Dear Brock community,

As we have previously communicated, Brock University faces significant financial challenges that are impacting the entire post-secondary education sector. Despite our best efforts, we are not immune to these pressures. Factors such as the lack of adjustment for inflation in the operating grant per full-time equivalent (FTE) student for nearly 20 years, international student recruitment issues due to government policies and geopolitical factors, rapidly increasing inflation, and the repercussions of the 10 per cent tuition cut and subsequent freeze have all contributed to the current situation.

Although Brock has limited levers to increase revenues, we continue to explore new areas for revenue generation through strategic investments. We recognize that effective enrolment management for growth will be crucial to supporting our future sustainability. It is particularly important that we align our limited resources with the priorities identified in our new strategic plan. This plan will serve as our guide and “North Star” as we make important decisions in the coming years.

Moreover, we continue to emphasize to the government the invaluable role that universities play — not only in advancing education but also in supporting students, leading innovation and driving economic growth. Brock University, in particular, is a cornerstone of our community, fostering innovation, research and academic excellence. We remain steadfast in our efforts to advocate for substantial, multi-year commitments of government funding and greater flexibility in tuition rates, as recommended by the province’s blue-ribbon panel on post-secondary education last year.

Brock is also participating in the provincial government’s mandated third-party sustainability reviews funded through the Efficiency and Accountability Fund. We hope that this initiative will help us identify actions our institution can take to increase revenue-generating opportunities and drive long-term cost savings. Although we are optimistic that this will provide some support, we still must continue to work diligently to address the long-term challenges and put the University on a strong financial footing once again.

We are committed to navigating these financial challenges with transparency and resilience, and we will keep you informed of progress and efforts to ensure the continued success of Brock University.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and support.

Sincerely,

Lesley Rigg
President and Vice-Chancellor

Arja Vainio-Mattila
Provost and Vice-President, Academic