Weekly News Roundup

UNIONS | INSTITUTIONS | GOVERNMENT

Join CUFA BC each week for a roundup of news in BC’s post-secondary sector

Whistleblower legislation expands to research universities, WorkSafe BC

Employees will benefit from new protections when bringing forward concerns about serious wrongdoing as the scope of the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) expands to research universities and WorkSafeBC. By bringing employees from research universities and WorkSafeBC under the protections of PIDA, we are making sure that employees in the public sector feel safe and are protected should they need to report serious wrongdoing,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. PIDA has been implemented using a phased approach since it came into force in December 2019. This marks the final scheduled phase of implementation of the act in the broader public sector. Approximately 320,000 employees across 197 organizations are now covered by the act.

BC | BC Gov News | ENC

SFU: 2025-26 Budget Information Session Summary

On November 18, 2024, SFU hosted a Budget Information Session to provide faculty and staff with an understanding of SFU’s 2025-26 budget planning process. With a focus on budget development, participants asked clarifying questions about the post-secondary financial model, challenges facing the sector as well as SFU’s revenue strategies including the international student strategy. Looking ahead, we are anticipating another tight budget cycle. Changes in government policies, particularly those affecting international student enrollment and visa regulations, continue to cause uncertainty. While there’s no institution-wide budget reduction program planned for this fiscal year, there is a need for continued cost containment measures due to decreasing international enrolment, units and faculties will need to adjust their budgets based on their specific financial positions. 

BC | SFU

Contract faculty expected to feel brunt of TRU budget cuts: TRUFA President

Thompson Rivers University is facing a massive budget shortfall due to new federal mandates surrounding international students. While a preliminary budget has not be released, cuts are expected in every faculty. “Hoping that, if we are going to be looking at some broad strokes of cuts across the university, that we take a look at all levels of the institution including administration and perhaps there is some thinning that could happen there,” said Tara Lyster, TRU Faculty Association President. Lyster said, “And with the decreasing enrolment, the decreasing sections, [contract] faculty won’t have the courses to teach, so in essence it is a layoff. But because they are not protected under layoff language, they wont be laid off in the sense that other faculty would be.” The TRU Budget Committee is set to meet on December 10, as it works toward a 2025-26 budget expected to be finalized in March of next year.

BC | CJFC Today

VIU’s budget troubles worsened by ‘drastic drop’ in international students

Vancouver Island University has faced a “drastic drop” in new student enrolment following national changes to the international student study permit program. The university reported experiencing a drop of 60 per cent for new international enrolled graduate students, a 48-per cent decrease in new international enrolled undergrad and developmental program students, as well as a seven-per cent decline in international continuing students, adding up to 384 fewer international students. Last fall, VIU committed to reduce expenditures by 10 per cent, or $18 million, over three years and achieve a balanced budget by spring of 2026. Last month’s report noted that while a balanced budget may not be possible by 2026. The final version of the 2025-26 operating budget plan report is expected to be released publicly after board approval in March.

BC | North Island Gazette

UNBC, Lheldli T’enneh and City of Prince George pursuing life sciences project

Prince George city council unanimously approved a grant application at its Monday, Dec. 2 meeting that could eventually lead to the community becoming a hub for life sciences. City administration proposed that council approve an application to the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program for up to $500,000. According to a report from city administration, the University of Northern British Columbia, Lheidli T’enneh Nation and Northern Health were working together to create a “sustainable innovation ecosystem” for health in Prince George. 

BC | PG Citizen

Universities Recognize Dec 6 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

On December 6, BC’s research universities will hold ceremonies in honour of the murder of 14 young women at Polytechnique Montréal 35 years ago. Canada established December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the tragedy. This day serves as a reminder of the gender-based violence that persists today against women in Canada and around the world.

BC | RRU | SFU | UBC-O | UVic

UNBC Students host community event to wrap up capstone project on sustainability

A group of UNBC students in the Environmental and Sustainable Studies Program finished their “Greening PG” capstone project with a community gathering on Saturday. This event was open to the public for discussions about sustainability, with a plethora of written prompts around the venue to get people talking and thinking about sustainability. This was a great way for community members passionate about the overall crisis, to share ideas and get into deep conversation about how to make Prince George better for the future.

BC | CKPG Today

‘Heart of UVic’ at 60: McPherson Library still plays key role despite digital advances

The McPherson Library, considered to be the heart of the University of Victoria, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Through the years, the McPherson Library has been a gathering place for students, researchers and members of the community. The library, one of the first buildings on the campus, was critical to the transformation of Victoria College into a full-fledged university. The library is named after Thomas Shanks McPherson who believed the “single most important factor in the progress of a city” was the growth of a university, so he gave $2.25 million to the college to help it become a university. The money in part enabled the university to buy land from the federal government and the Hudson’s Bay Company. UVic became the first university in the province to pay for its property and pay for its first buildings, as well. It’s significant continues today driven by the evolution from analog to digital knowledge creation and access.

