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11 July 2003
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Federation of Students 
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UW will follow Laurier tuition deregulation
Wilfrid Laurier University is moving towards deregulating its business program, which if completed, will affect the double-degree program in math and business that it operates jointly with University of Waterloo. Laurier will make a final decision in September before the universities' fair in Toronto so that prospective students can be told whether they would pay deregulated tuition or not. Since 1998 in Ontario graduate programs, medical and law programs as well as undergraduate programs in engineering, computer science and upper-year business or commerce have been deregulated. Undergraduate engineering and computer science programs were deregulated at UW as a part of a government program to expand enrolment in information technology. Students currently in WLU's business program would not have to pay deregulated tuition and first year tuition would still be regulated. The first students to pay deregulated tuition will enter school in 2004. They will not have to pay deregulated tuition until they enter second year in 2005. Alan George, dean of mathematics, isn't sure exactly what will happen but that some change will happen if Laurier does deregulate. "All I can really say is there have been discussions about the implications. There's no doubt there will have to be some changes to maintain some element of consistency," George said. Scott Carson, dean of business and economics, is sure that Waterloo's program will change if Laurier's does. "That program [double degree math and business administration] would be affected. Its tuition would be deregulated," said Carson. Students can apply to the double-degree program from either university and there are 60 spaces at each faculty. This year, tuition in mathematics is $2,822.44 per term and tuition in business at Laurier is $2,824.29. Laurier's process of deregulating began last year in December, when the School of Business and Economics formed a committee to explore deregulation. The principle of deregulation passed through committees of Laurier's senate and through its senate and board of governors over the spring. After endorsement from various levels, WLU president Bob Rosehart sent a letter of intent to the provincial government to see if they could proceed with deregulation. According to Carson the government recently responded allowing WLU the freedom to set tuition levels in business, "Two weeks ago the government responded giving its approval," he said. Carson feels it would be a shame to deregulate the program, but he believes it is the best course of action. The school has been funding a deficit with surplus money from its already deregulated MBA program. Some of the school's costs have increased recently as they hired new faculty to meet requirements for international accreditation. Carson acknowledges that not deregulating is still an option, "We can deregulate or back our cost structure off," he said, "We wouldn't fill limited-term appointments." |