News

Read the latest news in BC post-secondary education.

  • Latest poll shows problems for BC Liberals


    The old adage of “may you live in interesting times” has never been truer than will be the case for BC politics this Fall. The BC Liberals were on the receiving end of some very disturbing news recently, news that will force them to reconsider many of their policy and funding priorities. The disturbing news…

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    Salary increases for senior deputies show contorted logic at its best


    The latest news out of Victoria shows a disturbing trend when it comes to pay scales for those in the senior ranks of the provincial government. Last week the government announced that, effective August 1, 2008, Deputy Ministers as well as Assistant Deputy Ministers would get salary increases ranging from 22% to as much as…

  • Big news in cabinet shuffle


    Provincial cabinet shuffles don’t rank as the most exciting news event. When it does become a news story, it’s usually because someone gets dropped from Cabinet or downgraded to a second-string portfolio. It’s also rare for the Legislative Press Gallery to follow with any great interest some of the shuffling that takes place with ministerial…

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    2008 AGM endorses plan to deal with system-wide changes in post-secondary education


    Since the middle of March, BC’s public post-secondary education system has been buffeted by funding and policy changes that only add to a growing sense that the provincial government has no clear plan for post-secondary education. On March 12 came word from the Minister of Advanced Education that operating grants for post-secondary institutions would be…

  • Government underfunding is forcing program cuts says VCC Board Chair


    Letter to Minister shows cuts are caused by chronic underfunding says faculty: This letter demonstrates a government-appointed College board agreeing with what faculty throughout the province have been saying about chronic underfunding,” said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. Oliver was commenting on a letter sent by the Chair of the VCC…

  • University announcements don't add up say faculty


    “A month ago colleges and universities were told by the provincial government that their budgets were being cut by 2.6%. Today we are told that the province is creating two new universities without any change in funding. Someone in Victoria is math-challenged because if you are sincere about making a university, you have to provide…

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    Post-secondary educators ratify three-year agreement


    April 12, 2007 – Over 10,000 post-secondary educators in BC’s community colleges, university colleges and institutes have ratified a new three year contract. The new agreement, which covers faculty and staff at seventeen of BC’s public post-secondary institutions, was reached before the March 31, 2007 expiry date. “The three year agreement received strong majority support…

  • Federation calls for emergency summit of post-secondary leaders


    “The Minister of Advanced Education is trying to pretend that everything is okay,” said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. “He’s wrong. Everything is not okay in post-secondary education since he unilaterally cut proposed funding by 2.6%. Now our colleges and universities are scrambling to deal with deficits and cutting programs to…

  • Cuts at Vancouver Community College will close the doors to thousands


    Increases, not cuts, needed to reduce provincial labour shortages Proposed cuts to programs have surprised and shocked faculty and students at Vancouver Community College (VCC). The cuts would eliminate 7% of VCC faculty and cut classes for more than 1,000 students each year. “The Board’s plan will carve out experienced faculty, instructors who deliver important…

  • Kwantlen arbitration win strengthens our fight for non-regular faculty rights


    It’s hard to overstate the importance that FPSE places on the fight to win better protection for non-regular faculty. Often referred to as regularization, it’s an issue that plays out in every local across the province. It’s an issue that touches virtually every faculty member—most of us started our careers as non-regular faculty. It’s also…