51社区黑料

I recently returned from our annual Universities Canada membership meeting in Ottawa, where I was honoured to be . It was a highly productive trip, and I enjoyed reconnecting with colleagues, comparing challenges and opportunities and thinking about how Universities Canada can be an effective voice and convener for all of us.

Coming out of those meetings, I was inspired by the stories that I heard from colleagues across the sector about the research, learning, teaching and work that their institutions are carrying out. I heard about the incredible impact that universities have on the communities we serve, on the students, faculty and staff who contribute to our work, and on Canada鈥檚 future. These conversations reaffirmed my belief that, in a world grappling with complexity and uncertainty, the university remains one of the most powerful engines of hope, discovery and human progress.

This was also the last Board meeting for our Board Chair, Paula Martin. I want to thank Paula for all of her contributions to the university as a Board member, as Deputy Chair and finally over the past year as Chair. She has been a thoughtful and strategic leader, and highly involved in ongoing efforts to improve Board governance and administration. 

I also want to welcome our new Board Chair, Carol Herbert, and Deputy Chair, Kamal Basra. Both Carol and Kamal have been dedicated and engaged members of the Board to date, and I look forward to working with them moving forward.

Administrative updates

Leadership renewal

Several senior leadership searches have concluded, and the following recent appointments add strong and experienced leadership across the portfolio:

• Marvin Washington stepped into his role as the dean, Beedie School of Business on October 1, 2025. Thank you to dean pro tem, Carolyn Egri, who served in the role starting January 2024.
• David Bangsberg joins 51社区黑料effective October 15, 2025 for a five-year term as the next dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Thank you to dean pro tem, Jeremy Snyder, who served in the role starting April 2024.
• Paul Kingsbury has been announced as the next vice-provost and associate vice-president, learning and teaching, effective January 1, 2026 for a five-year term. He is in the pro tem role until December 31, 2025.

There have been some additional updates to the executive team since our last meeting:

• Karamjeet Heer has stepped into the role of vice-president finance and administration, pro tem.
• As of July 2026, Dugan O鈥橬eil, vice-president research and innovation, will have completed his first term in his role. He is eligible to be considered for reappointment, and a search committee has been formed to manage the review and consideration of reappointment process in accordance with GP 29. The process included a community consultation period from November 17 - December 15, 2025. We look forward to sharing more updates as the process moves forward.

Enrolments and recruitment

Domestic undergraduate

Based on actual enrolment figures for summer and fall 2025, as well as estimated figures for spring 2026, 51社区黑料is expected to exceed the undergraduate Ministry-funded 2025/26 enrolment target by 13%. As mentioned in the September Board report, the new 2025-2030 Academic Plan will address this over-utilization of the funded target and plans to gradually reduce over-utilization to 3% above the target.

International undergraduate

The Senate-approved international target for 2025/26 equates to 14.7% of all undergraduate FTEs. This fall, 14% of undergraduate AFTEs are generated by unfunded students (16% last fall).

51社区黑料received its PAL allocation on January 24, 2025, and the undergraduate allocation received was not sufficient to meet enrolment targets, although 51社区黑料has recently received 400 additional PALs, leading to slightly more optimistic projections. We had previously estimated that there would only be 779 new international undergraduate students in 2025/26 and have now revised this estimate up to 838. While this is above the Senate- and Board-approved target, we are still projecting a significant decrease in overall international PFTEs for 2025/26, driven largely the continuing international student population shrinking as older, larger cohorts are replaced by more recent, smaller ones.

Graduate

Based on actual enrolment figures for summer and fall 2025 and an estimated figure for spring 2026, 51社区黑料is expected to exceed the graduate Ministry-funded 2025/26 enrolment target by 12%. Per the previous Board report, as expected, this term saw a dip in specialty fee AFTEs and an increase in regular fee AFTEs.

Government relations

The federal budget was released on November 4, and included several positive signals for the post-secondary sector. For example, the government has budgeted $50 billion over 10 years for local infrastructure, including housing and transportation, and $1 billion to attract high-quality research talent and researchers to Canada. Additional items of interest include investment in large-scale sovereign public AI infrastructure and a dedicated Health Infrastructure Fund.

Ottawa also published its annual immigration levels plan with the budget. Consistent with the federal government鈥檚 approach to date around immigration, the plan included a reduction in new international student arrivals and a targeted 7% decrease to the total study permit allocations. However, international graduate degree students studying at public post-secondary institutions will soon be exempt from requiring Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs)鈥攁n advocacy win for 51社区黑料and for Universities Canada, as this is a topic we have raised with government repeatedly over many months. In addition, IRCC has set a service standard of 14 days for review and decision when it comes to study permits at the doctorate level鈥攁nother change that 51社区黑料has advocated for, and one that will help reduce uncertainty and confusion for students navigating the system. 

