The VIU Students’ Union has launched “VIU, Keep the Promise,” a campaign calling on Vancouver Island University to honour its commitments to refugee students and reverse its decision to withdraw from the WUSC Student Refugee Program.
The students affected are already here. They are attending classes, building their lives in Canada, and contributing to our community. They came on the strength of a shared commitment from VIU and VIUSU to support their education for four years.
VIU students, through their students’ union, are now funding these students’ support in full. VIU is contributing nothing.
Our elected student representatives are taking legal action and mobilizing public support to protect these students and a partnership that has supported more than 30 refugee students since 2009.
Join the campaign: Send a letter to VIU’s Administration and Board of Governors.
A partnership built and sustained by students
The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program connects refugee resettlement with access to post-secondary education. For students leaving refugee camps and situations of displacement, it offers a pathway to education, safety, and a fresh start.
Since the program began at VIU in 2009, VIU and VIUSU have jointly supported more than 30 refugee students in pursuing an education and building their lives in Canada.
In 2013 and 2018, VIUSU and VIU formalized their shared funding commitments through agreements. Students voted in referendums to match the university’s commitments through their student fees, building a partnership that incoming refugee students could count on.
Those commitments included support for two incoming students each year: full support in their first year, followed by tuition support for each of the next three years.
But the program has always been about more than funding. Student committee members help welcome incoming refugee students, support their transition to life here, and build connections across campus and in the community.
These students are VIU students, members of our students’ union, and part of our Nanaimo community. Generations of VIU students have voted to support them and continue to uphold that commitment.
What changed?
In October 2025, VIU’s former Vice-President Students, Carolyn Russell, confirmed the university’s continued support for the program and promised to work with VIUSU on future changes. VIUSU relied on that confirmation when proceeding with commitments to incoming refugee students.
By February 2026, VIU had communicated its decision to withdraw funding without the collaboration it had promised.
That withdrawal affects students already enrolled, including the 2026–27 cohort, who came to Canada on the basis of those commitments and are now in VIU classrooms.
In April and May 2026, VIUSU called on the university to honour the partnership: restore financial and staff support, settle outstanding contributions, and confirm support for current students and future intakes.
VIUSU has stepped in to fund the students’ support in full. Students are keeping the program running while also covering the university’s share. That does not release VIU from the commitments it made.
A commitment VIU can afford to keep
VIU reported a $5.3-million operating surplus for 2025–26 and is projecting a $2-million operating surplus this year.
By VIUSU’s calculations, the university’s share of support for the current students is approximately $45,600 this year, decreasing as students graduate. The total remaining contribution is approximately $75,000 to see those students through to graduation.
Against those surpluses, this is a modest commitment for the university. For the students relying on it, it is the support they were promised when they planned their education and their move to Canada.
Walking away from refugee students mid-degree is a choice. VIU can choose to keep its promise.
Taking action to protect students
VIUSU has filed a Notice of Civil Claim in the BC Supreme Court, seeking to enforce the university’s contractual commitments and secure the funding it promised.
VIUSU’s position is that VIU’s notice came too late to end its obligations to the 2026–27 intake, and that withdrawal can only take effect beginning with the 2027–28 intake.
We are pursuing legal action to protect existing commitments. We are also calling on VIU to reverse its withdrawal so that future students can access the same opportunity.
Keep the commitment. Protect the program.
Our campaign has two clear asks:
Honour existing commitments. Provide the full financial support already promised to the refugee students currently sponsored at VIU.
Reverse the decision to withdraw from the program. Restore financial and staffing support to previously committed levels.
Students have upheld their side of this partnership. The university must do the same.
Add your voice
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members can help by sending a letter to VIU’s Administration and Board of Governors.
Visit savewusc.viusu.ca to learn more and send your letter. Personalize it with your connection to VIU and why this program matters to you, then share the campaign with your classmates, colleagues, friends, and family.
You can also use our community letter template to send a personal letter directly to VIU’s President and Board of Governors. We encourage community members and organizations to share why this program matters to them and to our community.
Email your letter to president@viu.ca and board@viu.ca, and CC savewusc@viusu.ca. Please send it by November 18, 2026, ahead of the November 26 Board of Governors meeting.
Download the community letter template
