Several programs are set to be cancelled at Vancouver Island University and they work to climb out of an over $20 million budget deficit. (VIU)

By Jordan Davidson

cancelled classes

‘A little bit short-sighted:’ VIU professor unhappy with decision to shutter programs

Mar 25, 2024 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — Reduced enrolment numbers leading to a deep deficit has caused Vancouver Island University to cancel some programs, with more in the process of being phased out.

On the chopping block are a couple of music programs including the jazz diploma and the bachelor of music-classic trainer, integrated engineering technologist, and their geographic information systems (GIS) program.

GIS professor at VIU Paul Zandbergen said the demand for their program is high and thinks VIU should be going in the opposite direction.

“The university is a little bit short-sighted in trying to cancel programs that actually pay for themselves, that generate revenue. We have waiting lists for our courses. It’s a graduate program, it is in high demand, and graduate students pay two-to-three times the fess that undergraduate students pay.”

VIU’s outdoor recreation program was recently cancelled, and their economic major program is also currently suspended and “under review”.

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In a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW, VIU said programs such as the outdoor recreation program are funded in part through student activity fees.

“With lower enrolments, there is also less funding for student activity programming. As a result, outdoor recreation programming offered by the Athletics and Recreation department has been paused.”

The final decision on the fate of the programs will be made at the VIU board meeting on Thursday, March 28.

Zandbergen said VIU offers an advanced diploma and master’s degree for GIS in-person and online, with half of the students attending virtually while living off Vancouver Island.

“They’re highly skilled, highly specialized (programs), focusing on professional development at the graduate level, and we are in fact the only online master’s program of this kind in Canada. It is designed to make education more accessible to those who already have a job and want to improve their skills, or have a family and can’t take a year off to come to Nanaimo.”

VIU has said via their website a number of programs, including GIS, are “currently moving through the process to be phased out and discontinued at VIU”.

Among the pending cancellations are several music programs, which resulted in some backlash among current and former students, along with the general public.

The University has said affected programs will continue for current students until graduation, and no new students will be accepted.

Zandbergen said he understands VIU is facing some financial issues at the moment, but it doesn’t make sense to cut programs which can help generate revenue for the university.

“Almost any government agency, any consulting firm, is going to have a need for data collection and analysis in processing. Be it fieldwork, or planning for a development or responding to emergencies…the information continues to grow and we want to take advantage of that.”

In October, VIU announced a budget shortfall of $20.2 million for the 2023/24 school year, along with a three year plan to help balance the books.

A six per cent drop in domestic and Indigenous students, combined with a 14 per cent drop in international student enrolment were the main factors behind the deficit.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow