is going to be. Part of the challenge is that we’re basing our budget planning on the assumption that we’re not going to get any further cuts, but also the assumption that we’re not getting any further increases.”
Indigenous Graduate Students’ Association councillor says further work on reconciliation required
Jillian Ames, the Indigenous Graduate Students’ Association (IGSA) councillor, asked about the GSA’s efforts towards truth and reconciliation, and if the GSA plans to add truth and reconciliation into the GSA Strategic Work Plan.
“I do not see anything in the GSA Strategic Work Plan around truth and reconciliation work,” Ames said. “It’s 2023, and we have a lot of work to do in Canada to address the inequities that we face.”
Fassih replied that the plan includes truth and reconciliation objectives, but isn’t fully up-to-date. He added that there’s been discussion on adding a space for Indigenous dancers on campus, and that the GSA has made a “commitment of providing space for Indigenous graduates, in addition to the office that was provided to the IGSA.”
Ames shared some of the priorities of the IGSA, which include redesigning the curriculum, decolonization, and looking at how university admissions are equitable towards Indigenous students.
“We know that at the U of A, despite Alberta having one of the highest populations of Indigenous people, we are grossly underrepresented in the student population,” Ames said.
