MacEwan University increasing tuition and fees, cutting positions

WATCH ABOVE: As the university deals with a $5-million shortfall, more than three dozen positions are being cut and tuition could go up. Vinesh Pratap reports.

EDMONTON — MacEwan University is cutting 41 positions, increasing tuition by 2.2 per cent, and increasing application fees for Canadian students for the next school year.

According to the university, the increases and cuts will help balance its budget for the current fiscal year, which had been facing a $5 million deficit.

The decisions are primarily a cause of the former Progressive Conservative government’s decision to reduce grants over the next two years by 4.5 per cent and cut post secondary funding two years ago, says MacEwan University President David Atkinson.

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Atkinson argues, considering the circumstances, the course of action taken will have the least negative impact on the university, particularly because there is currently no provincial budget in place due to the change in government.

“We do not want to do anything precipitous without knowing exactly what the institution’s financial circumstances might be for next year.”

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Atkinson is hopeful the new NDP government will provide some relief for the university, but adds that alone will not solve all of its issues.

“There will still be additional salary and compensation costs next year, we have no assurance about the current grant reduction, and there is a possibility of a tuition freeze.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There will still be additional salary and compensation costs next year, we have no assurance about the current grant reduction, and there is a possibility of a tuition freeze."

Thirty four out of the 41 positions eliminated have been vacant, according to the University. The MacEwan Staff Association says it appreciates the University’s effort to largely cut vacant positions.

“We will continue to monitor the impact this may have on workload concerns for our membership. We are hopeful that the budgetary pressures currently being experienced will be addressed by the newly elected government and we remain optimistic for the future,” the association adds.

The University will now review the budget with the Finance Committee of the Board and it will be the basis for its Comprehensive Institutional Plan, which will be submitted to the Ministry in the summer.