Advanced Education and Literacy Manitoba

Policies and Accountability

Policies

Tuition Fees

In 1999/00, tuition fees in Manitoba were reduced by 10% and were held at that level for a decade. In 2008/09, the Government announced that tuition fees would rise slowly back to 1999/00 levels while guarding against rate shock. For 2009/10 the Government announced that tuition fees would increase by 4.5% at universities, and up to $100 per program at colleges. For 2010/11, tuition fees increased by 5% at universities and by $150 per program at colleges.

The tuition fee policy applies to full and part-time students in for-credit programs leading to a graduate or undergraduate degree, a diploma and/or a certificate. Students in continuing education, market-driven training and contract training programs are not eligible for the benefit. Since 2000/01, government has provided colleges and universities with additional funding in recognition of the fact that they were unable to raise additional revenue through increases in tuition fees.

In 2002/03, Government announced that universities were free to set tuition fees for international students at any level deemed appropriate. This policy replaces the previous requirement that international student fees were to be set at 75% above the domestic tuition fee. The policy change is in response to a request made by each of Manitoba's universities for more autonomy in terms of setting tuition fees for international students. This allows universities to set fees for international students at whatever level they find consistent with their international recruiting strategy.

In Fall 2006, Government introduced a Manitoba Tuition Fee Income Tax Rebate that provides a 60% rebate to graduates of recognized post-secondary institutions on all eligible tuition fees after January 1, 2007.  Further information can be found on the Tuition Fee Income Tax Rebate website.

In July, 2008, the Government appointed Dr. Ben Levin as Commissioner on Tuition Fees and Accessibility to Post-Secondary Education in Manitoba. The report, released on March 31, 2009, included a literature review and several recommendations related to tuition and accessibility. A copy of the report on the Commission on Tuition Fees and Accessibility to Post-Secondary Education in Manitoba is available for download as well.

Accountability

The Council undertook the following accountability projects in partnership with the post-secondary education institutions:

Indicators Project

As part of the developing accountability framework in the Manitoba post-secondary system, indicators are being developed in consultation with the public universities and colleges. These indicators are designed to provide the Council on Post-Secondary Education with broad information relating to the post-secondary system's progress towards the five Manitoba Advanced Education and Literacy priorities established by the Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy.

The Council and post-secondary institutions continued to prepare indicators of student success including information on retention, attrition and graduation rates at colleges and universities.  Additional projects, including indicators of graduate employment at colleges and enrollment by socio-economic status are under development.

Program Costing

As another part of the developing accountability framework in the Manitoba post-secondary system, a common program-costing methodology has been developed in consultation with Manitoba's colleges and universities and the Apprenticeship Branch of Competitiveness, Training and Trade. This methodology employs common definitions, procedures and reporting formats to allow for better comparative analysis of financial data from public universities and colleges in the province. Data is collected annually from public universities and colleges.

Program Costing Methodology (228 KB)

Other Policies

Retention Indicator Methodology (79 KB)
Approving Proposals for New Baccalaureate Degrees with an Applied Focus (19 KB)
Delegated Authority of Minister’s Powers under The Degree Granting Act to COPSE (51 KB)
Policy Related to The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower) Act (35 KB)
Delegated Authority to Approve Acquisition and Disposal of Property by Colleges under The Colleges Act (35 KB)

Other Policy and Accountability Activities

Other policy and accountability activities can be found in the Council’s Annual Reports.