1. Tuition “Resets” What can we do about it?

2. Quick history of tuition in NS NS had highest tuition in Canada until 2011(ish). Tuition freeze from 2007-11. Fee increases capped at 3% from 2011-2014 Average debt on graduation is $37,000 in NS. Students across Canada owe a collective $24 billion to Canada student loans.

3. Liberal Government: 2013-Present NS Liberal government elected in 2013. Made modest commitments for students. 2014 Budget cut $34 million in student aid. 2015 Budget: deregulation of out-of-province and graduate student tuition, one-time “market adjustments.” Stephen Mcneil Premier Kelly Regan Minister of Labour and Advanced Education Randy Delorey Minister of Finance

4. Tuition “Adjustments” so far King’s: $1000 increase in Foundation Year Programme Cape Breton University: 20% tuition hike Saint Mary’s University: $1620 increase in engineering and smaller increases in arts, science and business. NSCAD: 37% increase being proposed Dalhousie: Undecided at this point. Administration has hinted at engineering, pharmacy and agriculture. Dal will likely announce it’s adjustments in early February

5. 5 Why are fees rising? High tuition fees are a result of underfunding. As public investments decline, universities turn to higher fees, higher enrolment, and corporate donations.

6. 6 Engineering students have to attend classes at Park lane theatre because the faculty’s grown beyond Dalhousie’s ability to serve them.

7. 7 Myths and facts about tuition fees Myth: We just can’t afford to reduce tuition fees. Fact: All budgeting is about priorities. By 2020, 70% of new jobs will require PSE. Access to education matters. Recent NS government expenditures: -Provincial handout to developer Joe Ramia for a second convention centre: $59 million -Subsidy for Yarmouth Ferry: $28.5 million -Handout to Royal Bank to open a call centre - $22 million Cost of 10% Tuition Reduction - $30 million

8. 8 Funding a 100% Grants system

9. 9 Myths and facts about tuition fees Myth: tuition fees aren’t harmful to low-income students because they can access student loans. Fact: student loans are bankrupting a generation while grants aren’t keeping up. 40% of students with loans have unmet need. Students owe a collective $24 billion to the federal government... not including private and provincial student debt. There is a 2:1 PSE participation gap between richest and poorest fifths of Canadians.

10. 10 Myths and facts about tuition fees Myth: high fees aren’t a problem because graduates will earn more. Fact: lower fees means a higher return on investment for students. Fact: graduates earning more also pay higher taxes, which should fund universities. Fact: people from higher incomes need less loans and get a higher “return” than under a high fee model.

11. 11 Myths and facts about tuition fees Myth: If we reduce fees, we have to expect a reduction in quality. Fact: Fees are increased to offset government cuts, not to increase quality. Paired with funding cuts, we are actually seeing higher fees but lower quality.

12. What can we do about it? Tuition increases can be stopped. Student action is a proven method to get results. It takes a mix of good research and a lot of political pressure.

13. Case 1: Differential Fees at Dal, 2011 2011: NDP government deregulates international differential fees. Dalhousie announces a 10% fee hike during exams. International students mobilized and the hike was reduced to 6% from 10%.

14. Case 2: Psychology PhD Internship, 2015

15. Case 3: Quebec Student Strike, 2012 2012: Quebec students defeat not only a 75% tuition increase, but force an early election that defeated a majority government

16. Case 4: Newfoundland and Labrador Consistent student action has kept a tuition freeze in place since 1999. NL has Canada’s lowest tuition, and replaced 100% of their student loans with grants NS student enrolment in NL went up 1097% between 1999-2006

17. Case 5: 2015 Dalhousie Tuition Hikes? Dalhousie students can stop the tuition hike, but we need to get organized. Dalhousie can afford to freeze tuition this year. Start small and build pressure as needed. Simple action ideas: petition, posters, class announcements

18. Get involved! Thanks for attending! To get involved, contact the DSU at vpae@dsu.ca vpae@dsu.ca Tweet your thoughts on fee hikes to @DalPres and @KellyReganNS 18