University admin fees not fair for First Nations

UPDATE:  Since our story ran in August, York University contacted both Dokis First Nation and ONECA saying that they will no longer charge the administrative fee for sponsored students.  Still waiting to hear from Laurentian University and others in Ontario.

By Marci Becking

DOKIS FIRST NATION – Education administrator Sharon Goulais says that more universities in Ontario are charging and administration fees for First Nations students – just to send a bill.

“York University is the newest one charging this fee,” says Goulais who has six students from Dokis attending York this fall. “York charges $150 per student and Laurentian University charges $100 per student. I have ten going to Laurentian this fall.”

To get around this fee, First Nations ask the students to send the invoice from their university to the First Nation to pay.

“It’s up to us to keep up on the students to remind them to submit the invoice on time,” says Goulais.  “It’s hard for us to maintain our post-secondary education program – extra fees make it difficult for First Nations to absorb.  We fight for every bit of our education funding.”

Wendy Larivere, post-secondary education administrator for Nipissing First Nation, says that these fees are annoying.

“We have our students submit their invoices to us and then we pay York the tuition,” says Larivere.  “We also had an incident where a student was taking part-time online courses through Laurentian and they were charged athletic fees.  The school says that’s how they off-set costs.”

The Ontario Native Education Counselling Association (ONECA) president Roger Chum says that the issue is being addressed.

“I have requested the policy/procedure from the Registrar at York University concerning the justification of the fees,” says Chum who was also involved with a focus group with the Ontario University Student Council at the ONECA conference.  “We specified our concerns in a recorded session and hope that this is addressed at their meetings.”

In the meantime, First Nations like M’Chigeeng make it a rule for students to submit their invoices on time to the First Nation or they don’t get the funding.