The heavily debated policy has now been approved by a majority of CSU executives
Annalisse Crosswell, Associate News Editor
A policy regarding limiting international tuition increases was left in limbo at the Feb. 15 Capilano Students’ Union (CSU) board meeting. After liberal debate at both the Feb. 15 and March 1 board meetings, the policy, which states the CSU’s support for international students tuition increases being tied dollar-for-dollar to that of domestic students, was ultimately approved by a majority vote.
Vice-President Academic Joshua Millard originally brought forth the policy, believing that even the two per cent increase that is allowed annually for domestic students can have drastically different impacts on the already expensive tuition that international students pay. During the process he received little help from domestic students within the CSU with development of the policy, but ultimately gained their support in approving it.
“The international student tuition policy is a step towards equitably representing the financial interests of a group that has been consistently taken advantage of for over a decade by various institutions,” said Millard on the day it was approved, “and the board’s support of this policy means that we think that those decisions by institutions were wrong and that it is not right for an international students tuition to rise $2,000 over the period of their degree.”
According to Millard, “those increases are frankly unacceptable” and, while this policy will not have a direct impact on the increases that international students face, it will guide decisions made by the Board of Governors on the issue. The policy also includes the need for more support for international students, which would be guided by consultation with international students and the Centre for International Experience (CIE).