SFU forced out of program delivery service in Kamloops

Simon Fraser University (SFU) announced Feb. 12 that by August it will cease to deliver its Kamloops program. The decision is based on a number of factors, including unsafe buildings, the high cost of delivering the programs, and the opening of another university in Kamloops.

However, said John Driver, SFU vice-president, academic and provost, the time frame set to end program delivery will depend on the Tk’emlups Indian Band.

An agreement between SFU and the Tk’emlups Indian Band requires the university to provide one year’s notice before any changes are made to the Kamloops program.
“If they insisted, and we felt the need for courses in the fall semester, we could do that,” said Driver.

The satellite campus, which is located approximately 350 km from the main campus of Burnaby, has 180 students. However, some of those students are located in nearby reserves where they attend language classes, which are also offered by SFU. Driver noted that SFU is hoping to keep those on-reserve language programs going even after the Kamloops program comes to an end.

It cost three times as much per student to deliver the Kamloops program, said Driver. A regular course on the main campus costs $10,000 per full-time student.

As well as cost, SFU is concerned about the facility in which its programs are offered. What was supposed to have been temporary accommodations has been the location for the 20-plus years the Kamloops program has been running. The half-dozen trailers are both health and safety concerns.

Discussions have been ongoing with the Tk’emlups band for three years for a new site, but no solution to the space issue has been found, said Driver.

Adding to SFU’s decision is the change of Thompson River community college to a university in the past few years. Part of TRU’s mandate is to serve the surrounding First Nations, and with a large facility, more programs, more services, and a concentration of provincial government funding, Driver said it is difficult for the Kamloops program to remain viable.

But ending the Kamloops program will not leave students up in the air.

“We’re looking at students as individuals rather than having one solution for all of them,” said Driver.
The majority of students enrolled in the Kamloops program take one of two major programs: the Bachelor of Arts in archaeology, anthropology or minor in First Nations studies; or a certificate in First Nations language proficiency.

Students will be assessed on an individual basis to see where they are in their program and what courses need to be offered over the remaining months to move them toward completion. Driver said there is a possibility that more courses will go ahead in the remainder of the year.
Driver said SFU will also be talking to TRU to see how Kamloops program students’ courses can transfer to TRU.

“B.C. has a fairly good process to transfer students from one university to another,” said Driver. He also noted that SFU may look at renting space from TRU or another site in Kamloops in order to help Kamloops program students finish their courses.

“We’re not far enough along to make those decisions,” said Driver. “We’ll determine in the next month how to meet the needs of our current students.”

A meeting scheduled between Driver and Tk’emlups Indian Band Chief Shane Gottfriedson was cancelled because the chief was ill.

However, John Driver, SFU vice-president, academic and provost, has met with students and community members.

“They were very, very disappointed. They were urging me to do whatever we can to preserve all the programs,” said Driver.

The Kamloops program employs three people on a continuing contract and one on a temporary contract. All the language instructors, who are mostly Indigenous, are hired on a needs basis.

Closing the Kamloops program is just one of a number of cuts SFU has made in response to a slight funding increase in government dollars, but which doesn’t keep up with rising inflationary costs. Also announced in February was the elimination of the Canadian Studies program.

Shutting down the Kamloops program is “not something we’ve done lightly,” said Driver, noting that “solving the funding and space problem” for the Kamloops program has been high on his priority list as well as his predecessor’s.

Gottsfriedson could not be reached for comment.