U of R tuition hike meant to address pandemic-related challenges

The University of Regina’s newly approved 2023-24 budget includes a tuition hike meant to address “lingering, pandemic-related financial challenges.”

According to the post-secondary institution, most tuition and fees will jump by four per cent in the fall.

“The university does not take tuition increases lightly and has made every effort to limit them to the level necessary to help cover the rising costs associated with providing quality education, while continuing to make post-secondary education affordable and accessible,” the U of R said in a statement.

“The increase will still maintain the university’s comparative position midway among Canadian universities in terms of affordability for domestic students.”

The U of R said it is still recovering from pandemic-related financial challenges, which include inflation and a decline in enrolment.

International student enrolment has started to bounce back towards pre-pandemic levels, the university added, which helps improve the school’s financial position. But while projections for fall enrolment are showing “early, positive signs,” federal visa-processing backlogs have created delays for many students.

The 2023-24 budget is predicated on continued enrolment growth among all students, both domestic and international, the university noted.

Most of the university’s “administrative and academic units” have been told to implement five-per-cent base budget reductions in order to help address the challenges, the university added.

Cost-saving measures have been put in place, the university said, which should help minimize both job losses and the impact on students.

“Workforce adjustments will be kept to a minimum by offering early retirement incentives and reducing the number of vacant positions,” the university said in its statement.

“No academic programs are being eliminated due to budget pressures, so the impact on our students’ academic experience will be minimal and we will continue to provide strong student supports such as the Student Wellness Centre, Student Mental Health, the Centre for Experiential and Service Learning, investments in transfer credit processing, and the development of more ‘zero-cost’ or open education resources for students.”