UCGSA Releases Two Major Advocacy Surveys

CALGARY——The University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association (UCGSA) has released two advocacy surveys that will inform their advocacy priorities for years to come. The first, titled Clear Savings, analyzes the results of UCGSA’s “Program Cost Survey.” Under the direction of former President Irtaza Sohail, UCGSA asked graduate students whether they accurately understood the costs associated with a UCalgary graduate program. The second is a 114 question Comprehensive Advocacy Survey, crafted under the direction of VP External and Interim President Sarah Kromm.

Results of Program Cost Survey Reveal Knowledge Gap

Of the 483 student responses to the program cost survey, 50% said they did not understand the full cost of their program when paying tuition and fees, and 14% still did not fully understand despite being months into the Fall semester. 

“Almost a third of our members underestimated the cost of their program by over $2,000, Mr. Sohail said. For about 7%, it was $10,000. For a large portion of graduate students, they were thousands of dollars in the hole before they even set foot on campus.”

While the survey results are distressing, the report notes that a supermajority of students would have prepared more financially had they known the full costs of their program, rather than drop out of graduate school or move to attend a different institution. Students also favoured less labour-intensive solutions to improving clarity around program costs, like online financial tools or more detailed admissions letters, suggesting that the University can build on existing initiatives, like the Tuition and Fees Consultation Website, to improve student’s long-term financial health. UCGSA, the Provost Office, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies co-hosted a focus group to modify the acceptance letters of incoming graduate students as well, showcasing how seriously all involved parties take this issue. 

Graduate Funding and Housing Affordability Major Concerns

The Comprehensive Advocacy Survey finds that most graduate students are moderately satisfied with the programs and administration at UCalgary, but that low stipends (74% saying this was at least a moderate concern) and high tuition and fees created serious barriers to student success. 

Municipally, housing was the most mentioned challenge, with a lack of family housing being a particular pinch-point for many. Food insecurity, lack of childcare support, and unreliable transit options also created noticeable obstacles for graduate students to flourish. 

“Half our responses said that a lack of family housing was at least a major concern,” Ms. Kromm said. “A lot of people don’t realize how many graduate students are parents and how important family accommodations are to their studies. 

“We’re just like any tax paying citizen in Canada,” she added, “and making sure our families are safe matters just as much as any research or teaching we do.” 

Funding was the most prominent issue at the provincial level, including a lack of research funding, lack of supports for Indigenous researchers, insufficient grants and bursaries, declining support for fieldwork and academic conferences, and high interest on student loans. Course-based students overwhelmingly noted that they lack the traditional funding opportunities available to thesis-based students. UCGSA has discussed these issues with Minister Myles McDougall and notes that several solutions have been proposed by both parties, some echoed in the recent Mintz Panel report.

For funding at the federal level, students identified insufficient funding for graduate research from the Tri-Council granting agencies, a lack of graduate student representation on their decision-making bodies, a complex application process, and no feedback on unsuccessful applications as severe concerns. 

Immigration was a primary concern for graduate students, including processing delays for study permits, post-graduate working permits, spousal open work permits, and the possibility of integrating into Canadian society—and work—post graduation. The GSA continues to have regular discussions with Parliamentary Secretary Corey Hogan, MP for Calgary—Confederation, to bring these concerns to IRCC. We are heartened to see that progress has been made in addressing some of these concerns, too. 

“The rule changes over the last few years have been hard to follow, and Canada’s reputation as a welcoming place for international talent has taken a hit,” Mr. Sohail said. “Groups like the Business Council of Alberta have talked about how America is more productive than us partially because they have more grad students per capita than we do.” 

“Less international grads means less innovation, lower productivity, and less cooperation with other country’s researchers,” Ms. Kromm added. “We’re glad that a lot of progress has been made. We just know our members are still struggling to navigate a highly complex immigration process.”