Statement Regarding Tuition Hikes

In May 2018, the Minister of Higher Education announced the deregulation of tuition fees for international students across Quebec. This means that, starting in September of 2019, universities across the province will be able to arbitrarily raise tuition for most international students. The Concordia Student Union strongly opposes the government’s decision to privatize education, and we’re calling on Concordia’s administration to refuse tuition increases and publicly pressure the Quebec government to invest in higher education.

Yesterday, March 13th, tuition fee increases for the privatized MBA programs within Concordia’s Goodman Institute of Investment Management were ratified by the Board of Governors, with only two days notice. These three-year programs do not receive any government funding and boast financial surpluses—in other words, tuition fee increases are unnecessary and unjustified. Following this decision, annual tuition fees for domestic (Quebec and out-of-province) students in these programs will increase from $18,000 to $22,000, and from $18,000 to $27,000 for international students! Therefore, over the course of their degrees, domestic students who start their program in 2021 will end up paying $18,000 more for the same degree, and international students will pay $33,000 more.

With the government’s move to deregulate almost all international programs, yesterday’s decision is an alarming preview of Concordia’s willingness to cash in and seize opportunities to profit from our education. The university spends thousands on marketing to recruit international students while doing little to keep them safe, secure, and financially stable during their studies. International students are already vulnerable to employment and housing exploitation, and their student visas restrict how much they can work. Increasing tuition fees and treating international students like cash cows—in addition to the barriers they already face—is unacceptable.

As students, we deserve to be valued for our potential, not viewed as a source of profit. The Henry F. Hall Building has Article 26 from the UN Declaration of Human Rights displayed across its windows. An institution which promotes the right to education continuing to financially segregate its students and prioritize profit over accessibility is shameful, and we will continue to fight against tuition increases and advocate for improved access to education for all.

We encourage you to learn more about our campaign and sign the petition against Concordia’s tuition hikes.

Signed,

CSU Executive Team 2018-2019