KSA student fees getting a hike

This semester Kwantlen students will be paying a little more in student fees than in previous years.

By Matthew Bossons
[travel bureau chief]

Students and some Kwantlen Student Association members are grumbling about the new fees and several increases imposed by the KSA.

Approved in last years referendum, some students, like fashion student Natalie Reid, were not aware of the changes.

“I’m there everyday, and get their emails everyday, and I haven’t heard anything about it. Since the majority of students pay for their own school, the fact that they can’t even make it known to all students is really disappointing,” says Reid, a Fashion Marketing student. “And not to mention a lot more stressful since I pay for my own school.”

Some KSA members are unhappy with the increase in fees, and feel it is the wrong solution to a series of efficiency problems afflicting the KSA.

Through email correspondence with The Runner, Shanal Prasad, current KSA Director of Finance, writes, “Members of the KSA, not myself, believe more money is needed to grow current programs and to start new programs. I disagree strongly on this point, as I feel the current KSA programs are weak, not properly developed, and throwing money at the problem isn’t going to fix anything. I’ve been a harsh critic on this and am very frustrated Council passed through the fee increases. My stance has been to reduce fees if anything; the KSA is very poor at making effective use of funds.”

No plans have been made on how to spend the increased revenue

Open Admission and Selective Entry Course fees will increase as follows:

• Lobby Fund: Was $0.22 now $0.29 per credit.
• SUB Capital Fund: Was $0.30 now $0.95 per credit.
• START Volunteer Program: Was $0.20 now $0.37 per credit.
• Reboot Computer Service: Was $0.20 now $0.30 per credit.
• Student Association Extended Health Plan: Was $93 now $97 per year.
• Student Association Dental Plan:  Was $86 now $90 per year.
• Intramurals: Was $0.21 now $0.25 per credit.

New Fees:

• Peer Counseling: $0.15 per credit.
• Advocacy Service:$0.10 per credit.
• The Social Justice Fee: $0.15 per credit.

Similar charges will affect students in Fixed Term Programs and Full-time Continuous Intake Programs:

• Lobby Fund: Was $0.20 now $0.27 per credit.
• SUB Capital Fund: Was $0.28 now $0.86 per credit.
• START Volunteer Program: Was $0.18 now $0.35 per credit.
• Reboot Computer Service: Was $0.18 now $0.27 per credit.
• Intramurals: Was $0.19 now $0.23 per credit.
• Student Association Extended Health Plan: Was $93 now $97 per year.
• Student Association Dental Plan: Was $86.00 now $90.00.

New Fees:

• Peer Counseling: $0.14 per credit. -Social Justice Fee: $0.14 per credit.
• Advocacy Service: $0.09 per credit.