Students living in Humber’s residence are looking at a four per cent price increase for the 2024-2025 academic year. Some people living in dorms feel this is an unfair decision.
Leah Suter, a student in the University of Guelph Humber’s Media and Communications program and who is in her second year living in residence, said she doesn’t think it’s a justified increase.
She said even after the price increase in her first year, the general upkeep of the building has gone down significantly, so she can’t make sense of why they should have to pay more.
“It’s gotten worse since I moved here. Last year the food was better and the building was cleaner,” Suter said, “Aside from that, nothing has really changed. It’s just busier and more expensive.”
Jade Delisle, another student in his second year in Humber’s dorms, agrees.
“It just seems to be the same food, same service, the reflection of the money increase has not been there,” Delisle said.
Amber Woods, manager of Residence Admissions for Humber College, said that the residence is not looking to make money off of the students.
The 2023-24 residence rates were $7,840 for a traditional single room at North, while suite-style residences at North and Lakeshore are $9,856. Add to those fees are meal plans that range between $2,350 and $4,000.
“Humber Residence is operated on a break-even basis, meaning that we set our rates to align with covering the cost of operating our buildings and programs, but not with the intention of making a profit,” she said.
Woods also provided a breakdown of factors weighing into the increased room rates.
Some of these include window replacement and roof repair in R building, HRV gas burner replacements in T building, and tenant insurance for students staying in residence.
Another contributing cause is the new LAR residence at the Lakeshore Campus and the costs of additional staff required to operate it.
Woods said Humber’s plan to increase rates will not bring it over the GTA average, and when compared to other post-secondary institutions in the area, Humber’s rates fall on the lower end.
Blake Alexander, a third-year Professional Golf Management student who is in his final term in dorms, said he doesn’t feel the window project should take current priority.
Blake Alexander, a third-year Professional Golf Management student, has spent his entire program living in Humber's residence. Photo credit: Liam Neilson
“I’ve stayed in R, the windows work just fine. They open, they close, they do everything you need a window to do,” Alexander said.
“Maybe they should fix some of the other complaints instead of investing money into windows they don’t need, ” he said.
Hearing about the roof repair as a factor affecting rates, Alexander said he doesn’t feel it’s right to force students to pay more to keep the building in a livable condition.
Adam Hennessy, a first-year from the same program, said he was not even informed of the intended price increase. “This is the first I’m hearing of it,” he said.
Hennessy agreed with points made by other students, feeling that there isn’t much reason for the increase in fees.
“Nothing has changed since I’ve been here, so I can’t see them justifying it. I think the absurd amount of money we’re already paying should have been enough to cover what they want to do,” he said.
Anybody interested in comparing prices with the new increased room rates, including those like Hennessy who already live there and weren’t notified, can visit the rates page of the Humber Residence website.