PARTICIPATE IN RPIRG’S RESEARCH AND SHARE HOW YOUR TUITION FEES IMPACTING YOU
The Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG) is looking for interview participants for research we are conducting about post-secondary tuition fees and its impact on students’ lives. The interviews will be audio and video recorded. You can choose to participate in either one or both. These interviews will be taking place during the month of August and September.
The Audio Interview would take roughly 30 minutes while the Video interview would take roughly 45 minutes. Each interview would receive an honorarium after the completion of their interview. For Audio interviews we are offering $50, while for Video Interviews we are offering $100.
We are looking for current High School students (who will be in grades 11 and 12 during September 2025), students just entering the University of Regina and current University of Regina students who have completed at least one semester. All chosen participants will be given a copy of the questions ahead of time, to allow them to think of their responses before the interview takes place.
About RPIRG
Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG) is a student-run and student funded non-profit that works towards community-based research, education, action and awareness in the public interest. RPIRG was founded in 2007 and exists to provide its members with the resources to be active citizens on the University of Regina campus and in the greater community. We provide resources and grants to fund community-based events, projects and research. We also manage many projects and events such as Green Patch and Orchard Garden & Dis-Orientation Week.
Information About The Research
This research project explores how rising tuition fees and broader economic pressures are impacting students’ lives and choices related to post-secondary education at the University of Regina. This study examines both the personal and systemic effects of increasing costs on current and prospective students. The primary goal of this research is to understand how tuition fees influence:
- Students’ daily lives, including quality of life and mental health, and financial position
- Decisions to pursue — or not pursue — education at the University of Regina
- Academic choices, employment, and long-term planning
- Broader trends such as student out-migration and declining enrolment
In addition to documenting student experiences, the research also investigates how institutional decisions cause tuition increases – particularly the ongoing decline in provincial operating funding for post-secondary institutions compared to cost of living increases and per student funding allocation. We aim to show how reduced public investment in universities has shifted the financial burden onto students and families, creating long-term consequences for access, equity, and the sustainability of public education in Saskatchewan.
Why We’re Including Interviews
While we are gathering quantitative data on research components, numbers alone don’t capture the full story. To highlight the human impact behind the numbers, we are conducting in-person interviews with students and prospective students. These interviews, both audio and video, will bring forward real stories and diverse perspectives that speak to the lived realities behind the student affordability crisis.
Time Commitment & Privacy
• Audio Interviews (30 minutes): Participants will be identified by first name or initials only
• Video Interviews (45 minutes): Participants will be identified by full name and appear on camera
How To Participate
If you are interested in participating in either audio or video, or both, please send an email with a subject line [ First name- Interested in Audio/Video Interview for RPIRG Research] to Jana Rutten at jana@rpirg.org . In the email, please share your availability during the month of August; if not available in August, then first two weeks of September. Should you have any questions about the research or logistics, please include them in the email as well.