I want to start my message today with gratitude and optimism. Serving as Acting President these past two months has been an incredible honour. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together during this period of change and reflection.
On June 3, the Board of Governors approved a motion to appoint Dr. Dennis Johnson as the Interim President for a term of up to two years, effective Monday, June 16. I will be passing the torch in the coming weeks, and I want to thank you all for the trust, collaboration and kindness you’ve shown me during my short, but very sweet, time in this role. Once finalized, more information will be shared with the community in the coming days.
We are committed to ensuring a smooth leadership transition and to maintaining our momentum as we continue to chart a sustainable path forward rooted in our core values and our shared commitment to student success and community impact. Upon Dr. Johnson’s arrival, I will resume my role as Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President, Administration. I will continue to advocate for the financial health of our institution and thank each of you who have been so supportive of me in the Acting President role.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Johnson as our Interim President and Vice-Chancellor.
Program delivery update
As part of our efforts to align our offerings with learner demand and institutional sustainability, the Board of Governors has approved the proposed slate of program cancellations. View list of affected programs and additional information on our program changes webpage.
We want to be very clear: students currently enrolled in these programs will continue to receive the academic support needed to complete their studies and graduate. Where necessary, we will work directly with individual students to identify appropriate completion pathways. Impacted current students will be contacted by their program directly with specific details and next steps.
The program suspensions package that was withdrawn during the May 21 Senate meeting will be revisited by Senate on June 5. More details will be shared as the governance process for program suspensions progresses. Thank you for your understanding as we navigate these changes together.
Budget update
We have now completed both the Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills’ and the Board of Governors’ audits related to our cash and financial framework and the Deficit Mitigation Plan (DMP). The respective draft audit findings have been shared with the Ministry as well as the Board Chair and Chair of the Finance, Audit & Facilities committee of the Board. Next steps are to review the recommendations of both audits in collaboration with the Board of Governors. We will communicate further updates to the VIU community as appropriate. These audits provide critical insight and will guide our continued work to stabilize VIU’s finances and operations.
I am pleased to share that the 2025-26 institutional budget has been approved by the Board of Governors. Through difficult but necessary decisions, we have now achieved 35% or $6.35 million in expense reductions of our DMP target. This includes:
- Closure of The High School
- Conclusion of our partnership with Elder College
- Cancellation of select academic programs
- Academic delivery optimizations
- Staffing reductions
- Revisions to administrative terms and conditions
- Discontinuation of VIU’s internal bus fleet services
Looking back at fiscal year 2024-25, official financial results indicate an $8.3-million surplus. This outcome was primarily driven by higher-than-anticipated one-time revenues from targeted government grants, academic contract tuition and fees, the Parksville property sale and investment income.
However, it is critical to note that our total expenses exceeded the budget by $700,000, primarily because we did not fully meet our DMP expense reduction targets due to timing challenges. Additionally, while a surplus was reported, the majority of those funds have already been allocated to essential operational needs, including payroll and grant-related activities.
This is not excess cash on hand, but a temporary financial position we are leveraging to support transition. We remain committed to the full implementation of the DMP by the end of fiscal 2025-26. While a fully balanced budget will take longer than anticipated, the steps we are taking now are laying the foundation for long-term fiscal health.
For more details, please read the Budget Advisory Council (BAC) report and review the 2024-25 Annual Financial Report listed on the budget reports webpage.
The Budget Advisory Council plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and inclusivity in VIU’s budget development process. Through an open and consultative approach, it engages the university community in discussions about the budget process, gathers feedback, and makes recommendations for the annual Operating Budget Plan. The BAC also produces reports that reflect community input and help increase communication about budget matters across the university.
Future BAC meetings to begin discussion on the 2026-27 operating budget plan will commence once the two audit reports are received and reviewed by the Board and our new Interim President. The reason for the delay in meeting is that the audit findings may impact the 2026-27 budget development process.
Convocation 2025
Convocation is just around the corner, and I hope you will join me and members of the executive team as we cheer our graduating students from the sidelines. We are so proud of our graduates and look forward to celebrating their hard-earned achievements as they join VIU’s growing alumni community. Our students carry with them the fresh perspectives and deep community connections needed to make a lasting impact on our region and beyond.
Upcoming ceremonies:
- Monday, June 9 and Tuesday, June 10, 2025
- Semelshun: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Watch the livestream through VIU YouTube Channel. For more information about convocation, please visit our convocation website.
Thank You
The future of VIU is bright because of you, our dedicated and resilient faculty, staff and students. Thank you for trusting me over the past few months to lead during this transitional time. I know we are heading in the right direction and I look forward to seeing all that we will accomplish together in the months and years ahead.
With appreciation,
Emily Huner, CPA, CMA, MBA (she/her)
Acting President and Vice-Chancellor
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