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Kelowna  

Okanagan College students ask for help with mental health, finances

Students face sacrifice

With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll across the world and here in the Okanagan, the Okanagan College Student's Union is calling on the college to address student's mental health and well-being.

Joe Welton, a member of the Okanagan College Student's Union tells Castanet, "student enrollment across all institutions is down and likely won't pick up again until the pandemic is gone."

Welton and his fellow students have identified four areas they say Okanagan College can focus on in an effort to help student's mental and financial well-being.

Welton and other board members addressed the Okanagan College Board of Governors in a Zoom presentation on Tuesday.

The students pitched several ideas they say are within the school's ability to change.

The OCSU called on the institution to focus on four points:

  1. Educate students on consent culture
  2. Hire additional counsellors
  3. Support Open Education Resources (a free, accessible, adaptable peer-reviewed online platform for textbooks and course materials)
  4. Consider creating a tuition-fee limit policy for International students.

"Making adjustments to these four areas, we feel is within the school's control and would benefit both students and staff," says Welton.

The students wanted to ensure that decision-makers at Okanagan College are aware of, "the sacrifices and strains students are facing, now more than ever."

Despite pleas from the student union, the Board of Governors voted in favour of a two per cent increase for domestic student tuition fees. The Board of Governors will vote on the overall budget at the March Board meeting and on international student tuition fees at a subsequent meeting.



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