Monthly Archive for August, 2008

When you try to pay your tuition on http://go.sfu.ca/, it will not let you.

That’s Right! For those of you who are currently registered as an undergraduate student or are coming into Simon Fraser University, you will realize a message that says “We regret to inform you that effective September 1st, 2008, the University will no longer be accepting credit cards for tuition and ancillary fees.” on your enrollment appointment email.

Simon Fraser University is currently facing (estimated) $15 million deficit. This is because the Government of British Columbia put a maximum on how much universities can increase their tuitions by, which is 2%. Also, due to the inflation, the amount that the Government of British Columbia funded a few years ago is not as much as the amount funded now because they have not kept in pace with the inflation. The University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria are also in the same situation.

Currently, the University is spending too much money on Credit Card payments for tuition. When you pay by credit card anywhere, the credit card company (such as VISA or Mastercard) takes a percentage as processing fee. In this case, the credit card company is taking a percentage of your tuition to use as processing fee. The credit card company also charges the university for other fees. There are around 25,000 students at Simon Fraser University and if more than half of the students are taking more than 4 courses and are paying by credit card, then that would put the numbers in 7 figures).

In order to make up for the deficit, the University has decided to cut the credit card payment option for tuition (you can still use your credit card in the bookstore).

Not only are credit cards being removed from the University but tutorials, professor hours, amount of teaching assistants are being decreased. This is why Psychology doesn’t have anymore tutorial blocks.

Simon Fraser University is not the only university that is cutting the credit card processing feature. University of Alberta is doing it too [source] and they started on July 1, 2008.

If I remember correctly, a university in Alberta removed their credit card processing feature and a student paid their tuition at the school registrar using pennies.

This is bad news for those who are trying to get AirMiles .

Edit: I just received a message from Stephen Price from the Dean of Science office that “everyone still has the option of adding Simon Fraser University as a bill payee to their telephone or online banking account and paying that way (which is way better – no lines!).” He also provided a link for more information and that link can be reached here: http://students.sfu.ca/fees/howtopay/#tuition

A lot of students (first years) have been asking me what to do after they have registered their courses. After you register for your courses, you need to buy your textbook. Your textbook should be available on MySFU (http://my.sfu.ca/). It should list your courses, books and the prices that they sell it for at the bookstore. You can buy them either online or at the bookstore.

From my past experiences, it is cheaper to buy your courses from 3rd parties (such as Chapters, Amazon). Just copy and paste your ISBC number to the amazon or chapters search box and see their price. Throughout the course of the last 3 semesters, I have saved a total of more than $400 from the listed price at MySFU.

Another thing that I would recommend is that if you are in the sciences or applied science, I would recommend you to get the Chapters iReward card. You get to save 10% on all books or textbooks that you buy from them. 10% is a lot when you are buying science or applied science textbook. The math textbook costs around $140. You get to save $14. That is only one course. If you were to buy textbooks for 4-6 courses, you would save around $60-$90, even though the membership price is $20.

After getting your textbooks, you will have to pay your tuition. If you are paying before August 31, you have the option of paying by credit card on the internet. If you do not wish to pay by credit card or you are paying after September 1, you will have to go to the Student Services Center in the Maggie Benson Center and pay your tuition there. You have the option of paying by Cash, Certified Cheque, or Debit Card (i think).

In the upcoming week, I will post why you cannot pay by credit card after September 1.