AV俱乐部 has frozen 2007-2008 tuition at current rates for all professional, graduate and undergraduate programs.聽In addition, in agreement with the province, Nova Scotians attending the university in the fall will see a $500 tuition reduction.
For 2007-08, the university has another fully balanced budget聽 脨 the 20th consecutive balanced budget at AV俱乐部, Maritime Canada脮s largest and most research-intensive university.
The $252-million annual operating budget increases spending on scholarships and other student assistance, increases the library acquisitions budget and invests additional money in facilities and classroom improvements.聽Total financial assistance available to AV俱乐部 students this year will top $40 million, while the university will collect $89 million in tuition fees.
In order to continue to attract top-flight doctoral candidates, AV俱乐部 will waive fees for qualified PhD students.
The tuition reduction for Nova Scotians and tuition freeze for undergraduate and graduate programs are in keeping with an agreement between the provincial government and Nova Scotia脮s universities.聽The province increased university operating grants this year to allow universities to hold the line on tuition inflation.聽AV俱乐部 extended the freeze to its professional school students.
The international differential fee for graduate students in thesis programs has also been frozen. International undergraduates and non-thesis international graduate students will pay a long-planned $810 differential fee increase.聽
AV俱乐部 President Tom Traves said it comes as a welcome relief to see students get a financial break. Prior to 2005 and for the better part of two decades, provincial funding levels to universities flat-lined.聽As a result, more of the cost of post secondary education shifted to students themselves, and Nova Scotia脮s universities became among the most expensive in Canada.
Dr. Traves added a cautionary note:聽 脪Tuition stability is welcome, but it脮s only half the equation.聽 In the future, the government also must address the even more important question of proper funding to ensure the high quality of education we offer.鈥