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“If you’re good enough to be here at the University of Saskatchewan, we’re going to get you here — we have to make sure that occurs,” Tony Vannelli said Wednesday in an interview.

According to the university, about $64 million will be returned to students next year through scholarships, bursaries and credits. Vannelli said that is 50 per cent above 2011 levels and more than the median provided by competitor schools in Canada.

“At the same time, we always will work with the students and student leaders to deal with accessibility, and make sure that post-secondary education is accessible to the very best (who) should be here,” he added.

Deena Kapacila, the USSU’s vice president of operations and finances, praised the university’s efforts to consult students, but said the student union is still “really concerned” about the effect of the rate hike on some undergraduates.

“We’re seeing a shift where students are in a position where they have to take on a lot more debt than they may have traditionally been able to, and also in an economy where they’re not guaranteed a job afterwards,” she said.

The U of S sets tuition based on three main factors: program quality, comparisons with other similar schools and accessibility and affordability. This year, it also added three months to the tuition rate consultation period.

Vannelli acknowledged the importance of the provincial government, which provides about a third of the university’s $500-million operating budget, but said it was vital to set tuition based on principles and consultation rather than be reactive.