CONFEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY FACULTY ASSOCIATIONS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
CUFA BC, Faculty Welcome Funding Review as Opportunity to Reaffirm Critical Role of Research Universities

The Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC) welcomes the post-secondary funding review announced by the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. The Ministry is taking a prudent approach toward establishing a funding model that fairly and sufficiently distributes provincial funding across the public post-secondary sector.

"Research universities play a critical role in the economic, social, and cultural development of British Columbians," says President Dr. Daniel Laitsch. "This is a welcome opportunity reassess and reaffirm the commitment to a sustainable publicly funded post-secondary system, and to advance meaningful reconciliation."

"We welcome a funding model that will provide stable and predictable funding to support research, academic programming, and institutional needs, while being adaptable to the local needs of the community," says Executive Director Annabree Fairweather. "Ensuring access to affordable, high-quality education in BC will be a founding principle for the model."

CUFA BC looks forward to being an active partner in developing a post-secondary funding model over the next year. The expert consultants, Dr. Don Wright and Dan Perrin, bring a great deal of knowledge and experience to this project. With the proper supports in place, faculty at BC's research universities can better focus on finding solutions to the many challenges facing British Columbians.

For further information or comment, please contact CUFA BC Executive Director Annabree Fairweather at 604-367-5856 or executive.director@cufa.bc.ca.