As students at Yukon College begin reading week, many who also have a job are likely hoping to pick up some extra hours so they can start saving for the 20-per-cent jump in tuition they'll be paying in the fall.

Students learned late last month of the hike.

It will take a full-time program at the territory's only post-secondary institution from $2,700 this year to $3,240 in the fall. It marks the second consecutive year for a 20-per-cent increase.

Though the college puts out numerous news releases about its activities, no such release was produced after the board of directors approved the steep tuition increase.

Colleen Wirth, the school's director of student services, said last week that even with the increase, Yukon College will remain in the lower third of post-secondary institutions (colleges and universities) in Alberta and British Columbia.

Remaining in the lower third of tuition fees among those post-secondary schools is part of the board of directors' mandate, Wirth said, pointing to the need for the boost to invest back into the college.

One of the ways of increasing income for the college to invest back into things like technology is to raise tuition rates. That revenue represents about three to four per cent of the school's approximately $36-million in revenue (as of June 30, 2010).

Wirth pointed out the school had fallen behind in its wireless, on-line learning and educational software, and the higher tuition fees will give it a chance to catch up.

While students have made it clear they're not happy to see another increase, they're seeing how many supports there are for students and the investment that comes with the greater cash flow to the school.

The college has also been putting more effort into letting students know about financial opportunities that may be available to them. As Wirth pointed out, in 2009, only $21,000 of the $44,000 in awards through the school were doled out.

"We needed to do something,” Wirth said, noting the college's latest efforts to let students know what finance options are available.

As for students who may feel they can no longer afford to go to school because of the cost, Wirth encouraged them to make an appointment with the financial aid office to learn their funding options, whether through student loans, awards, or a combination of both.

NDP Leader Liz Hanson suggested that rather than putting more money into awards, the college should focus on putting that money back into the school so it doesn't have to hike tuition so extensively at once.

Prior to 2010's 20-per-cent hike, tuition had not risen at Yukon College in six years.

"It's a shock approach to doing it,” Hanson told the Star last week.

Earlier, she had raised the issue in the legislature with Education Minister Patrick Rouble, who noted the government's increases in students' grants.

Hanson suggested if a tuition hike is needed, there should be a more gradual approach to it, though that's something the college is considering.

As Wirth explained, the current hike should see the college at closer to where it wants to be with tuition.

That could see the board consider smaller increases over a longer period of time, rather than going a number of years with no increase, only to have it jump significantly.

In 2009, a change was made which put tuition fees completely in the hands of the college board, which meant ministerial approval of the fees was no longer needed.

Hanson argued it is just another example showing the territory has "basically washed its hands” of responsibility for tuition levels, passing it on to another party, as it's done with Whitehorse General Hospital's board.

For many students, she said, the situation becomes a "catch 22” where students want an education to ensure a better future, yet face mounting costs to pay for that education in the form of not only tuition hikes, but in accommodations, food prices and other costs of living.

A representative of the students' council could not be reached for comment on the tuition hikes.