Enrollment rates not looking good for MRU
University introduces degree conversions in hopes to increase enrollment
Jon Lazo
Staff Writer
Mount Royal’s comprehensive institutional plan (CIP) released June 27, 2014, reports that the fall 2016 semester will receive a decline in enrollment, with a projected total of 8,800 new students. This is down from 2013’s, 9,434 student intake.
Post-secondary cut backs have continued to dampen prospective student’s hopes of attending the academic institution. Current trends state the emerging issue that there’s not enough seats available for students and not enough financial stability to meet projected budget demands.
This situation has forced institutions province-wide to implement additional tuition hikes in hopes of relieving financial uncertainty.
While the 2015/2016 school year hasn’t been assessed by MRU’s board of governors, current students aren’t convinced tuition will see changes implemented to make academia into a more accessible opportunity.
Arash Minhas, second year education student, says he believes post-secondary institutions have run out of sustainable financial options to uphold a certain standard of education, forcing higher debt rates for students.
“Under the shroud of providing service, they try to solve the problem of inflation with more inflation.”
Minhas further explained that tuition creates frustration and uncertainty, keeping individuals from perusing higher learning.
First year psychology student, Milanna Grossi, understands the difficulty that comes with provincial budgeting. Under the wake of a seven billion dollar deficit, future students may not sustain tuition fees.
She says she believes that simply turning to students as a driving source for financial reduction hinders student success.
“Students work [sic] a lot as is, there’s no way we can sustain more payments,” Grossi says.
At press time MRU’s media relations could not be reached for comment.