Student Choice Initiative FAQ

Important Invoicing Information

Note: The Student Choice Initiative is not in effect for 2020/2021 invoices.

The provincial government’s Student Choice Initiative was quashed in court Nov. 21. As a result, non-tuition ancillary fees will appear on invoices for the 2020/2021 academic terms. The government has sought leave to appeal this court decision. Laurier, along with other Ontario institutions, continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they are available.

Background Information on the Student Choice Initiative

Information regarding the Student Choice Initiative during its active period in 2019.

What is the Student Choice Initiative (SCI)?

The Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) announced the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) on Jan. 17, 2019. Under the policy, all Ontario universities and colleges must use provincial guidelines to classify services supported by students’ non-tuition ancillary fees as either essential or non-essential.

The guidelines stipulate that fees supporting essential services are compulsory for students, and fees supporting non-essential services are optional, meaning you can choose to opt out of non-essential fees.

Where can Laurier students find information about SCI?

You can find Laurier-specific information about the SCI and our compliance with the MTCU directive on the Incidental Fees webpage.

Who decided which fees would have an opt-out option and which fees are compulsory?

The provincial guidelines govern how Ontario universities and colleges classify services as essential or non-essential. Ancillary fees for essential services are compulsory and fees for non-essential services have an opt-out option. Laurier’s Non-tuition Fee Protocol Committee (NTFP) used the provincial guidelines to classify services. The NTFP’s voting members include both undergraduate and graduate student representatives. The NTFP’s service categorization was detailed in the fee report approved by the Laurier Board of Governors on June 6.

Why are some services considered essential and what are they?

Under the provincial directive, student supports and services in the following areas are considered essential services, and the non-tuition fees that support them are compulsory:

• athletics and recreation
• career services
• student buildings
• health and counselling
• academic support
• student ID cards
• student achievement and records
• financial aid offices
• campus safety programs

You can access a full list of compulsory services on the Incidental Fees webpage.

Why is the fee for the same service optional at one university and compulsory at another?

All universities and colleges follow the same government guidelines for classifying services; however, the same service at one university may be funded by the university rather than non-tuition student ancillary fees, in which case it would not fall under the SCI.

Has the process for fee approval changed?

No. New fees, or increases to fees over and above the current guidelines, will still be adopted through the existing Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) referendum processes. The university’s fee reports, submitted to the Board of Governors for approval, also remain in effect.

What services are non-essential with opt-out fees?

You can find a list of non-essential services with opt-out fees on the Incidental Fees webpage.

Can I opt out of any other fees that are not listed as optional?

You can opt out of extended health and dental benefit coverage if you have proof of existing and comparable extended benefit coverage. You can opt out during the published Students’ Union (undergraduate students) or GSA (graduate students) change-of-coverage period.

Further information can be found on the Incidental Fees webpage.

When is the opt-out period?

You can choose to opt out of optional fees during a specific time period before registering for each term. Opt-out dates are found on the Incidental Fees webpage.

Students who receive late admissions or register late will be accommodated with a 14 day opt-out window that corresponds with their admission date, which will be communicated through email.

What happens if I miss the opt-out period?

If you miss the opt-out period, you will have an opportunity to adjust your choices during the next semester’s opt-out period. You cannot appeal missing the opt-out window as the MTCU directive states clearly that the opt-out options must be administered prior to the billing cycle.

Why do I still see the fee if I've opted out?

All fees are listed on invoices for full transparency, with the corresponding credit shown for each fee for which you choose to opt out.

Will services be discontinued if I opt out of the fees?

The full impact on the services supported by optional fees will not be known until after the opt-out period each term.

Are students being encouraged to pay all the fees?

There are a number of valuable services classified as non-essential under the SCI which are supported by optional student fees. These services will be impacted if students choose to opt out of the fees; however, there are many reasons why you may choose to opt out of a fee. The university is encouraging students to read the information provided to them about each service and make informed choices before deciding whether to opt out of a fee.