In a recent article for the Vancouver Sun, Capilano University Instructor Trevor McFadyen argues that higher education in British Columbia is at risk of “unravelling” in light of federal and provincial government decisions. McFadyen touches on the different roles that regional institutions play in supporting students and the economy of different parts of the province. He also indicates that regional institutions—and by extension, their communities—are more vulnerable to financial shocks than larger institutions. “When these institutions contract or close, the students they serve will not simply shift to UBC or SFU,” writes McFadyen, “Many will lose access to higher education entirely.” He concludes by calling on both levels of government to take the necessary actions to support BC’s public postsecondary institutions.
