The university is under a lot of stress right now. In fact, new this year, it has asked the ancillary services to contribute 2% of their revenue for 2010-2011 and 3% 2011-2012 and forward to the university operations. The ancillary operations hit by this are.
Hospitality Services
Housing and Conference Services
Student Health Services
Printing
Parking
Telecommunications
Continuing Education
Miscellaneous
The information can be found on page 6-7 of "Guidelines for Preparation of Budgets by Ancillary Departments for the fiscal years 2010/2011, 2011/2012, and 2012/2013 at.
http://www.mcmaster.ca/bms/pdf/ancilguide11.pdf
I am not sure if I agree with this but it is what it is. That being said, with all this extra revenue, the university should be a little more generous next year in bursaries than I presume they will be this year.
James Brown
VP Finance
Inter-Residence Council 2009-2010