Political Policy Mandatory Non-Instructional Fees

Expires: April 30, 2020

1 Facts

1. The University of Alberta is a publicly-funded public institution and therefore committed to high standards of service, administrative effectiveness, and good governance in the responsible management of its financial resources.
2. Services can foster a positive student experience.
3. Undergraduate students are willing to pay a reasonable fee for services that benefit them.
4. Mandatory non-instructional fees remain unregulated by the Government of Alberta and can therefore change at the discretion of the University.
5. Mandatory non-instructional fees are above and beyond the tuition fee, which is the mandatory payment for instruction.
6. The cost of a post-secondary education includes tuition, fees, educational materials, and living expenses.
7. A high and unpredictable cost of education is a barrier to post-secondary education for some students.

2 Resolutions

1. The University of Alberta Students’ Union advocate for a predictable cost of post-secondary education, that can be reasonably anticipated year-to-year.
2. The University of Alberta Students’ Union advocate for an affordable cost of post-secondary education for all current and potential students.
3. The University of Alberta Students’ Union advocate for an accessible cost of post-secondary education, especially for students facing financial or cultural barriers.
4. The University of Alberta Students’ Union advocate to the Government of Alberta for the regulation of all mandatory non-instructional fees.
5. The University of Alberta Students’ Union advocate to the Government of Alberta for a framework which clearly defines which fees are non-instructional and therefore outside the framework established in the Public Post-Secondary Tuition Fees Regulation.
6. The University of Alberta Students’ Union advocate for a process where students provide meaningful input on which services mandatory non-instructional fees pay for.
7. The University of Alberta Students’ Union will advocate to retain the student-approval mechanism for the implementation of any new mandatory non-instructional fees as well as for an increase to any existing mandatory non-instructional fees.
8. The University of Alberta Students’ Union advocate for transparency and accountability as to where and how the fees levied on students are spent.
9. The Students' Union advocate that students maintain representation on any body directing the general affairs and mandate of a service which is funded by a student fee.