University of Winnipeg approves 3.75% tuition hike as revenues slump from COVID-19

The University of Winnipeg will hike tuition by an average of 3.75 per cent this fall, as it grapples with sinking revenues owing to the pandemic.

The university is going ahead with a 2020-21 tuition increase that will translate into an extra $118 fee for the averagestudent, the post-secondary institution announced Monday after its board of regents approved the upcoming $140-million budget.

The spike in tuition won't cushion the financial blowlevelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, however. The U of W expects "substantial revenue losses" most notably ininternational student numbers, housing, parking, printingand recreational services, the institution's website says.

It is forecasting $11.3 million in lower revenues than it did a few months ago, stemming from both the pandemic's impact and the already announced 3.7 per cent cut in grant funding from the province.

The $140 million budget reflects thelower provincialgrant, but the university willapply to recoup thatmoney. After a public backlash, the province changed course and decided to give post-secondaryinstitutions the money it was planning to slashfrom their budget, provided they demonstrate how the funding will align with the needs of the labour market.

The U of W will find savings this year by leaving job vacancies empty and cutting back ondiscretionary travel, supplies, securityand campus services, the university's website said.

'Extraordinary budgetary situation'

"While UWinnipeg has worked strenuously for many years to restore financial stability, implications of the global pandemic have made for an extraordinary budgetary situation in 2020,"presidentAnnette Trimbee said.

The university is embarking this fall on delivering the bulk of its educational programmingonline, rather than in-person, to try and stem the spread of COVID-19.

The university last year increased tuition by 3.7 per cent for most programs. Before then, tuition jumped by 6.6 per cent in the 2018-19 academic year.