A program providing post-secondary-style courses for people aged 50 years and up will cease to receive support from Vancouver Island University at year’s end.
VIU is dealing with consecutive years of multimillion-dollar deficits and the university has informed ElderCollege it won’t be providing facilities, accounting services, technology or registration support after this semester. The university previously told the News Bulletin that COVID-19 effects on enrolment coupled with record inflation have led to its deficits.
“Considering the university’s current financial position, we are required to examine all aspects of our operations for efficiency, including lifelong learning offerings and continuing education programs,” noted a message on VIU’s ElderCollege webpage. “Consequently, we have made the very difficult decision to suspend our support for ElderCollege activities beyond Dec. 31.”
Ross Peterson, ElderCollege board chairperson, told the News Bulletin he wasn’t surprised by the decision, but as the board was only notified on Sept. 25, the announcement was abrupt.
Peterson says the board is considering next steps and operating as an independent entity is an option, but would require classroom space and fundraising in order to pay someone to handle administrative duties.
“We would have to register ourselves with the B.C. Societies Act, so that we can collect funds from the public and issue tax receipts, we’ll have to establish a financial basis, a bank account and so on, to handle finances,” said Peterson. “We’ll have to find another way to register students, which is a big chore, that’s something VIU had provided for us, but these are not impossible.”
Anne-Marie Lafleur, a board director, student and retiree, said there was “shock and consternation and disappointment” at the announcement. She said she has taken numerous interesting courses through ElderCollege.
“For me the benefit is an active mind and being able to pursue a subject that’s just fascinating…” she said. “Last year, I took a course on trees and that wasn’t even a classroom course, we were out in the community studying trees. It was just wonderful. There’s a lot of people who are really upset that they won’t have those opportunities again.”
While disappointed, Peterson said he is sympathetic to the university’s plight.
“We can understand how this has happened,” he said. “It doesn’t make us happy to know that we’re perhaps one of other programs that are being cut, but I have heard from probably a couple of hundred of our members, instructors and students who are dismayed with the news, and are hoping that we will be able to bounce back. Some of these messages … are from people who want to roll up their sleeves and help us do exactly that.”
In the press release, VIU expressed gratitude to ElderCollege students, board and teachers, who volunteered their time. It said it will share more information about continuing education in the coming months.
“As a public institution, we must evaluate all aspects of our operations for efficiency and going forward we will be examining new models and best practices for continuing education to deliver on our mandate from the provincial government while continuing to meet the needs of our learners of all ages,” said Michael Quinn, VIU provost and vice-president academic, in the press release.
The university announced Thursday, Oct. 5 that it has come up with a plan to work toward a balanced budget by the 2026-27 school year.
VIU ElderCollege is in the midst of its 30th year.
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karl.yu@nanaimobulletin.com
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