The NAIT Students’ Association (NAITSA) Executive Council is aware of recent errors identified by NAIT in how fees were assessed for certain apprenticeship programs. These errors have resulted in some students being either overcharged or undercharged for their programs.
Apprenticeship program fees are assessed differently from those of credit students because these programs run for shorter terms. Both NAIT and NAITSA fees for apprenticeship students are prorated based on the number of instructional weeks in each program. For example, a 10-week program is charged 10/15ths of a full NAITSA membership fee. NAITSA provides the proration formula to NAIT, but NAIT determines and applies the actual fee assessments on its systems.
At this time, NAIT is conducting a full review of the affected programs to determine the scope of the issue. While we do not yet know where the error originated, we know who is not at fault: the students.
NAITSA’s Direction and Advocacy
To protect students from undue financial stress caused by administrative errors, NAITSA will be taking the following actions:
- Directing NAIT not to collect any additional NAITSA membership fees from apprenticeship students who were undercharged as a result of these errors;
- Directing NAIT to refund any overcharged NAITSA fee amounts that may have been collected in error; and
- Requesting that NAIT apply the same principle to its own tuition and institutional fee adjustments; students should not be asked to pay additional tuition or fees mid-term due to administrative mistakes.
NAITSA has authority over its own student association fees only. While we cannot compel NAIT to take the same approach with tuition or other institutional charges, we strongly urge NAIT to follow our lead and prioritize the wellbeing of affected students.
Students should not bear the burden of financial corrections caused by system or administrative errors, especially in the middle of a training period when their focus should be on learning.
NAITSA will continue to advocate for a fair and student-centred resolution as NAIT’s investigation progresses. We will share further updates as information becomes available.
Signed,
NAITSA Executive Council 2025–2026
Lilly Houcher, President
Danielle Libunao, Vice President Academic
Robin Murillo, Vice President External
Teaira Current, Vice President Internal
