Tuition caps up three per cent

New MOU spells out tuition hikes

The province of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia universities signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) today that is leaving much to be desired for students.

The government of Nova Scotia announced it will allow tuition for Canadian students to increase by three per cent per year for the next three years. This limit will not apply to medicine, dentistry or law faculties, or international students. Operating grants to universities will also be cut by three per cent for 2012/13.

To replace the cuts, the government will be pumping $25 million into a University Excellence and Innovation program that will require programs to bring out their competitive edge to receive the funds. At this time the government is not accepting project proposals for the funds.

The MOU also hopes to establish a sustainable, system-wide cost structure that will take into account the province’s fiscal capacities.

The MOU was signed by Marilyn More, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education, and the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents. It took effect on Jan. 1, 2012 and will expire March 31, 2015.