The University of Saskatchewan Student’s Union is looking to have their voice heard when it comes to the upcoming Saskatchewan budget and election.
According to the USSU, they have developed six calls for the Government of Saskatchewan to consider, relating to their vision and their goal to lobby for accessible and affordable post-secondary education.

The six calls include:
-An Increase to Unrestricted Institutional Funding
-Reasonable and Predictable Tuition Policy
-Subsidy for Open Educational Resources from the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship
-Scholarships, Grants, and Bursaries for International Students
-Eliminating Interest on Student Loans
-Tuition Waiver for Students in Foster Care

USSU President Regan Ratt-Misponas says students communicate with him frequently regarding affordability hardships.

“I’ve heard from many students that are working 2 or 3 jobs in order to make ends meet. All the while trying to maintain some sense of security while they’re paying tuition, while they’re paying all the bills that they have, on top of being able to keep up with their day to day studies.”

One of the points calls for a more predictable tuition policy which Ratt-Misponas explains would hopefully also limit the amount of tuition increases over four years.

“Essentially just to ensure that students have a little more foresight of what they are paying before hand. Say, a first year student that is coming back for their second year, that they might be able to know if they are going to be able to afford being able to come to school before changes are made.”

The USSU has sent the letter to the Minister of Advanced Education, the Critic for Advanced Education and the Official Opposition of Saskatchewan. The USSU hopes to see some of their call heard to make post-secondary education more affordable in the future.