Release Date: May 27, 2003
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University of Regina sets 2003-04 budget
The University of Regina announced its first $100 million budget today, emphasizing its commitment to striking a balance between quality programming and financial prudence.

President David Barnard said that in approving the expenditure of $103 million – a 5.8 per cent increase over 2002-03’s budget – the University’s Board of Governors produced a balanced budget that provides for expanded services and support for students, new investments in research infrastructure, and provisions for the University’s capital needs.

Barnard said the University was challenged to continue to provide higher levels of service to students and the community, and without a matching increase in government funding costs to students will rise.

The 2003-04 budget calls for an 8.5 per cent increase in tuition fees and course fees. That brings students’ share of the operating budget to 32.8 per cent, compared to 29.97 per cent five years ago. An increase of about $2 million in provincial operating grants is insufficient to cover a $4.5 million increase in mandatory costs such as salaries and utilities. The province’s share of operating costs has fallen to about 57 per cent, from about 63 per cent five years ago.

“The Board of Governors had lengthy discussions about the impact of a tuition increase on students,” said Barnard. “We must continue to grow and improve our program, but we share our students’ concerns about the resulting tuition increase. We’re looking forward to working with the Students’ Union to address this issue with government officials.”

Meanwhile, the University is providing funds to help cushion the impact of the tuition increase, and add value to student programs. The budget provides:

- an additional $250,000 in scholarships and bursaries;

- an increase of $100,000 in the library’s acquisition budget;

- $770,000 to cover base utility costs for the new student
residences and the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport;

- an ongoing program to capture the savings realized from early retirements, investing them strategically in academic programs and scholarship; and

- significant support for research infrastructure, which supports the quality of instruction at the University by attracting new faculty and investment.

Complete fee schedules are available in the University's Policy and Procedures manual on the web at:
http://www.uregina.ca/presoff/vpadmin/policymanual/
students/90200501.html