Consultation Questions for the BC PSE Sustainability Review
Dear KFA Colleagues,
As you may have seen in my message of November 25, 2025, the province has launched the BC Post-Secondary Sustainability Review. Unlike the 10-month narrow funding review of 2022, this process covers the entire post-secondary system in all aspects other than funding. Consultation concludes January 15, 2026. This timeframe is a message in and of itself about the nature of the consultation process and that elements of the review may have been predetermined by the NDP government.
At this point, we understand that we will have two indirect consultation opportunities, both through the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE). The first is a short verbal consultation window which will take place at some point between December 17–19. Our second opportunity is a written submission through FPSE, likely due in early January. The exact timeline is still pending.
The KFA is also looking at how to provide direct input into the review via our Minister. Our current understanding is that KPUs input channels are also somewhat limited, but that some governance bodies on campus may have been invited to provide feedback. On the face of it, a review of post-secondary education of this order of magnitude, within this sort of timeframe, and over institutional holiday closures, is plainly unreasonable and limits meaningful consultation.
From the union perspective, this review carries direct threats to collegial governance (including Senate), core collective agreement rights, institutional viability, the legislative framework (University Act and College and Institute Act), academic programs, faculty jobs, student access, student affordability, and educational quality. Several questions openly contemplate institutional consolidation, structural reorganization, and legislative amendments. Government will use consultation feedback to guide these decisions, and the direction is not neutral, nor is the framing of the consultation questions. Indeed, some of the questions seem to be constructed with specific aims in mind or with what may be an intentional lack of clarity.
The KFA Executive is meeting this afternoon to further discuss the matter, and we will soon be sending out a member survey to gather input to be synthesized and conveyed to FPSE. In the meantime, I am circulating the consultation questions and context so that you have time to consider them.
Consultation Questions:
- What do you see as the fundamental purpose and value of the public post-secondary education system? Does the purpose/value change in the context of our shifting landscape right now (i.e., swift technological advances, evolving societal views and expectations, demographic changes, economic trends and future of work expectations, etc.)?
- Given that additional provincial operating funding is not anticipated for the foreseeable future, what measures do you see as necessary to stabilize the system over the near term and, further, to work towards sustainability over the longer term?
- How would the system need to change in order to reduce competition between institutions? What are the opportunities for collaboration across institutions?
- Are there structural and/or governance changes that may be necessary to increase the potential for longer term system sustainability? How should these changes be actioned and sequenced?
- If government was prepared to consider consolidating some institutions, what are some key elements of a well-functioning consolidated system structure? What are the principles and considerations that should guide such a process? How should government approach this?
- Are there any legislative changes to the University Act or to the College and Institute Act that would assist institutions in being more responsive to government priorities and more nimble operationally?
- What impediments exist to limit greater use of shared services amongst post secondary institutions – in both administrative and academic spheres? How might those obstacles be addressed?
- With advances in online learning, and with the emergence of A.I.-assisted methodologies, are there alternative program delivery models that could assist with maintaining and, where possible, extending the reach and effectiveness of post secondary institutions? How can we leverage these opportunities?
- What are the effects of government’s limits on tuition increases over time? If government was to consider adjustments to current policies to address anomalies, what considerations should be taken into account?
- How can we better support underrepresented groups in engaging in post-secondary education and training opportunities? How should these groups be supported through any transition coming out of this review?
This review is not occurring in a vacuum. Several key documents provide important context and can strengthen our arguments:
Announcement, backgrounder, and terms of reference
In Solidarity,
Mark Diotte
President, Kwantlen Faculty Association
