Thread by @teelingkat

Hey everybody! I’ll be live-tweeting the Board of Governors meeting this morning for @The_Gateway! For coverage on the @HaltTheHikeAB protest, check @Emily_AWilliams profile! #abpse #uasu

Kate Chisolm starts by saying that last night, she was presented with a tuition signed by over 2000 students, faculty, and staff, and an open letter from students asking the BoG to reject tuition increases. She says the open letter had 16,000 signatures as of March 23.

“As we work our way through this heavy topic, as board chair, I need to make sure we can have an efficient discussion, which we can’t do if there is disruption,” Chisolm says as protesters enter the room.

Chisolm asks if there are any conflicts of interest for any of the agenda items. @uasupresident and Alex Dorscheid raise their hands. Chisolm says that a COI is implied, but okay for this discussion.

Board members give presentations as protesters wait, holding up signs with messages against tuition increases.

Chisholm says that they are now moving to item 3 on the agenda, which is a presentation on the consolidated budget, which includes proposed tuition increases. She again asks observers in the room to be quiet as the presentation occurs, with a question period happening after.

@BFlanaganUofA talks about the provincial governments 2023 Budget, which contained “no good news for the university,” as it didn’t account for inflation. Andrew Sharman presents budget.

Sharman says that the university is operating the budget on a small surplus. He says that the budget is meant to increase financial sustainability in the face of provincial budget cuts, which amount to 34 per cent.

He comments that the use of tuition dollars goes towards teaching “100 per cent,” whether to faculty or central services, like the library. He also says that students tuition does not cover their education entirely.

Verna Yiu goes next, talking about the consultation process that went into proposed tuition increases. She said she worked with Monteiro, as well.

“Without tuition, the university cannot operate,” she said, before talking about how the university supports students in need.

She then talks about how tuition increases will be capped in 2024 at 2 per cent, but that other Albertan universities like U of C are proposing increases in the same amount as the U of A.

“Tuition has increased dramatically since 2020, but for the five years before then, there were none at all,” Yiu said.

The next slide of the presentation compares the tuition the U of A charges compared to other universities in Alberta, like MacEwan. She said that the U of A has similar tuition fees, and sometimes is even lower.

Yiu then talks about international students, saying that this is the last year this group of international students will be treated exceptionally, as these students were admitted before Fall 2020.

Under a cohort model, international student tuition is proposed to be raised to 6.5 per cent in 2024. Yiu says that the cohort model brings predictability to prospective international students.

“You’re going to hear stories from students who are in dire need of financial situations. We know students are struggling, and the demand for the @campusfoodbank is rising. We are committed to working with student leaders under the same idea: that no students are left behind.”

Yiu said that tuition has increased by 27 per cent, but financial supports for students have increased by 150 per cent.

She then talks about the elimination of the instalment fee, which will result in a reduction of $1 million of fees for students collectively. This elimination came as a result from discussions with student leaders, like the UASU.

Todd Gilchrist then talks about the impact of rejecting tuition increases, which he says will result in a loss of $12 million for the university. This would create a deficit of $12.2 million in the consolidated 2024 budget.

The U of A has to give a balanced budget to the provincial government, he says, which means they’d have a short amount of time to find the $12 million. Staff reductions would be a direct result of this deficit, and a freeze on hiring, which would impact education quality.

Rejecting tuition increases would permanently impact the university, especially with the incoming 2 per cent cap. Gilchrist says the university would not have the mechanism to come back from that deficit.

Gilchrist passes it back to Yiu, who talks about enrolment growth at the U of A. She talks about $171 million in funding the U of A received for enrolment growth in high-demand programs from the provincial government.

Sharman then presents the Ancillary Budget, which is the self-funded units at the U of A, like the Botanic Garden and the bookstore.

“Each of these units benefits the university in some way, from community engagement to profitability,” he said. Some, like parking services, are meant to be self-sustaining, but others cannot.

