Tuition keeps rising at the University of Regina – but so do the University Executive Team’s salaries. Over the past two years, tuition has risen by 2.8 per cent each year, programs such as the wrestling teams and the men’s volleyball team have been cut, and the University’s Faculty Association nearly went on strike in the Winter 2019 semester.
Meanwhile, according to the University’s publicly available salary disclosures of employees earning over $100,000 updated July 11, 2019, Dr. Vianne Timmons, the President of the University, has received an increase of $22,027 in salary, while the Provost and Vice President of Academics Dr. Thomas Chase has received an increase of $13,946 and VP of Administration Dave Button has received a wage increase of $21,603 since 2017.
“If the people at the top are making more while those that are disenfranchised are getting less services or making less or paying more, obviously that’s not good,” said Jordyn Landry, a third-year Arts student. “I understand you have to pay good wages to attract good talent, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of other people.”
However, many students feel it’s simply the way things are. Former wrestler Trever Laframboise no longer competes in sports, but continues studying at the University of Regina. When he found out about the wrestling program being cut, he felt “it sucked when it happened, but s—t happens… gotta just deal with it.”
Victor Oriola, President of the University of Regina Students’ Union, said students should not be burdened with increased tuition to cover rising operational costs.
“The time has come – or long since come, I would argue – to be brave, be bold and innovative and begin to explore other ethical alternatives of generating revenue that are not … heavily dependent on the government and taxing students to pay a little bit more each year,” Oriola said. “This is especially true because students cannot afford $200-300 extra a month to cover an unplanned expenditure. It throws a spanner in the works of a person who’s planned out a four-year degree.”
URFA echoed Oriola’s sentiments in a statement: “URFA urges the university to consider the impact that yearly tuition increases have had on our students, and on the affordability and attainability of post-secondary education in this province.”
At the time of publication, the Office of the President had not responded to a request for comment. A town hall will be hosted with Timmons, Chase, and Oriola in the University’s Riddell Centre multipurpose room on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
