Vancouver Island University has approved a long list of program cancellations, including the Masters of Community Planning.
An update on June 5 from the university’s acting president, Emily Huner, says the board approved cancellations proposed last month. All students currently enrolled will receive support to graduate. Affected students will be contacted by their program directly with specifics.
BACKGROUND: VIU proposing suspensions and cancellations of numerous academic programs
VIU has completed Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills’ and the Board of Governors’ audits and says it will have further updates later as it reviews recommendations.
“These audits provide critical insight and will guide our continued work to stabilize VIU’s finances and operations,” reads the statement from Huner. “I am pleased to share that the 2025-26 institutional budget has been approved by the Board of Governors. Through difficult but necessary decisions, we have now achieved 35 per cent or $6.35 million in expense reductions of our DMP (Deficit Mitigation Plan) target.”
Changes to reduce expenses include closing The High School at VIU, cancelling programs, reducing staff, discontinuing VIU’s bus fleet and ending a partnership with Elder College.
The university recorded a surplus on $8.3 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year and Huner says it was driven mostly by one-time revenues. Her statement says the majority of the funds have already been allocated to operational needs and the total expenses exceeded the budget by $700,000 because the school failed to meet expense reduction targets on time.
“This is not excess cash on hand, but a temporary financial position we are leveraging to support transition. We remain committed to the full implementation of the DMP by the end of fiscal 2025-26. While a fully balanced budget will take longer than anticipated, the steps we are taking now are laying the foundation for long-term fiscal health,” the statement says.
VIU will appoint Dennis Johnson as the interim president for up to two years, effective June 16. Huner will resume her role as chief financial officer and vice-president, administration.
