Alberta’s post-secondary students unite to send clear message to the province: you can’t keep cutting classes
ALBERTA – With the 2025 Alberta budget set to be announced later this month, the overwhelming majority of Alberta’s post-secondary institutions’ student associations have teamed up to send one simple message to the Government of Alberta – stop cutting classes.
25 of Alberta’s universities and colleges student leaders are signing off on a joint open letter campaign that is sounding the alarm that the budget cuts which began at 2019 have left Alberta’s future in jeopardy. Not only are these cuts one of the leading reasons that has dropped to the sixth-most education province, but the future of Alberta’s workforce could see dramatic effects within the next few years.
60% of bachelor’s students in Alberta are expected to graduate with at least $25,000 worth of debt, and that same number rings true for about 1/3 of college students as well. This is one of the major reasons that so many students are leaving Alberta, meaning there are fewer residents to enter the workforce.
“Students are sending a clear message that enough is enough and packing up and leaving this province, which is a recurring trend among similarly funded sectors like healthcare and children’s education,” said University of Calgary’s Students’ Union President Ermia Rezaei-Afsah. “The quality of Alberta’s post-secondary education keeps declining, and at this point it’s hard not to feel that this is by design.”
This sentiment is being echoed by Lily Schaerer, Chair of the Alberta Students Executive Council (ASEC), which represents 15 of Alberta’s colleges, polytechnics, and universities.
“Alberta historically has been a leader in education, and that is why the Alberta economy has set the standard within Canada for decades. However, with post-secondary funding receiving annual cuts since 2019, it is time to sound the alarm that Alberta’s economic future is being put at risk,” said Schaerer.
Between the membership of ASEC, as well as the individual undergraduate and graduate unions, 290,000 of Alberta’s students are calling for desperately-needed funding to be allotted in this year’s budget. Those student numbers represent more than 7% of Alberta’s total population.
“The price of everything continues to climb, from living expenses to mandatory non-instructional fees, and nearly every university and trade school in the province is underfunded. The message sent is that students and institutions are on our own,” said Lisa Glock, president of the University of Alberta Students’ Union.
Many students’ associations already submitted their requests for what they want to see in the budget over the past six months, but now this letter is making it clear where they all agree – Alberta cannot afford to keep cutting classes. With the province set to announce its budget in the coming weeks, time will tell if this government recognizes the importance of prioritizing its future.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Nathan Ross, Manager of Communications and Government Relations
University of Calgary Students’ Union
403-835-1836 or Nathan.ross@ucalgary.ca
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Interview availability on February 11. Please note that all potential interviewees are available from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. except where noted.
Calgary
- Ermia Rezaei-Afsah, President, University of Calgary Students’ Union
- Tala Abu Hayyaneh, President, Students’ Association of Mount Royal University
- Ahmad Baker, President, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Students’ Association
- Hunter Yaworski, Vice President External, University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association
Edmonton
- Lisa Glock, President, University of Alberta’s Students’ Union
- Haseeb Arshad, President, University of Alberta’s Graduate Students’ Association, available from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Lethbridge
- Maleeka Thomas, President, University of Lethbridge Students’ Union
Urban Colleges & Rural Alberta
- Lily Schaerer, Chair, Alberta Students’ Executive Council AND President, Students’ Association of Medicine Hat College, available from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.