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The Okanagan College Students’ Union (OCSU) has expressed its concerns over mental, physical and financial health issues on the school’s campus.
Student Union internal director Nancy deMelo relayed those concerns on to the Okanagan College Board of Governors on Tuesday.
The OCSU is calling for the college to bring back a campus nurse, ensure that four counsellors are employed on the Kelowna campus by 2020, support Open Education Resources and support initiatives towards creating affordable student housing.
While deMelo recognizes the challenges the school faces while making budgetary decisions, she doesn’t want that burden to fall on students.
“The Board of Governors is continually forced to make challenging decisions regarding tuition fees due to the provincial funding cuts to post-secondary institutions,” she said.
“But these cuts should not be offloaded onto the backs of students, nor should access to essential services be declining.”
The financial and mental strain on students pursuing their studies are vast and deMelo says it’s important for decision makers to be aware of this.
She says the OCSU is committed to lobbying for the rights of students, with a focus on accessible and affordable post-secondary education.
The Board of Governors will vote on tuition fees and the overall budget during an open session meeting on March 1.
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