Ontario College Students Comment on the New Multi-Year Tuition Framework

TORONTO, March 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, released the government of Ontario's plan for the 2013-2017 Tuition Framework.

The framework that has been in place since 2006 allows for an annual 5% overall tuition fee increases at Ontario colleges and universities. In contrast, this new framework will allow college tuition to increase at an overall rate of 3% per year with professional and high demand programs increasing no more than 5% per year.

"The College Student Alliance appreciates that the ministry has moved away from the status quo for this multi-year framework," says Ciara Byrne, President of the College Student Alliance. "Although it isn't the 2-year freeze followed by linking tuition increases to the rate of inflation that we recommended, we will continue working with the ministry to create a sustainable framework that ensures affordability and quality for our students."

The ministry has pledged to reassess tuition payment and OSAP disbursement time frames in order to address the issue of unregulated deferral fees currently being charged to Ontario's college students. These deferral fees, charged in addition to administrative fees already being paid, are a hindrance to students who must wait until September for OSAP disbursement. This commitment by the ministry to align OSAP disbursement with tuition payment deadlines would effectively eliminate the need to defer payment of tuition or pay a deferral fee.

"The College Student Alliance will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in the pursuit of a tuition framework and collection procedures that will allow for the elimination of unfair fees being charged to students," says Tyler Epp, Director of Advocacy of the CSA. "This four year framework will allow students to more accurately predict the costs of their academic career."

For more information on this new multi-year framework please visit http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/.

The College Student Alliance (CSA) is an advocacy organization, which has been proudly serving Ontario's college and college-university students since 1975.  The CSA currently represents 15 colleges and 21 student councils with over 135,000 full-time student members throughout the province.

SOURCE: College Student Alliance

Tyler Epp        
Director of Advocacy            
College Student Alliance
416.340.1212                  
[email protected]             
 
Ciara Byrne
President
College Student Alliance
519.748.5131 ext 16
[email protected]