
Political Policy Mandatory Non-Instructional Fees
Expires: April 30, 2023
1 Facts
- The University of Alberta is a public postsecondary institution that receives income from government grants, tuition, fees, ancillary services, donations, and sponsorships.
- The University of Alberta is committed to the responsible management of its financial resources, including, but not limited to, the following mandatory non-instructional fees:
- Student Health and Wellness
- Student Academic Support
- PAW Centre Fee
- U-Pass
- Athletics and Recreation
- The Students’ Union is committed to the responsible management of its financial resources, including, but not limited to, the following mandatory non-instructional fees:
- Students’ Union Membership Fees
- Students’ Union Dedicated Fees
- Students’ Union Health Plan
- Students’ Union Dental Plan
- A high and unpredictable cost of education is a barrier for students to attain an undergraduate post-secondary education.
- In 2018, Section 61 of the PostSecondary Learning Act was amended to include the regulation of mandatory non-instructional fees of public post-secondary institutions.
- All future University of Alberta mandatory non-instructional fees must be non-profit, meaning the cost of the fee must be equal to or less than the cost required to provide the good or service.
- All University of Alberta mandatory non-instructional fees must be approved by the Students’ Council in order for the fee to be eligible.
- The general cost of a University of Alberta post- secondary education consists of:
- Academic costs, which includes books and tuition;
- Mandatory non-instructional fees, which includes, but is not limited to, Students’ Union fees, recreational fees, public transportation fees, and Faculty Association Membership fees, and;
- Residence costs, which can include Residence Association Fees.
- Currently per year, mandatory non-instructional fees constitute approximately 10% of the general cost of a University of Alberta undergraduate post-secondary education[1].
- Students are in favour of reasonable fees that have quality value propositions and provide effective goods and services.
2 Resolutions
- The Students’ Union will advocate for a predictable cost of post-secondary education that can be reasonably anticipated annually.
- The Students’ Union will advocate strongly for an affordable cost of postsecondary education for all current and incoming students.
- The Students’ Union will further advocate for an attainable cost of post-secondary education for students facing financial or cultural barriers.
- The Students’ Union will advocate to the Government of Alberta for the continuous regulation of all mandatory non-instructional fees.
- The Students’ Union will advocate that the Government of Alberta maintain the adopted policies amended in the Post-Secondary Learning Act in 2018, which defends the student-approval mechanism and authorizes the student-veto power concerning the increases of existing mandatory non-instructional fees and all new proposed mandatory non-instructional fees.
- The Students’ Union will advocate that the Government of Alberta provide a framework that clearly defines which fees are non-instructional and therefore, outside the framework established in the Public Post-Secondary Tuition Fees Regulation.
- The Students’ Union will advocate for the essential nature of the goods and services that are financed and actualized by mandatory non-instructional fees, which have a significant impact on students and quality of campus life.
- The Students’ Union will advocate for transparency, accountability, and communication regarding the spending of, and services included in, all mandatory non-instructional fees
- The Students’ Union will advocate for the publication of the “Mandatory Non-Instructional Fees Annual Report” on the University of Alberta website.
- The Students’ Union will thoroughly consider any new mandatory non-instructional fees as well as changes to existing fees as proposed by the University of Alberta.
- Students’ Council may vote in affirmation for the implementation of a new, or modification of an existing, mandatory non-instructional fee from a party if the following conditions are met:
- The requesting party completes adequate student consultation;
- The requesting party expresses their support by writing a statement of intent that explains the merit of the implementation, or modification of the mandatory non-instructional fee, and;
- Students’ Council deems the implementation or modification of the mandatory non-instructional fees brought by the requesting party beneficial to the public good of the undergraduate student population at the University of Alberta.
- The Students' Union will advocate that students maintain representation on any body directing the general affairs and mandate of services that are funded by mandatory non-instructional fees.
- The Students’ Union will advocate for a process that allows students to provide meaningful input for the services mandatory non-instructional fees pay.
- The Students’ Union will advocate that mandatory non-instructional fees be used to provide and offer services that benefit and reflect the diverse student body.
- ↑ This percentage was calculated by dividing the total current cost of mandatory non-instructional fees by the estimated cost of any undergraduate degree using the University of Alberta Undergraduate Cost Calculator. The current cost of mandatory non-instructional fees is accessible through this link: https://www.ualberta.ca/registrar/costs-tuition-fees/noninstructional-fees The University of Alberta Undergraduate Cost Calculator is accessible through this link: https://costcalculator.registrar.ualberta.ca/costcalculator/