Board maintains program quality, provides for growth

UVic's board of governors has approved a budget framework for the 2004-05 fiscal year that provides for growth in student enrolment, maintains the quality of academic programs, and funds some modest improvements to programs and services.

The restoration of provincial government funding and trimming of anticipated expenditures are keeping proposed tuition increases less than originally forecast.

The board passed the budget with a vote of 11–3 after hearing submissions against the tuition hikes by students Joanna Groves and Nicole Lindsay. A motion was passed unanimously that the board write to the premier and minister of advanced education expressing concern about the cancellation of B.C.'s student grant program and encouraging the introduction of a replacement program.

The framework calls for a 16.6 per cent tuition increase for domestic undergraduate students and a seven per cent increase for graduate students. It also includes an additional $2 million in student financial assistance. With this package, UVic will exceed its goal to be among the top 20 per cent of Canadian universities in terms of financial aid for students.

The tuition increases in the budget framework are required because of increased operating costs, the additional costs associated with providing spaces for 372 more full-time students, and improvements in programs and student support services.

"The budget framework reflects a balance among program quality protection and improvements, tuition increases and student financial aid," says UVic President Dr. David Turpin. "Maintenance and enhancement of the quality of education at UVic is the key. We recognize tuition increases may create hardship for some students and have increased student financial assistance dramatically."

The budget framework provides for a provincial operating grant of $123.8 million to UVic to fund the equivalent of spaces for 14,552 full-time undergraduate and graduate students. At the same time, the university's financial commitments have risen $15.3 million over last year.

The university's operating budget for 2004-05 is $224.7 million. Tuition accounts for 34 per cent of the university's operating revenue. B.C. universities are required by law to balance their budgets.

Tuition for domestic arts and science undergraduates will rise in 2004-05 to $4,238 from $3,635, while graduate tuition will increase to $4,404 from $4,116. Tuition for international undergraduate students will increase to $12,500 from $11,000. This reflects year two of a four-year progression to move toward a cost-recovery model for international undergraduate students.

The budget framework also provides for improvements such as: $400,000 to UVic's libraries for acquisitions; $687,000 for quality improvements such as new course sections, added faculty in high-demand areas and new resources for students with a disability; and $180,000 for technical support for upgrading information systems.

UVic's tuition increases follow similar hikes for 2004-05 at SFU and UBC.

The additional student spaces announced by the province on March 26 (see story) are not part of the budget framework and any ongoing impacts will be incorporated into future budgets.