Seniors no longer entitled to free education at the U of A

Emily Rowan and Rae Ehrman: now obliged to pay for courses

As of May 1, 1999, all new senior students at the U of A (those aged 65 and over) will have to pay tuition. The Board of Governors voted in favor of abolishing fee remissions on the recommendation of the Board Finance and Property Committee. The new policy will not affect those currently taking classes for another two years.

The fee-remission policy dates back about 30 years. It was a source of community outreach and gesture of respect for seniors' life experiences. But in this age of higher education costs, the policy had to be revisited.

"In dealing with concerns of students in general, there was a sense within the administration it was a bit inappropriate to be obliged to increase fees for students in general, and then to single out one segment of the population and ask them not to pay any fees at all, or give them the option of not paying any fees at all," says Brian Silzer, associate vice-president and registrar. "A second concern, other than the inequity of that provision, is that as we go along here, there will be a larger and larger percentage of the population in the seniors' category," adds Silzer. Currently, there are five seniors enrolled in full-time studies and 28 in part-time studies at the University of Alberta.

Silzer says it's a step in the right direction, before aging baby boomers create a seniors' boom. Free classes for this age group in the future might put the U of A in a difficult financial situation. "Not many businesses survive by providing free goods," he says.

Seventy-three-year-old Emily Rowan is grateful for the free education she had, which she says has changed her perspective on life. Rowan graduated with a BA from the U of A in 1994 and had her fees remitted from the time she turned 65. "I volunteer as a tutor for the Community Cultures Institute teaching English-as-a-second-language. I probably wouldn't be able to do it if I hadn't taken [university classes]. I have an indebtedness to my community, because I was given this opportunity," says Rowan. In addition to many other volunteer activities, Rowan uses the knowledge she acquired during her studies in Slavic literature to help immigrants adjust to a new culture, language and life in Canada.

Rowan says the small number of seniors at the U of A are not imposing on the system. "It's just one more paper for the TA to scan," she says. "I would hate them to cancel it just because it's an inconvenience. And I am sure there are not that many who are taking advantage of it." Rowan is concerned some seniors will not be able to go to university if they have to pay full tuition.

"The 18-year-old is not paying 100 per cent for his or her education either. It is subsidized by generations past. If a student was to pay for everything they got on campus, it would be prohibitive. It is a social institution," adds Rowan.

The Students' Union president, Sheamus Murphy, is sympathetic to seniors and thinks it is an unfortunate but necessary step. "The university is not in a position to be providing anybody with a free education," he says. Murphy says it is a symptom of a bigger problem: lack of public support for the university. He is also concerned about the next student group having to pick up the shortfall.

Not all senior students took advantage of the free education. Some were not aware of it, like 71-year-old student, Rae Ehrman. She hasn't had any of her fees remitted but that hasn't stopped her from taking courses. Still, Ehrman says, "I think that it is very unfortunate if they have to [eliminate fee remissions]." In the meantime, she will look into remission of fees for the courses she plans to take in the next two years.

There is no real consensus on what other large institutions around the country are doing with this issue. UBC and U of C do not charge seniors tuition. McGill University charges seniors at a discount, while U of T charges regular fees but provides special bursaries for those seniors who cannot afford classes on their own.

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