Algoma University College hikes tuitions

Tuitions at Algoma University College will increase four percent for all students starting in September, 2006, AUC's board of governors has decided.

The tuition hike, agreed on at a board meeting last night, is short of the 4.5 percent maximum increase allowed for first-year students, and equal to to the four percent maximum for all continuing second, third or fourth year co-eds.

"It's less than the 4.5 percent maximum allowance which most universities are taking," AUC President Dr. Celia Ross said. "We're choosing the four percent raise across the board because it's not always easy to determine which year of a program a student is in, and we'd rather treat all students equally," she said.

The hike brings the cost of one full-time year of studies at Algoma University College to $5,616 - a $216 increase from last year when the tuition fees across the province were frozen.

Tuition fees at Algoma University are still noticeably lower than those of other Ontario postsecondary schools.

No other student costs will change, and Dr. Ross said that revenue garnered by this increase will benefit all students studying at the university.

Corresponding with the tuition fee increases, student financial aid programs including scholarships, grants, and bursaries will also be increased.

Faculty changes

Many new faculty hirings are also taking place at AUC.

"We're really putting an emphasis on faculty hiring this year," said Ross . "It's been keeping the dean's office very busy!"

The faculty changes are expected to encourage and facilitate program developments within the school.

Two faculty additions that were highlighted during last night's meeting were Dr. Istvan Imre to the biology department and Dr. Noni Boyle to the Department of Fine Arts Studies.

Further department expansions include the addition of Ms. Anna Boyonoski to the geography department and Ms. Margaret Wallace to the English department.

Faculty hirings are also currently in progress in the Department of Modern Languages to replace Dr. Elizabeth Gerwin, in the sociology department to replace Dr. Margo Francis, in the business department to replace Mr. Jay Field, and to expand the departments of business administration and law & justice.

Algoma University College is also welcoming Ken Hernden as the Arthur Wishart Library director in September 2006.