Ontario University Students Are Demanding Cheaper Tuition As Classes Move Online

Just because your classes will be online, doesn’t mean they will be cheaper - some students are trying to change that. Ontario university students have started to demand lower tuition as classes become virtual this fall term. Several petitions have popped up online demanding lower fees, but some schools have already announced that tuition prices will not be changing this year. 

As more universities continue to announce that learning will happen virtually this year, many students are demanding cheaper costs since they will be learning from home. 

Students at Ryerson University are asking for tuition cuts ahead of the fall semester.

The online petition argues that the school’s move to virtual learning is not an adequate substitute for in-classing teaching and tutoring.

Despite the effort, it's reported that Ryerson’s president Mohamed Lachemi announced that fall 2020 tuition would not be reduced, stating the school must put long term economic health first.

Petitions from students at Sheridan are asking for a full or partial tuition refund, arguing that courses that require “hands-on” have suffered from a reduced quality of learning.

“It should also be acknowledged that such a drastic change to the curriculum does not come without detriment to our quality of learning."

"This is especially true in regards to programs centred around hands-on learning, as many curriculums cannot be completed without studio access,” a statement from Sheridan’s petition reads.

A similar petition was also created by students at Queen’s University who claim that their tuition was paid out for “a certain level of education.”

The petition states that since students won't be able to access certain tools and help, such as working sessions, in-class lectures, libraries, and study rooms, the price of tuition should reflect this.

Meanwhile, students at the University of Toronto are explicitly tackling the issue of lower tuition for international students.

The petition argues that while the impact of the pandemic has been difficult for all students, it has been particularly hard on those who live out of the country.

“With classes happening on an online basis and all facilities being closed, and therefore, a lower cost for the institution to operate as a whole, this is the ideal time for the university to support its International Students by waiving/reducing part of the tuition for the terms yet to begin,” the petition reads. 

Narcity has reached out to both Queen’s University and the University of Toronto for comment but has yet to hear back.

However, in the University of Toronto's latest fall update, no mention of lower tuition for students was made.