NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Students Head Back to School Amidst Cuts on Campuses

NEW WESTMINSTER—Students across BC are returning to campuses today with the usual back-to-school excitement, but this year there are also serious concerns as colleges and universities are making deep cuts to programs, staff and services in the face of revenue losses.  

Vancouver Island University has cut 14 programs, bringing the total programs lost to 22 in the last two years, and suspended 6 others for review. The College of New Caledonia has cut arts and English language programs, and Selkirk College has suspended 8 post-graduate diplomas including culinary management, hospitality management and gerontological nursing. Cuts are now the norm across BC’s public post-secondary institutions. 

Faculty layoffs and hiring freezes have also been widespread with hundreds of faculty and staff losing jobs or contracts left unrenewed, with even more layoffs expected this year. Students are already seeing fewer course offerings, longer waitlists and the risk of delayed graduation. 

“This is the most difficult start to the school year we’ve seen since the pandemic,” said Debi Herrera Lira, Chairperson of the British Columbia Federation of Students (BCFS). “Less staff means fewer classes, so waitlists keep growing. Cuts are making necessary supports, like academic advising or counselling, even harder to access.” 

Campus services are also being reduced; students across BC report reduced library and cafeteria hours, as well as eliminated supports for Indigenous students. 

The root cause of the cuts is chronic underfunding by the provincial government. In 2000, government funding covered 68% of institutions’ operating revenue; today it’s just 40%. Over the past decade, student tuition fees, especially from international students, are being used to replace public funding. 

In the wake of the federal government’s cap on international study permits, introduced in January 2024, enrollment has dropped dramatically and that revenue stream is quickly drying up. Simon Fraser University is bracing for a decline of 500 undergraduate international students this school year, which will result in a $20 million loss in revenue.  

“The only solution is for the BC government to meaningfully reinvest in our public post-secondary institutions. They cannot continue to offload costs to students and their families,” said Herrera Lira. “Their inaction is making it harder for students to graduate, hurting communities that rely on institutions as economic anchors, and threatening the province’s ability to train tomorrow’s workforce.” 

The BCFS is calling on the provincial government to restore public funding of the post-secondary system to at least 75% of operating budgets, returning to the level it was before 2000, so that institutions are no longer forced to make cuts. 

“A lack of funding isn’t just a student issue, it affects everyone,” Herrera Lira added. “Students are our future healthcare workers, tradespeople, and teachers. An investment in post-secondary is an investment in a stable workforce, a strong economy and BC’s future.” 

The BCFS represents over 170,000 students at 14 universities and colleges in every region of BC. Together, these students advocate for a well-funded public post-secondary education system in BC that is affordable and accessible for all. 

For more information, please contact:

Debi Herrera Lira, Chairperson            (604) 733-1880

Jill Adams, Federation Staff                 (604) 733-1880