11°c Overcast
16°c Isolated showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Province plans to codify university funding policy
The Selinger government plans to enshrine some of its university tuition and funding policies in law.
The province has introduced a bill that would keep future tuition increases in line with the rate of inflation.
Bill 2 (the Protecting Affordability for University Students Act) would also require the Council on Post-Secondary Education (COPSE), the agency that plans and co-ordinates the development of the post-secondary education system, to ensure universities know how much money they will receive in operating grants for three-year periods.
The council would have the power to review whether a course-fee increase reflects the university's costs. If not, COPSE could require the university to stop charging the higher fee and pay refunds to students.
"If a university increases tuition fees by more than the increase in the rate of inflation, (COPSE) is required to deduct from the grants it makes to the university the amount by which the increase exceeds the rate of inflation," according to an explanatory note accompanying the bill last week.
However, universities will be able to apply for a waiver to fee-hike limits for certain professional degree programs.
In a statement Friday, University of Manitoba president David Barnard said he welcomed the renewed commitment to stable, multi-year funding, which will help planning and budgeting.
"Combined with the flexibility on tuition, this will help ensure the University of Manitoba can offer the high level of competitive academic programming students in Manitoba expect and deserve," Barnard said.
Jeremy Read, senior executive officer and adviser to University of Winnipeg president Lloyd Axworthy, said an initial read of the legislation tabled Thursday shows it to be "pretty consistent" with existing policy. The university's corporate secretary and legal counsel will review the bill in more detail, he said.
Because of its power to approve budgets and set tuition, the university's board of regents appears to be the body most immediately affected, Read said.
"They are being relieved of a power that they currently hold, legally."
Read said the university will comment on Bill 2 when it reaches the committee stage at the legislature. The U of W will address "what the future of post-secondary education in the province should look like" in terms of quality, student access, current financial stability and future sustainability, he said.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 14, 2012 A5
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 20 articles for today)
Manitoba Tel to sell Allstream to Accelero, put $130 million into pension
7:53 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Some good news, some bad news from weatherman
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Landslide of love for Fleetwood Mac
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Quicker pickup of bulk garbage urged
- Privacy commissioner wants power to impose 8-figure fines against offenders
- Winnipeg Harvest issues plea for donations
- 'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead"': teen witness at murder trial
- Fire crews kept busy battling south Winnipeg, Point Douglas fires
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- New owner for lumber stores
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.