BC | Times Colonist

With Indigenous heritage sites under threat, KFN-SFU collaborative study identifies pathways to enforce Nation-led cultural heritage protection

A new research collaboration between the K’ómoks First Nation and Simon Fraser University highlights how Indigenous cultural heritage policies can protect archaeological sites threatened by development, given inadequate provincial heritage protection laws. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, spotlights K’ómoks First Nation’s cultural heritage policy – developed to abate the onslaught of archaeological site destruction in their southern core territory (the Comox Valley, Hornby and Denman Islands) – and the need for provincial legislation and municipal policies to implement Nation-led archaeological site protection. Archaeological sites such as ancestral villages and burial grounds hold evidence of deep histories and connections to place that are inextricably tied to cultural identity. These sites have profound cultural, spiritual, and scientific value.

BC | SFU

UBC, Seaspan introduce chair in marine innovation, robotics, autonomy

The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Applied Science is collaborating with Seaspan Shipyards to introduce a faculty chair position that focuses on marine innovation in robotics and autonomy. The position is held between UBC’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Seaspan will provide $1M over five years for the chair; UBC will match this investment through its President’s Academic Excellence Initiative. The chair will be held by Dr Adrien Desjardins, whose research specializes in novel sensing method development, machine learning, and autonomous robotic platforms. Desjardins will focus on developing new solutions for autonomously inspecting marine vessels and monitoring the environment.

BC | APSC | Seaspan

Okanagan College: A message to our community on international education

The Okanagan College Provost Sam Lenci and VP of Enrolment Jenn Goodwin released a message to the campus community about international education, addressing the decrease in international student enrolments since the federal policy changes, and the potential impacts on the institution’s budget. No programs have been canceled or closed yet but the College is exploring ways to respond to lower enrolment. It is too early to say what will change and some of the impacts of the recent policy changes have yet to unfold. The College commits to every student who is currently enrolled that they will be able to complete their program. “To all international students at OC: We are so, so glad you’re here, and we’re grateful to you for what you contribute daily to our community. We will continue to support you as we work to understand new policies together, and as you move through your program.” 

BC | OC

Labour negotiations loom large for B.C. government

Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun writes: A grateful Premier David Eby thanked B.C. unions this week for helping the NDP to secure a narrow victory in the provincial election. Still, the real test of the premier’s gratitude will come next year at the bargaining table. Some 182 contracts covering 400,000 unionized public sector workers expire in 2025. Many of those unions are preparing their demands for the bargaining round that begins in the new year. In the last round of bargaining, which straddled the pandemic and a surge in the rate of inflation, the New Democrats granted increases of about 14 per cent over three years. This time inflation has cooled, the budget is deeply in the red, the private sector is faltering, and the premier barely escaped the election with his majority intact. On that basis, the New Democrats are hoping the unions will curb their expectations in the coming bargaining round.

BC | Vancouver Sun

Reimagining the role of higher education in a world of intersecting revolutions

Rahim Somani is vice-president (finance and administration) at the University of Northern British Columbia, he writes writes that universities must shift from reactive funding requests to proactive transformation to remain relevant. To secure a resilient future, universities must not only demonstrate their value but, in the face of rapidly evolving global challenges, also drive transformation. This is not simply about asking for more resources; it is about showcasing innovation, a commitment to long-term sustainability and redefining their core mission. Somani discusses the need to embrace community impact, to address interconnected revolutions shaping our world, to focus on experiential learning, to plan for uncertainty, and to prepare for a new era of skills.

BC | National | THE

HESA: Quick Update on Research Funding

Higher Education Strategy Associates’ Alex Usher summarizes the federal government’s progress on research funding following their spring-time announcement of $1.8 billion over 5 years and the creation of a capstone research organization. In looking at the commitments made to tri-council funding agencies and the commitment to increasing Canada Research Chairs and research support funds, the commitments tally up to $2.03 billion, much more than the original commitment. This total doesn’t count the creation of the capstone organization, which has yet to be rolled out officially. Usher also points out the indirect funding that accompanies research allocations can cost up to 22% of the direct funding amount. The federal government will need to account for these expenditures in the upcoming fall economic statement.

National | HESA

Peter MacKinnon: Universities need to focus on education if they hope to stem their financial decline

Peter MacKinnon writes an opinion piece that discusses the need to focus on post-secondary education. “Canada needs a post-secondary teaching and research capacity that is competitive with the best in the world, and it needs investment that will secure and sustain it. The insufficiency of current investment is showing in operating and capital budgets, deferred maintenance and in global rankings. Why are our universities struggling to pay their bills and to keep up with their peers in other countries? The most immediate answer is that they are being squeezed from both ends: stagnant or declining public investment for which they cannot compensate by charging the necessary fees to meet their institutional needs. The status quo is not sustainable […] And there are growing concerns that they are straying from their missions in order to follow political and social justice ends.”

BC | National Post

The crisis facing Canada’s colleges and universities

At the beginning of this year, immigration minister Marc Miller said the government was looking to rein in the number of international study permits it would be granting, in a bid to take pressure off the strained housing market. But that’s been bad news for the post-secondary institutions for which a significant part of their operating budgets come from tuition fees from international students. But it’s only part of the problem. Alex Usher, the president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, explains the crisis Canadian universities and colleges are now dealing with: the result of years of cuts and a refusal to spend more on our post-secondary institutions.

National | CBC | CBC(Transcript)