News

Students Nova Scotia is calling on Nova Scotia’s public post-secondary institutions, once again, to pursue Wagemark certification to ensure fair wages. The mandatory disclosure of public salaries above $100,000, completed today, revealed that departing executives at Dalhousie and StFX took home $442,141 and $385,730 in 2013-14, while the average salary for top-paid employees at Nova Scotia’s public post-secondary institutions was $265,000.

A report released this morning by StudentsNS reviews the youth employment situation in Nova Scotia and concludes that leadership is critically needed from government, employers and post-secondary institutions. No More Farewells: Making a Place for Youth in Nova Scotia’s Economy recommends a suite of initiatives to create opportunities for youth to build their lives in Nova Scotia. The report release also marks the launch of Farewell to Nova Scotia, a campaign calling on the Provincial government to reinvest funds saved through the elimination of the Graduate Retention Rebate (GRR).

Student representatives have been informed that they will be excluded from this year’s universities-government Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Negotiations for the first time since 2005. Both opposition parties included students at the MOU table when in power. The move represents an about-face on promises made by the Liberal Party in advance of the 2013 election.

Data released today by the Maritime Provinces’ Higher Education Commission reveals that most Nova Scotia universities have systematically subverted the province’s 3% tuition cap since 2011-12. Ancillary fees charged by universities have increased 40% in this time, or 13.4% per year. These increases are in addition to 3% annual increases in tuition, which were also confirmed in the MPHEC release.

Nova Scotia student unions are pleased to announce the launch of an independent review of their Democratic Governance. The review will be completed by consultant Michael Hughes, with oversight from an advisory committee comprised principally of former student union leaders.

Nova Scotia students greeted the Province’s decision to permit international graduates to access the Provincial Nominee Program’s Skilled Worker stream with confusion. While the change may facilitate some students’ immigration, it comes only weeks after the government cut $35 million from retention of domestic and international graduates.

A report released this morning by Students Nova Scotia argues that universities and the Province must do more to track and improve student learning. Focus on Learning: A Student Vision for Improving Post-Secondary Education in Nova Scotia recommends new initiatives and policies to strengthen quality of instruction, monitor student learning and improve program review. 

Nova Scotia students are frustrated by the Provincial Government’s decision to permit 3% tuition growth at Nova Scotia’s universities for the 2014-15. The news comes just weeks after the Province eliminated the Graduate Retention Rebate and cut $35 million from support for students and graduates.

Students were shocked today by the Province’s budget that it will be eliminating the Graduate Retention Rebate without reallocating funding to support youth success in Nova Scotia. Compared with new expenditures on supporting student and graduate employment, the Province will be saving approximately $33.85 million in 2014-15.

Students Nova Scotia welcomed the Province announcement today that it will cease charging Nova Scotia residents interest on their provincial student loans. It brings total investments in improving the Nova Scotia student assistance program to approximate $25 million in four years. At a cost of $1.6 million, the policy will reduce the debt costs for approximately 18,000 Nova Scotians by an average of $800.