Tuition increases, and recently launched programs headline the summer changes at Mount Royal University (MRU).
Tuition and program changes aside, MRU’s campus will look mostly the same, according to statement issued by the university, which said replacement of the bleachers and running track in the Triple Gym being the only facility changes of note.
September will see the first fall intake into the school’s new Post-Bachelor Certificate in Spatial Data Science, as well as students entering the second year of two recently launched degrees in Data Science and Aviation Management.
MRU expects full occupancy for their on campus residency options, approximately 950 students. Incoming students can still apply to live in Residence but housing is not guaranteed, the statement read.
Domestic tuition will see an average increase of two per cent across all programs as allowed by the Tuition and Fees Regulation.
According to Tala Abu Hayyaneh, President of the Representation Executive Council at the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University, (SAMRU) the student association was able to successfully advocate with the provincial government, limiting the domestic tuition increase to two per cent.
“That’s some predictability that we can provide for our domestic students, while we can’t really get tuition caps for international students, we’re always advocating for better conditions for students in general, especially international students,” she said.
International tuition will see a slightly smaller increase by 1.5 per cent for all programs.
The student association has been actively awaiting the results of the ongoing Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Alberta’s Competitiveness and its recommendations on post secondary institution funding. The Minister of Advanced Education will provide a report by the end of August.
“We were able at the Students Association of Mount Royal University, to actively provide student perspectives on the panel through the Council of Alberta university students,” Abu Hayyaneh said.
“We were able to provide what students think about tuition funding that universities are currently receiving, program availability and overall student experience, and we are really anticipating this report finding.”
Abu Hayyaneh said that although post-secondary education falls primarily under provincial jurisdiction, federal policies tend to impact student financial aid, research funding and other various student support programs.
Through the Canadian Alliance for Students Association (CASA), she said, SAMRU is actively engaging with the federal government to advocate for all the critical issues specific to MRU students.
Elected in March, orientated in April, and beginning work in May, the SAMRU team work year round to accomplish as much as they can during their one-year term, Abu Hayyaneh said.
On campus, new student orientation which aims to help new students acclimatize to university life, is set to take place on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3.
