Photo: Contributed - tpnl.org

A proposed tuition increase for adult education programs has the faculty association at Thompson Rivers University up in arms.

In an email, the association takes issue with a motion to impose a $1,600 per semester tuition fee on all Adult Basic Education and English as a Second or Additional Language programs.

The motion will be voted on today by the university's board of governors.

The programs, which provide students with employment, learning and language skills and remedial courses necessary for access to further education at TRU have been tuition-free since 2008.

“If the board imposes a fee on these courses, that would be bad news for our students and would put future enrolment at risk,” said Tom Friedman, president of the Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association. 

“What doesn’t make sense in this proposal is that the majority of ABE and ESL students at our institution move on to take certificate, diploma and degree programs after completing their ABE or ESAL courses. Those courses provide a much-needed access point for many students, and the tuition fee increases will put that access point at risk."

By imposing the fees, Friedman said the board threatens to close the door on students.

Fundamentally, he said that is not why the institution was established in the first place.

“Over the past number of years, the chairs of the University and Employment Preparation Department have tracked student enrolments, and it shows that approximately two-thirds or more of the ABE students have gone on to take additional TRU courses,” Friedman added. 

“While senior administrators may think the increase will not have any impact on future enrolment, the tracking information suggests otherwise.  The board would do well to consider rejecting this proposal and seek the input of faculty, students and the community rather than push ahead with this increase."