Concordia’s Board of Governors finally succeeded in raising tuition for international students by $1,000 a year last Friday, after four failed meetings, including one in June of questioned legality.
Concordia violated the provincial Corporations Act when it called the closed-door teleconferencing meeting in June, only legal with the approval of all board members. The teleconference was called when a meeting a week prior failed to reach quorum.
Ruling that the teleconference meeting was arguably illegal, the Quebec Superior Court judge granted the Concordia Student Union (CSU) a preliminary injunction to stop the hike. Elie Chivi, CSU Vice-President Communications, was pleased the injunction reprimanded Concordia for circumventing provincial rules.
“Our administration knows we will hold them responsible,” he said.
The first attempt to raise tuition was in September 2007, but as the school aimed to collect money for the term already in session, the proposal was delayed. At the next meeting in March, 200 protesting Concordia students were unsuccessful in persuading enough Board members to vote against the raise.
The CSU demonstrated again to prevent the hike on Friday outside the University’s in-person meeting, but with the CSU unable to legally challenge the administration further, the tuition hike passed.
“Legally, we’ve done everything we can,” Chivi said.
The CSU is planning to restart applying political pressure to prevent future international hikes.