Open Letter to the Government of Alberta
The Students’ Association of MacEwan University (SAMU) is a non-profit organization based in Edmonton, Alberta that represents over 19,000 MacEwan University students in institutional, municipal, provincial, and federal advocacy. We (President Nathan N. Poon and Vice President External Alem Tesfay) write to you to express deep concern about the recently announced changes to student aid eligibility in Alberta.
The changes include both an increase in the minimum mandatory student contribution level from $1500 to $3000, as well as the mandatory consideration of parental or spousal income (when present).
These changes pose to worsen the already alarming state of student affordability in Alberta. Food, housing, and educational costs are becoming impossible to balance for many students, pushing many to either leave education, skip meals, or live in unsafe housing. For many, an increase in minimum contribution will be the difference between having access to higher education, and being priced out. Given that advanced education is a key factor in building skills for employment and earning a living, this change is deeply alarming.
The mandatory consideration of parental or spousal income is particularly concerning, given the complexities of many students’ home and family lives. SAMU believes that for students in complex, unsafe, or abusive home dynamics, this change will subject students to controlling dynamics or else threaten their ability to pursue an education. Particularly for women, by introducing a systemic reliance on one’s parents or partner this policy will greatly heighten the risk of coercion inherent to our educational funding process.
Additionally, many healthy, loving families will be affected by these new requirements as they do not have the means in reality to pay for their child’s education. The new formula for determining a students’ eligibility does not take into account, for example, whether the student has additional siblings pursuing post-secondary, or what the family’s additional living costs may include. While many parents or spouses would love to pay for their loved one’s education, it is often not possible, which is the exact reason we have a student aid program.
The right to pursue a fulfilling and financially relevant education is integral to the continued development of Alberta’s young people and their place in the workforce. These changes to the student aid program will price out many young people who otherwise would have the opportunity to pursue the field of study and career most relevant to their skills are interests, informed by their financial needs and goals. This change will have catastrophic results for students aiming to improve their economic position who may come from less wealthy families, and will privilege those who already are able to afford to pursue their desired path.
Given the above concerns, SAMU urges the Government of Alberta to reconsider the outlined changes to the student aid program. Additionally, we ask that investment in Alberta student aid is focused on non-repayable, widely accessible options which prioritize affordability and access for as many Albertans as possible.