Lethbridge post-secondary students have been back in class since last week and already, some are starting to feel the financial strain of the rising cost of living. The University of Lethbridge has noticed an increase in students looking for scholarships and bursaries. “We all know that prices have gone up. The cost of food, the cost of fuel, and so everyone is struggling with extra costs. And so, we keep that in mind when we think about how we can support our students,” said vice-provost of students, Kathleen Massey. That mirrors what the University of Lethbridge Students Union (ULSU) is hearing from students. The union has already seen several students come in asking about financial support. “Overall, a lot of the things on top of tuition that goes up every single year, our students are kind of feeling it right off the bat. Just moving into the fridge alone is already a pretty high barrier when it comes to just paying for food, paying for transport and their daily expenses as a whole,” said ULSU president, Alejandro Figueroa. Most students will look to have a part-time job during school. But many are having a tough time finding a job that fits their school schedule. A recent study shows youth employment is down 8.8 per cent in Lethbridge since the pandemic. “I think it’s always such a challenge for our students, to be able to find a job that’s not just any kind of job that works, but it’s a job that actually fits within an academic calendar. Our students have to study throughout the day. Classes are not always the most stable in terms of what time they’ll be from semester to semester,” said Figueroa. The university is doing what it can to make more funds available for students. The U of L will be matching donor gifts up to $10 million to be made available to students through scholarships. “The university prioritizes scholarships and bursaries for our students. And this is because we have such generous donors. And what we try to do is ensure that students apply for those scholarships and bursaries so that we can help them to navigate their time at university,” said Massey.
