“We’re still in the process of asking for degree money. We’ve got our science degree and the board has approved the communications degree. Anytime we’re asking for money, we have to be cognizant that when the government gives you opportunities to generate revenue, you have to take advantage of that, if you will.”

Heslep also said if the college doesn’t move to the maximum allowable, they can’t make that up in future years. And with the economy taking a turn for the worse and the potential of lower increases in the future — tuition increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index — it could mean substantially smaller tuition increases in the future.

“In terms of the college budget, we know that we are going to be at considerable reduction to the maximum allowable.”

It could put a huge dent in the budgeting process for college administration as they struggle to meet cost increases without an increase in tuition costs. Staff and faculty wages will increase by 4.5 per cent for the next two years with a wage re-opener after that. Staff costs eat up anywhere between 70 and 80 per cent of the budget.

Money coming in from grants could also start to decline as the economy continues to slide. Projections provided to Heslep said the decline could start in 2010-2011, but with the price of oil slumping to below $40, projections could turn sour even sooner.

Officials from the Students’ Association have said they are disappointed with the hikes, but will fight the provincial government rather than MacEwan when it comes to tuition increases. 

“It’s still a point of contention, but it’s mandated by the government. Therefore, you know it’s going to go up,” said Maigan van der Giessen, president of the Students’ Association. “It’s not really a fight to take to the college. It’s a fight I will take to the province.”

During a week of lobbying planned for later this spring, student executives from across the province will be petitioning ministers and bureaucrats on everything from tuition to environmental standards.

For the SA, a major point of contention is the upcoming increase to gym access and athletics fees, where students will have to pay an extra $30 per year starting this fall. Van der Giessen said if the college is raising those fees, formally rolled into the Student Activity Fee, there should be some increase to service for students. 

“I think something fundamental we identified is ‘hey, you’re raising the price,’ fairly significantly, but you’re not giving us any extra services. We saw that immediately as there should be a give and a take.”

Van der Giessen also lashed out at the decision by the college to start charging the fees, a total of $140 a year, on students taking six credits.  Currently, the student activity fee is charged only to students taking nine credits worth of courses, with the option for students to “opt-up” in order to access the gym.

And with no new services to offer for the fee increase, van der Giessen said it’s hard to swallow. She said she would like to see more for students, such as the elimination of black-out periods at the gym, in return for the fee. She also said students shouldn’t be the only ones hit with fee increase for the gym and that the public should share the burden.

The college will be re-examining the public fee structure this year, according to Heslep, even though it’s outside the regular two-year cycle. She said there’s a recognition by the college that students shouldn’t be the only one carrying the burden, though she pointed out that fees for the gym haven’t increased in the last five years.