MEDIA RELEASE:
Will we have a public post-secondary system?
Thursday March 27, 2025
The Vancouver Community College Faculty Association joins with other BC post-secondary institutions and unions in decrying CUTS to faculty. Over 100 to lose jobs at VCC.
This morning, the college started a layoff process for 55 faculty.
It is estimated that at least another 50 “term” faculty will not have their current appointments renewed as they would have expected.
“The wave of cuts across the province and now at VCC makes it clear that the period of ‘easy’ funding of post-secondary is over.” said Frank Cosco, VCCFA president. “International Education has carried the system for over 20 years, but now everyone with a stake in it and the government need to seriously rethink the system’s future. “
“The VCCFA is calling for an independent commission to hold hearings and make recommendations on post-secondary’s future sustainability. This fundamental crisis has given us a chance to find a better way, to revitalize post-secondary, while keeping it affordable and accessible. It’s key to a better, equitable future for every family.”
For more information contact Frank Cosco, VCC Faculty Association President, 604-838-9428 (phone or text)
Background: For at least 20 years BC governments have not put new money into the BC post-secondary system. They told institutions to recruit international students and charge them what the market would bear. Some institutions did that to balance their books, others to make large surpluses, others to build buildings. It’s always been inequitable. Now it’s over. The federal government has over-reacted to its own mistake: allowing too many students in, too quickly. Its sudden cutting of visas to study has resulted in layoffs and shocks across the country. A way forward has to be found. The BC college system was meant to be comprehensive, accessible, and affordable. Domestic students have been under high tuition stress for years, they can’t pay more. Society’s well-being and prosperity needs to have a well-functioning post-secondary system