By Joseph Aubert – Economics & Business Editor

A few months after receiving exemptions from the tuition hike, Bishop’s University finds itself exploring government funding to compensate for an anticipated $2 million annual loss and is lagging 15 to 20 per cent behind on recruitment for out-of-province students. Bishop’s Principal Sébastien Lebel-Grenier’s most recent update to the university community sheds light on the various impacts of government measures despite the exemption. He highlights Bishop’s strategy navigating the evolving higher education landscape for anglophone universities in Quebec. 

Funding envelopes for small and regional universities

In an email sent to the community on Feb. 24, Lebel-Grenier stated that Bishop’s was exploring the possibility of gaining fairer access to provincial funding envelopes for small and regional universities starting in 2024-2025. But what exactly are those envelopes?

According to the ministry of higher education, the goal of these envelopes is to promote and support the particular missions of different institutions, including five Université du Québec institutions, Bishop’s University and others. Bishop’s is hoping to gain fairer access to these envelopes in order to compensate for the claw back on international student tuition by the Quebec government, set to result in recurring yearly losses of $2 million dollars for the university in the foreseeable future.

When asked about this special funding formula, Lebel-Grenier emphasized the disparities in funding between different institutions: “Bishop’s historically has not had equal access to these envelopes.” The vast majority of the universities that benefit from these envelopes are members of the Université du Québec (UQ) network, he said. For the Bishop’s administration, this has been a recurring theme over the past several years. 

Lebel-Grenier explained that when Bishop’s first accessed those envelopes in 2018, the differential in funding between Bishop’s and universities of the UQ network was an estimated three million dollars. However, this differential has grown considerably since then, he says.

“As of now, the demands we have had have not been satisfied, and we are still not getting equal access to these envelopes. We do not have a full picture of how the new funding formula will apply”, Lebel-Grenier later added.

At this time, the Bishop’s administration is still waiting for further details from government officials regarding these funding envelopes for higher education institutions in the province.

Impact of federal immigration measures

In January, the federal government announced a cap on study permits for a period of two years in an effort to stabilize new growth and address housing shortages. Quebec responded quickly to the federal government’s requirement that provinces issue attestation letters. Prospective Bishop’s students’ could resume their study permit application process in a timely fashion on Feb. 13. Bishop’s is hopeful that they will welcome its new class of international students without delays come September.

Looking forward

Lebel-Grenier outlined the importance of implementing a solid communications and recruitment plan to limit the financial and cultural hardships following the announcement of the study permit cap. This new policy, combined with the tuition hike scare, has had various impacts on Bishop’s recruitment.

Bishop’s out-of-province recruitment  is behind roughly 15 to 20 per cent compared to historical data. They won’t be able to evaluate the full effects of the measures until students start settling in Lennoxville next September.

Although recent policies may have scared away some international and out-of-province students wishing to study in Quebec, Lebel-Grenier stated that, “We have gained a lot of visibility throughout this crisis across Canada and around the world. Bishop’s was on the front pages of many newspapers, and it has increased our reach.”

Lebel-Grenier acknowledged the obstructive mark that government measures have left on Bishop’s financial outlook, precipitating a re-evaluation of funding dynamics for the school. He insisted on the continuation of Bishop’s identity. “We are going to be facing a lot of financial uncertainties over the next few years. We will be working with the administration and the community as we navigate through the challenging financial conditions, but the future of the university is not in question”, he added.

Moving forward, Bishop’s is committed to its mission of developing future professionals and will keep working to offer the best student experience there is. 

Lebel-Grenier returned to significant victories made by the university earlier this year, gaining exemptions from “two of the most important measures put in place”. The three thousand dollar tuition increase for out-of-province students will not apply, and Bishop’s will not receive financial penalties if they do not achieve French language proficiency requirements.