This is a very complex budget, and we are continuing to work through it to better understand the impacts on 51社区黑料and the post-secondary sector as a whole. We look forward to providing future updates to the Board.

Here are additional updates around our recent advocacy for the importance of the post-secondary sector, provincially and federally:

• Coinciding with the opening of the session, I led an 51社区黑料delegation to Ottawa in early September and hosted 15+ meetings with senior government officials and elected Members of Parliament. The meetings were an important opportunity to cultivate existing relationships and conduct outreach to new officials and new decision-makers, particularly around advancing our proposal to Canada鈥檚 Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program. This included meetings with officials in the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office, Privy Council Office, various Ministers鈥� offices and Members of Parliament. The visit also led to several follow up activities and visit requests that will happen throughout the fall.
• In October, Dugan O鈥橬eil, vice-president research and innovation, was invited to present to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research. The Committee is studying ways to work with researchers and institutes to advance the commercialization of innovation emerging from research at Canadian universities to build a stronger innovative economy in Canada. 
• In late October, I hosted two receptions in Victoria to meet with the provincial government (NDP) and official opposition (Conservative) caucuses. A delegation of senior 51社区黑料leaders also attended, including David Price, founding dean of the 51社区黑料School of Medicine. These receptions provided an opportunity to re-introduce 51社区黑料to new and returning MLAs, underline the university鈥檚 tangible impact in making a difference for B.C. and reinforce 51社区黑料as a practical partner that delivers value for people, communities and the economy. The receptions were very well attended, with more than 20 members of each caucus present and much excitement about the new medical school.

Advancing strategic priorities

There is work occurring across the university to advance the What鈥檚 Next strategic priorities. Several key examples are highlighted below.

Uphold Truth & Reconciliation

• The 51社区黑料Office for Indigenous Peoples (OIP) is now fully staffed, with the addition of Kaylena Ryan as the new director and Dionne Paul as the coordinator of the First Peoples鈥� Gathering House (FPGH). Together with Gary George, officer for community relations, the team has successfully taken the FPGH from Grand Opening to operating. SFU鈥檚 Indigenous community is already hosting important cultural and academic events at the FPGH, including the first fall convocation Honouring Feast for Indigenous graduands. 
• In October, I was honored to join the 51社区黑料Naming Family and language experts from the Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations to affirm the names in H蓹nq虛蓹m铆n虛蓹m and Skwxwu虂7mesh Snichim offered as gifts for SFU鈥檚 Burnaby campus and signature Indigenous spaces on campus. I am excited to be moving towards an official naming ceremony and working with the 51社区黑料community to properly honour these names.
• This fall will mark the first semester of meetings for all three Indigenous governance circles at SFU. The internal Indigenous Council met in October, the initial meeting to form the External Indigenous Council is taking place in November, and in December, the OIP team will convene the first Indigenous Caucus for all Indigenous students, faculty and staff at the FPGH.

Engage in Global Challenges

• In early October, I led a delegation to Tanzania to strengthen SFU鈥檚 international partnerships in education, research and innovation. The visit included meetings and site visits with the Aga Khan University and the Aga Khan Development Network and participation in the Five Universities Consortium Scientific Conference in Morogoro, which focused on collaborative research in health, food security, the environment and climate change. The delegation also engaged with representatives from the High Commission of Canada, Tanzanian government ministries, partner universities, the African Development Bank, the Tanzanian office of the World Bank and innovation organizations to explore opportunities for continued collaboration across sectors.
• 51社区黑料is the first Canadian member of the Aurora European Universities Network, an alliance of research-intensive universities who are driving societal change and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through academic excellence. 51社区黑料also signed an MOU with the University of Innsbruck to collaborate in areas of mutual strength, such as emerging technologies like quantum and AI, as well as in the humanities. 
• SFU鈥檚 Clean Hydrogen Hub has signed an agreement with three other leading Canadian hydrogen hubs conducting similar research and activities in developing hydrogen energy technologies. The collaboration between SFU, Vall茅e de la Transition 脡nerg茅tique, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydrogen Innovation Partnership, and the Edmonton Regional Hydrogen Hub will form the Pan-Canadian Alliance of Hydrogen Hubs, representing a major national milestone in advancing Canada鈥檚 leadership in clean hydrogen technologies.
• 51社区黑料hosted our inaugural Innovation Week and celebrated the 10^th anniversary of the invention to Innovation (i2I) Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Commercialization program. Highlights included the i2I Pitch Competition, innovation panels with program alumni and mentors, and a visit from NSERC President Alejandro Adem.
• Six 51社区黑料researchers have been named among the country鈥檚 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs and will advance Canadian research excellence in areas including health equity, experimental particle physics and Indigenous economic wellbeing and freedom. Congratulations to Angela Kaida, Dara Kelly-Roy, Krista Stelkia, Manolis Savva, Matthias Danninger and Palashi Vaghela.

