Dear Brock community,

In my first Provost’s Update to the Brock Community on the 2026-27 budget, I focused on the theme: “how we got here, what we’re doing, and where we’re headed.” I provided a preliminary summary of the Feb. 12 Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) funding announcement and described our path forward in terms of Senate-led efforts to reimagine a new degree architecture, build new pathways and partnerships with other post-secondary institutions, and create a robust Spring Summer term. I indicated that we would learn more detail about the government’s new funding model and what the updated tuition framework would mean for Brock. I also announced that I would be hosting workshops for all those who are interested to learn more about the University’s budget process. To date, two workshops have been held with 20 staff and faculty who attended.

As the Provost & Academic Vice-President, and the Chief Budget Officer of the University, in this update I would like to focus on the themes of academic revitalization and financial sustainability—and how these objectives are linked to the University’s Strategic Action Plan (UAP) and our Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) Framework. I will consider these twin priorities within the context of the three intersecting realities that impact our future—some of which we have autonomy over, and some of which we do not. I will share more detail around the government’s funding announcement. I will comment on how this relates to the government’s Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF) exercise. And most importantly, I will focus on how we now have the critical and time-limited opportunity to act strategically in terms of actioning the objectives of the Academic Plan, the University Action Plan (UAP), and the Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) Framework.

1. Provincial funding changes and fiscal outlook
The Ministry’s Feb. 12 funding announcement has given us a temporary reprieve from the imminent fiscal crisis we faced prior to this announcement. Brock will benefit from additional funding in the form of increased tuition by two per cent each year, a one-time increase added to our base grant by increasing funding to our 2024-25 enrolment level, and changes to the Weighted Grant Unit (WGU) allocation across the sector. It is important to note that this one-time increase to base grant funding does not at this time come with any future inflation adjustments and that the only opportunity for additional grant funding will come from negotiated enrolment growth in programs identified by the Province, and from our ability to report our students appropriately as honours students in 4-year programmes. As such, the work of the degree architecture initiative—together with targeted future enrolment growth–will have future positive impacts on our overall WGU count and base grant funding. The Ministry’s Feb. 12 funding announcement translates into a $25 million-dollar decrease to our pre-funding $31-million-dollar deficit for 2026-2027. We are very appreciative of this additional funding. We also know, however, that this announcement and the substitution of non-repayable OSAP grants for repayable OSAP loans also brings implications for our current and future students at Brock. The University continues to work with them to provide advocacy and support. Overall, the impact of the Ministry’s funding announcement means the University will move from a $31-million-dollar deficit to a $6-million-dollar deficit as we enter the next fiscal year.

2. Institutional autonomy and Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF)
In addition, it is important to note that this funding announcement came approximately two years after the date Brock was mandated to undergo the Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF) exercise. As the government directed us, and in compliance with Brock’s public sector procurement requirements, government funding was used to hire an external consultant (KPMG). This EAF review yielded 72 recommendations across Brock’s administrative and academic units. These recommendations span five areas that include: governance, administrative and student services; academic programing, physical assets and facilities; and collaborative procurement opportunities. Given the considerable angst that this exercise has brought to our university community, there are three essential takeaways that I would like to emphasize. First, and most importantly, we have the autonomy to decide, if, how, and when we choose to enact these recommendations. Second, even if all 72 recommendations were to be enacted, Brock’s structural deficit would not be rectified.  And finally, Brock will be required to continue reporting back to the government on the progress of this review—and indeed, this efficiency imperative and our current and continuing financial support by the Ministry will depend on it.

3. Academic revitalization and strategic growth priorities
This brings me to the third and most important “intersecting reality” that will shape Brock’s future: the University Action Plan (UAP), the Academic Plan (that drives it), and the Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) framework. These academic objectives, initiatives, and strategies must now be our primary focus through which all future actions will be determined.

In the Feb. 12 Ministry announcement, the provincial funding model introduced new, growth-oriented incentives, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), health, education, and the trades. For Brock, this means we have the opportunity to leverage new funding over the next three years, potentially increasing resources for instruction, as we benefit from updated program-weight enhancements and corridor midpoint resets (increasing funding in high-cost, high-demand fields). As Brock’s SEM framework notes, this affords the opportunity for Brock to further strengthen our health-aligned, STEM, and professional programs where we have already demonstrated strong demand and growth potential. The Priority Growth Plan that the Ministry proposes creates an opportunity to align with our UAP, Academic Plan, and SEM objectives—as we seek to achieve enrolment targets based upon conversion effectiveness, program mix, retention, and graduate program competitiveness. In keeping with the UAP indicators that include academic revitalization, strategic enrolment, and future-ready learners, it is imperative that we now move decisively and urgently toward curricular review and restructuring of our academic programmes.

Over the past few months, Senate has engaged in generative discussions on topics such as core and context requirements, the Spring Summer term, and a new vision for the University’s degree architecture. Senate recently endorsed the formation of the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and will shortly discuss the Faculty of Social Science’s proposal for a new School of Environmental Sustainability. These examples, together with discussions about program revitalization that are being held in many academic departments across the university, attest to the fact that we are beginning to move toward a future state that will align academic planning and financial sustainability. However, we must accelerate our efforts to this end, or else we risk losing the opportunity to leverage on the additional funding that we expect to be available to us over the next two years. Every year we delay, we miss out on an annual increase to grant funding. This is a Senate responsibility and a Senate imperative.

In closing, I recognize that these are complex issues and that understanding how the pieces fit together is essential as we move forward. To support greater clarity, my next two Friday updates will provide a more detailed look at Brock’s financial framework—first focusing on the University’s sources of revenue, followed by an overview of our expenses and cost drivers.

I also encourage you to join our upcoming Community Update on April 9, where members of the senior leadership team will share further details on our path ahead. Please watch for upcoming registration information in the Brock News. We look forward to continuing this important conversation with you.