No more Fees please!

By Amanda Almeida,
OCADSU Director of Academic and University Affairs

Brief: OCAD INCREASES TUTION AND APPROVES COMPULSORY PRODUCTION MATERIAL FEES ACROSS CAMPUS

Sadly it’s official: the Finance Committee of OCAD’s Board of Governors approved a motion to implement “Production Material Fees” for the majority of undergraduate studio classes on campus. This controversial new fee structure will be draining the wallets of all students commencing September 2010.

The Production Materials Fee was introduced as a way to balance overspent budgets for the basic supplies needed to run OCAD’s studios. As elected student representative on the Board of Governors and Finance Committee, I voiced my deep concern on behalf of OCAD’s students.

So what are the fees?

Essentially the Production Material Fee is a compulsory tuition-related ancillary fee, which varies depending on department and materials required in the studio. The fee itself is “for material used in the production of items which become the property of the student”. This fee will pay for materials such as nails, sandpaper, welding rods, inks, acid, screws and stains: all the items our tuition once paid for.

In September, you’ll find these fees listed in your online Fees Account on a per-course basis. The following chart outlines the actual approved fee structure for September 2010, listed by department:

For example, a 2nd year a fulltime Printmaking student taking their mandatory 7 studio courses will pay an additional $315.00 in September. In some scenarios, the proposed Production Material Fee increase is actually greater than the maximum allowable tuition fee increase for September 2010/11 (yes tuition is also going up 4% which is about $200). With student employment down, I do not think that the majority of OCADians will be able to afford these considerable increases. It’s unreasonable to assume that students can manage this unprecedented financial burden.

Currently programs charging students Production Materials Fees, such as Photography, have a cap in place. Few students are charged for Material Production Fees after 3 courses (approx. $150 max). I feel that the cap should remain in place to protect students. Removing it may force students who are already struggling financially to switch to part-time status, reduce course loads, increase student loans and overall debt or, worse, select courses based on cost over interest.

Tuition increases should be tied to qualitative improvements. Production materials were previously covered by our tuition – to support the learning environment. Ryerson doesn’t charge their students for chairs, whiteboard markers, or projector bulbs. York students don’t pay for air ventilation, or chalk. I understand that there is cost associated with maintaining studios, but that’s the business we’re in! What’s next? Paper-towel restocking fee? Pay-per-view PowerPoints?

In my opinion, removing these services from the tuition structure should allow for a concurrent reduction in tuition fees, or a significant increase in services and materials provided. It is as yet unclear whether either of these will be forthcoming.

One would hope that extra fees get us extra benefits.

I’m expecting some changes in the studios this year, and so should you.

Is there something you’ve wanted but hasn’t been available? Consider writing to the studio managers, your department chairs, and the deans: make sure you get what you pay for.

You can email Amanda at academicanduniversityaffairs@ocadsu.org or visit the OCADSU Office at 51 McCaul St.