Students Left in the Dark About Looming Increases to Tuition as MacEwan University Moves Board of Governors Meeting Online to Avoid Student Feedback
March 26, 2026
In a move that shuts out students from the decision-making tables of the university, MacEwan University has rejected the call from over 1,000 students to stop the upcoming increase to tuition and fees for the 26-27 academic year, instead opting to move the Board of Governors meeting online to avoid a peaceful student sit-in. With a 2% planned increase to domestic tuition, 10% increase to internation tuition (the highest increase across the province), and a planned increase to nearly all mandatory non-instructional fees (MNIFs), MacEwan is set to make education less accessible on campus, especially for students who are already struggling to keep up with costs.
With affordability challenges rampant on campus, students are already skipping meals, selling their only vehicle if they own one, and living in unsafe housing in order to afford the cost of their education. Still, tuition and fee increases continue to be the norm on campus without clear rationale on how this additional funding will improve the student experience. A compounding pressure that makes this all the worse for students is the effects of inflation, which impact everything from food to housing to transportation.
“Not only is this unacceptable, it creates significant doubt about the institution’s willingness to prioritize student well-being in decision-making,” said Andrei Santiago, VP Governance and Finance at the Students’ Association of MacEwan University (SAMU). “Our survey data tells us that the majority of students have already cut out all non-essentials from their budget, and many are struggling to meet their basic needs as is. On the heels of numerous consecutive surpluses in the university budget, it’s unconscionable to put further financial strain on students,” Santiago added.
Since March 16, SAMU has been engaging with students to inform them about these changes and engage them in a letter-writing campaign, with a planned peaceful sit-in at the March Board of Governors meeting. Without SAMU’s push to engage students, there is often no communication from the university about upcoming increases until they have been implemented. With nearly 1,100 letters collected, the message from students is clear: these increases do more harm than good.
“We are disappointed that students won’t be given the opportunity to advocate for themselves through entirely peaceful and non-disruptive methods, especially given that universities are intended to be spaces for dialogue and discussion,” Santiago said.
Facts and figures from students on campus:
Compromised Living Conditions: To afford rent, students are settling for substandard conditions. Among students, 42.6% of off-campus renters report neighborhood safety concerns, 28.7% deal with unresponsive landlords, and 21.3% face severe pest issues, including cockroaches, bedbugs, and mice.
The “Free Rent” Myth: Living at home is no longer a free alternative. A significant cluster of students living with family are paying $500 to $1,000 per month in rent to their families.
Constant Anxiety Over Groceries: Nearly 70% of students experienced anxiety about their food supply running out before they could afford more (28.97% said this was “Often true,” and 39.74% said it was “Sometimes true”).
Food Insecurity: The affordability crisis has reached a point where more than a quarter of MacEwan students are going entire days without eating because they simply cannot afford food. Students are sacrificing their physical health for their education, with nearly 75% unable to afford balanced meals and over 65% rationing their daily food intake
Media Inquiries:
Parvin Sedighi, External and Stakeholder Relations Manager
sedighip@macewan.ca