SAIT’s tuition increase has students frustrated

Calgary, AB, Canada / RTBN

Brody Ratcliffe

Apr 7, 2021 12:11 PM

This time last year students were still shocked and confused on how their school years got cancelled so quickly. Since then, almost all courses at SAIT have been moved too online delivery formats with some exceptions. With that came a rise in tuition cost’s for students and they aren’t happy.

“What they are using that money for…..”

In October of 2019, the government decided to end the 5-year tuition freeze across the province and instead allow all post secondary institutions to raise there tuition by 7% each year for the next 3 years. Paired with the recent pandemic that has swept across the globe, this increase has frustrated students. SAIT has also failed to communicate where this money has went. One student says she feel’s left in the dark. “I don’t even know what they are using that money for and they are not really telling us about it. It’s really unfair and kind of annoying.”

Online course’s don’t have the greatest track record either. Although it is one of the world’s top industries, the course have a higher failed retention rate then in person classes.

” Quality has gone down…”

SAITSA President Ryan Morstad has been listening to the students and recognizes why they are upset. “I think that SAIT student’s are pretty reasonable, if they felt there was an increase in education for this increase in tuition I don’t think there would be as much disappointment. The reality is a lot of people feel the quality has gone down and tuition has gone up.”

We tried getting an interview with SAIT to find out more about where the money was going but it was declined. However, Morstad says SAITSA has been actively advocating against another increase. He says the school’s reasoning behind the increase is lack of funding from the provincial government.

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