Created 19 October 2020 13:10

For Immediate Release

Vancouver, October 19 — Today the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC (CUFA BC) released its evaluation of each of the main party’s platforms on post-secondary education for the upcoming provincial election on 24 October 2020.

“The clear theme in our evaluation is that the three main parties are focused on undergraduate students as potential drivers of economic recovery,” said Daniel Laitsch, President of CUFA BC. “The distinct roles of faculty, research universities, and much needed graduate students, however, are overlooked.”

The analysis raises valuable campaign promises made by each party that would improve the lives of domestic undergraduate students by increasing access to post-secondary institutions and boosting supports in targeted disciplines. The NDP and Liberals commit to reviewing the post-secondary funding model, which raises concern for CUFA BC and its members given the current economic climate.

“The current funding model is insufficient, resulting in substantial financial risk and exposure to institutions who have increasingly relied on contract faculty and international student tuition to make up for serial cuts in funding,” said Executive Director Annabree Fairweather. “Addressing these problems by strengthening the formula on core funding should be a priority of government at a time when faculty and students at research universities will play a crucial role in addressing some of the most pressing social and economic challenges faced by the province.”

For further information or comment please contact CUFA BC Executive Director Annabree Fairweather at 604-367-5856 or [email protected].

CUFA BC is the provincial, nonpartisan voice of more than 5,500 faculty members, professional librarians, lecturers, instructors, and other academics at the five research-intensive universities in British Columbia, which include University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, Royal Roads University and University of Northern British Columbia. 

CUFA BC has existed for fifty years and works closely with the member Faculty Associations at each institution. Our purposes are to support high-quality post-secondary education and research in British Columbia and to advocate for the interests of our members.

MEDIA RELEASE Faculty Evaluate 2020 Election Platforms DOWNLOAD

CUFA BC Party Platform Analysis Election 2020 DOWNLOAD