Important News: Province Launches Accelerated Review of BC’s Post-Secondary System
Dear Members,
This morning, the Government of British Columbia released a major announcement regarding the future of our sector. A comprehensive independent review of BC’s public post-secondary education system is being launched—one that carries profound implications for institutional governance, program delivery, labour relations, and long-term sustainability.
Don Avison, KC—former Deputy Minister and past Board Chair of Emily Carr University—has been appointed to lead the review. His final report is due by March 15, 2026, with stakeholder consultation scheduled to conclude by mid-January 2026.
The extraordinarily compressed timeline raises critical questions such as how much pre-work may have already occurred behind the scenes.
Strategic Context
Last week, I was in Victoria alongside other FPSE Union presidents to engage directly with provincial ministers and senior officials. Our delegation met with key players, including Premier David Eby.
During this period, we were informed that a closed-door, invitation-only meeting was convened by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills on Friday, November 21. In attendance were FPSE, CUFA BC, BCIT, the BC Federation of Students, public university presidents, CUPE BC, BCGEU, Moveup, and other sectoral organizations. Attendees were required to sign non-disclosure agreements.
This morning’s public rollout is the first indication of the full scope of what was discussed behind those doors.
What’s Driving the Review?
The Province has cited several pressure points:
- Federal cuts to international study permits, leading to major revenue shortfalls.
- Ongoing domestic enrolment decline, especially outside high-demand sectors.
- Provincial budget constraints, with government indicating no expectation of new permanent funding for institutions.
The review’s terms of reference indicate a focus on:
- Structural and governance reform
- Program delivery rationalization & avoidance of duplication
- Institutional consolidation and revenue realignment
- Alignment with the Province’s industrial strategy, “Look West”
Read the news release and full terms of reference here:
Backgrounder (Below the news release)
ReviewofSectorSustainability_TermsofReference.pdf
What Comes Next
We will be moving quickly to:
- Meet with members to gather your perspectives and priorities.
- Collaborate with FPSE and sector Unions to coordinate input.
- Insist on meaningful consultation that centres faculty expertise, institutional autonomy, and academic excellence.
This is a pivotal moment. Structural reviews of this magnitude are somewhat rare (e.g. 2022 abandoned Funding Review, 2007 Campus 2020, 1996 Charting a New Course).
We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. In the meantime, please stay engaged and ready. Our collective voices and participation will be critical in shaping what comes next.
On behalf of your KFA Table Officers.
In solidarity,
Mark Diotte
President, Kwantlen Faculty Association
president@yourkfa.ca
