UBC’s Board of Governors passed a motion at their June 9 meeting advising the university administration to raise tuition fees for international students.
The resolution requests that fees be set “at levels that reflect UBC’s standing as a global university and the value of a UBC degree.”
“Last fall during consultation on international student tuition fees we indicated we would consider further rate increases. The Board of Governors has asked us to develop an approach that more closely aligns UBC with peer institutions and reflects UBC’s status as a global university,” said Angie Redish, Vice Provost and Associate Vice President Enrolment and Academic Facilities, in an emailed statement.
“I think we’re clear in that students come to this campus because we’re committed to creating the world’s best learning environment, and because of the research that happens on this campus. But we’re not the only university that does that, and ... we are falling behind other institutions [because] they’re able to invest in that student experience and in that research to a level that is greater than us,” said Redish in the June 9 meeting.
“We’re trying to recruit and retain outstanding students, and also to develop a diverse student population. So those three things: attraction, retention, diversity, those are the goals for our financial support system,” said Redish.
Veronica Knott, student representative for the Board of Governors, voiced concerns over the aims of tuition increases, arguing that “the deans and administration should be accounting and justifying increases to international tuition, not just creating ways to increase spending up to market value.”
“I know that everyone needs money at this university but I stand by the statement that although everyone can spend money, few can spend it well,” said Knott. “I would ask the Board to set the market based tuition as a ceiling, rather than an aspiration.”
In light of this, Knott cautioned the Board “against moving forward with these increases without seriously considering the impact this could have on the students at our university, the message we are sending to faculties about spending, and the message we send about how we see tuition.”
At the Board meeting on June 9, Redish spoke extensively of the value added to UBC’s learning environment by having international students in the classrooms. “I can’t even imagine UBC without its international students.... You can all imagine the poverty of the institution we’d be looking at [without them],” said Redish. “I just want to say yes we’re talking about international tuition fees, but that is not the core piece of international students on this campus.”