He says that in 2023-24, there will be an increase of 4.1 per cent in residences across campus, and a 6.0 per cent increase in meal plans. Rates for parking will increase by 5.5 per cent, as well.

Sharman then talks about the capital budget. The biggest project for the U of A right now is the University Commons building. He then talks about deferred maintenance, which the university tackles with funds from the Capital Maintenance and Renewal grant.

The grant was cut to 0 in 2019. Sharman said that the university could easily spend $50 million dollars to fix deferred maintenance issues, but it wouldn’t even “make a dent.”

He says there’s a long list of necessary repairs, but there isn’t enough funding to solve them all.

The presentation ends, and question period begins. Dilini Vethanayagam comments first, saying that she’s struggled with the issue of tuition increases for a long time. She asks for consideration for Augustana Campus, which she says serves as a flagship for the U of A.

Alex Dorscheid, the undergraduate BoG rep, comments that students often have a “shoestring budget,” and make up some of the lowest incomes of society. He also says that there is a one week wait at the CFB because of increased demand. He asks that this become an action item.

Sharman confirms that they have been meeting with the CFB, and that the U of A has committed to their plans. Chisholm then moves to the motion from General Faculties Council, that says tuition increases should be rejected.

She then asks that the Open Letter from students be passed around to board members.

@HaruunYEG now speaks as the appointed member from GFC to present their motion.

“Despite having a meeting so early in the morning, hundreds of students have shown up. Governors, you have a choice similar to the one presented to GFC earlier this week. Students are the heart of the university. You need us,” he said.

He then reads out stories given to him by students, which he says are the stories of a few but represent the experiences of many. The stories talk about how these students have to pick between their education and food.

He then talks about how if the proposed tuition increases for international students is rejected, students will save $2000, which is about “eight months of food.”

“I hope you listen to recommendations from students, student leaders, @TheAASUA, the GFC, and more. Students are not the answer to the university’s deficit,” he finishes.

Chisholm says there are three motions. The first is to approve tuition increases for domestic students.

Monteiro speaks, telling more stories from students about the struggles of affordability: “These are stories from students, your students. I could go on and on. I want all of the board members to look around at all of these students, and all of their signs.”

“All of these stories have a person behind them, and they’re right in front of you. I stand proudly and firmly behind my peers, and will vote against tuition increases. The 43,000 students who attend the U of A will be the future of Edmonton,” he continues.

“They will remember the decision the U of A made when they were in times of need. I will ask every board member to stand with students,” he finishes.

Students in the room bang the tables in support of Monteiro’s speech. Chisholm says she will clear the room of observers if they don’t stop.

Dorscheid speaks again, and reads out the letter from students.

“Since these hikes began, tuition has increased three times faster than the impacts of inflation. We are asking you to reject the tuition increases on the table today.”

Chisholm says there’s a difficult decision ahead of board members, as they have a fiduciary responsibility to the university. She calls for the opposed. All students in the room raise their hand. Five board members vote in opposition, it carries.

The second motion, concerning tuition proposals, counts six in opposition. The motion carries.

The third and final motion, concerning cohort-based international student tuition, moves to a vote. Five vote in opposition. The motion carries. Student protesters leave the room.

After a short break, the BoG meeting continues. Flanagan gives the Report of the President. Then, Dru Marshall, former Provost at U of C, gives the college model review.

Marshall, over zoom, said she’d keep her comments brief. She says the change to the college model was “monumental,” but academic restructuring wasn’t “without issue.” She says the successes that have resulted speak to the resilience of the campus community.

Next, Guy Bridgeman presents the “What We Heard” document, which is an update on the development of the University Strategic Plan (USP). Flanagan says that this document was very valuable in the writing of the USP, which is of much importance to the future of the university.

Chisholm moves to the consent agenda, as she feels they can’t do the USP justice with so little time left in the meeting.

The meeting moves to closed session, and Chisholm asks all observers to leave the room. That ends my coverage of the BoG meeting! Thanks for tuning in.