UQAC deregisters 104 students, sparks debate about payment policies and communications

A Université du Québec à Chicoutimi decision to deregister 104 students for nonpayment—65% of whom were international students—is raising concerns about its tuition policies. According to University Affairs, UQAC implemented a new policy in late September stipulating that students would be expelled if their tuition was not paid by November. This decision reportedly contradicted earlier invoices issued to students in July and August, which indicated that late payments would only incur a $25 penalty. “It’s fine to ask people to pay their tuition, but UQAC changed the rules in the middle of the semester,” said Québec Student Union President Étienne Paré, who added that the change was “handled clumsily and carelessly.”