Despite protest, U of Windsor hikes tuition

Despite their protest, students will be paying higher tuition fees at the University of Windsor after the school's board of governors approved another hike Tuesday.

International students were hit the hardest with some programs seeing an eight per cent increase in tuition. Most undergraduate programs will see a three per cent increase, while business and law programs will see jumps of five per cent or higher.

A small group of students protested the increases, including Matthew Dunlop of the University of Windsor Students' Alliance.

"Every single year, tuition is just increasing way faster than inflation," he said. "We're seeing universities that are bloating up their administrations across Ontario and Canada."

School president Alan Wildeman said the board implemented a standard increase that is in line with other post-secondary institutions in Canada. Without new government grants, the school's costs go up every year because of salaries, wages and benefits.

"We certainly understand the concerns about tuition costs, obviously this is front and centre for everybody," he said.

Several students said raising fees for international students will deter students from wanting to enrol at the school, ultimately reducing its diverse student population, explained graduate student Rose Gonar.

"I feel really sad for international students because they really have problems with the financial issues," she said. "I think it will directly affect the university's ranking in the long term.

Student activist Mohamed Almoayad blamed the small turnout for the protest on the student union.

"They're not as active as they should be, they're not promoting things as much as they should be," he said.