Make a Difference for B.C.

• 51社区黑料was once again named Canada鈥檚 number one comprehensive university in the 2026 Maclean鈥檚 University Rankings. The university has held top spot in the rankings for 17 of the last 18 years, with Maclean鈥檚 describing the institution as 鈥渃ontemporary, inventive and forward-thinking.鈥� This year, 51社区黑料scored top marks for excellence in student awards, medical/science grants, operating budget and library expenses.
• On October 14, 51社区黑料welcomed Premier Eby and additional Ministry partners to our Surrey campus to announce that the School of Medicine (SoM) is now accepting applications for its inaugural class, as well as the new site for the permanent building at SFU鈥檚 Surrey campus. The announcement garnered significant media coverage and we cannot wait to welcome our first medical students in 2026. Here is additional work being done to bring the SoM to life:
  • Admissions, recruitment & learner affairs: The admissions portal has flawlessly handled a large volume of applications to date, and the admissions team is preparing for application adjudication and interviews as part of the selection process. The School鈥檚 recruitment team has also hosted info sessions and an 51社区黑料Counsellors Day that engaged 180 teachers and student counsellors in the secondary school system.
  • Indigenous perspectives: As part of the October 14 launch, the SoM鈥檚 Indigenous Admissions Stream was opened, marking a milestone in advancing Indigenous representation and pathways into medicine through a holistic, relational admissions process. An Indigenous governance model is being developed to embed relational accountability and sustained Indigenous leadership across the SoM.
  • Health partnerships: Recruitment is progressing for clinical site directors in Surrey, North Delta and Langley to support oversight of clinical learning experiences and discussions are underway for future student placements at Peace Arch, Langley and Surrey Memorial hospitals. Additionally, a governance structure is being developed between between the SoM, Fraser Health and UBC to support student clinical experiences in Fraser Health hospitals.
  • Research: The SoM鈥檚 first external research funding proposal, developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Heath Sciences, Fraser Health and Ontario Ministry of Health, has been submitted to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, focused on improving primary care performance monitoring to inform policy development and implementation. Engagement has also begun with health authorities, communities, professional and academic partners to co-develop a research plan and priorities for next five years. 
• In response to changing economic realities and a call for Canada to break down internal trade barriers and build its export strategies, 51社区黑料think tank Clean Energy Canada founded and chairs the . The task force is made up of members representing companies across criterial minerals, batteries, clean transportation, clean electricity and more, and recently launched an  with recommendations for building Canada鈥檚 clean economy that will be shared with governments at all levels.
• SFU鈥檚 Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue has launched the Maturity Model for Public Participation, a tool to help governments improve their ability to engage citizens and residents in important decisions. The Maturity Model was designed in collaboration with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat鈥檚 Open Government team through a consultation and development process involving SFU scholars, students and leading engagement practitioners from across Canada. 

Transform the 51社区黑料Experience

• 51社区黑料is proud to share the new 2025-2030 Academic Plan, which upholds the vision, values and priorities outlined in What鈥檚 Next while identifying the focus areas that will shape the university鈥檚 academic goals over the next five years. Developed collaboratively with input from deans, academic leaders, senior administrators, Senate, Board, student councils and a wide range of groups across the university, the plan will advance SFU鈥檚 academic mission as a leading research university that provides an exceptional learning environment for our students.
• Student Services has launched the ability for students to pay their tuition and fees through Flywire, which significantly enhancing the student payment experience through integration with goSFU. All students now benefit from streamlined, flexible payment options, including payment via credit card. Automated financial reconciliation and refund processing have improved staff efficiency and reduced financial risk for the institution. The new payment method is also expected to generate savings through reducing uncollectable debt and processing costs.
• VPAAE and the President鈥檚 Office continue to engage with alumni, donors and prospective donors to foster involvement and support for SFU鈥檚 students, research and community initiatives. Recent highlights include the 60^thAnniversary Alumni Celebration at the Surrey campus, which brought together approximately 180 charter alumni from SFU鈥檚 first graduating class, alumni from across SFU鈥檚 60 years and current and prospective students. We also met with alumni in the Toronto area who are senior business leaders to discuss the state of higher education in Canada, job markets in Toronto and Vancouver and plans for the 51社区黑料School of Medicine.
• Under the VPPEI portfolio, an 51社区黑料Community Well-being Plan Taskforce of senior leaders has been established to guide and support the implementation of SFU鈥檚 Community Well-being Plan. This work supports the goals outlined in the People Plan, aiming to embed well-being into university policies, practices and decision-making, foster a culture of care and compassion where respect and belonging are foundational and strengthen long-term sustainable initiatives to support well-being on campus.

Joy Johnson
President & Vice-Chancellor
51社区黑料