SSU Partners on International Student Advocacy Campaign

Dear Sheridan Community,

As you may have seen on our social media channels, we at the SSU have partnered up with other Student Unions across Ontario to advocate for the better treatment of international students. They have upended their life to pursue new opportunities here in Canada, and the reality of their life here does not match the expectations that they are made to believe before arriving. This coalition of organizations is committed to pushing for changes not just at the college level, but up to the provincial level. Together, with your help, we can stand up and push for real, impactful change.

Our campaign, #NeedOrGreed focuses on whether colleges are charging such high tuition rates for international students based on need, or purely out of greed. The answer to this problem is a lot more complicated and must take into account other considerations. It is undeniable that international tuition is high, but lack of affordable housing, lack of living wages, poor healthcare infrastructure, and lack of social programs for international students all contribute to financial insecurity and difficult living situations. These issues cannot be solved by simply lowering tuition for international students; these ongoing problems are only part of the twisted picture of issues that international students face here in Canada. It will take a collective effort to raise awareness of all these problems, which is why we need you to speak up and join us in our push for change.

Please follow our social media campaign, visit our website, and help us out however you can. There are many ways to get involved, and our website will show you some options to do so. If you would like to learn more about the challenges international students face, and some of the underlying causes of these issues, there is an essay posted on the SSU site that outlines the root causes and some potential solutions to these challenges.

If you or someone you know is facing significant challenges while living and studying here at Sheridan, I would be happy to meet and discuss. Having your voice heard will only strengthen our advocacy, and I can offer support, resources, and services available to help improve your situation.

Thank you,

Kyle Budge

President, Sheridan Student Union

kyle.budge@sheridancollege.ca

Want to discuss the Need or Greed Campaign?

As mentioned, if you would like to speak to the SSU president directly about your concerns, thoughts or opinions on your international student experience, please reach out for support.