SFU intends to increase tuition by an unprecedented level next year:
- All domestic undergrad: 2% general increase
- Continuing international undergrad: 4% increase (2 x 2% general increase)
- Incoming international undergrad (all % are above 2019/20 continuing international undergrad tuition fees):
- 8% increase
- 12% (for students taking CS, ENSC, MSE courses)
- 16% (for students taking Beedie courses)
- Graduate programs: increase by 2%, except those with an international differential increase by 4%
What this actually means is an additional 4% added to the highest numbers – incoming international students in Business would see their tuition 20% higher than it is now.
SFU doesn’t have to do this – in the last three years, budget surpluses have been at least $32 million. Year after year the administration claims they need to increase tuition to make up for projected deficits and then reports surpluses for that year of up to $65 million. While some of this money is required for improvements and investments, it seems unlikely none of it can be used to make up the shortfall that students are expected to pay.
What’s more, top SFU administrator salaries total nearly $7 million, nearing the amount the university claims is needed to address budget shortfalls. If there is streamlining to be found then the first place to look may be bloated salaries rather than already depleted bank accounts of students.
SFU claims that some of the money from increased tuition goes back to helping international students, but are unable to provide examples or concrete figures to support this claim. Considering the declining campus resources, inability to find space for crucial groups on campus, and rapidly accelerating use of sessional instructors, this seems hard to believe. If SFU really cared about helping students, they would not place more financial burden on to them.