| Budget cuts to teaching and research threaten academic mission and student success The UPEI Faculty Association has serious concerns about the priorities reflected in the recently approved 2026–2027 UPEI budget. We believe it represents a fundamental misalignment between UPEI’s stated academic mission and its actual financial commitments, which will have real consequences for students, faculty, and the province as a whole. Cuts to Teaching and Research The approved budget includes both direct and de facto budget cuts to academic units across the University. These cuts will have real and immediate consequences for students: fewer course offerings, reduced sections of required courses, and larger class sizes. Students may find it increasingly difficult to access the courses and academic support they need to graduate on time. This is not an abstract fiscal concern. These cuts will be felt in classrooms and labs, by students and faculty alike. Reducing investment in teaching and research reduces the quality and accessibility of a UPEI education. Spending Priorities Emphasize Outside Consultants, Growing Administration While the core academic budget stagnates, the approved budget shows significant increases in spending on outside consultants and legal services, as well as continued growth in senior administration and non-academic administrative support positions. Since 2021, spending on non-teaching salaries at UPEI has increased by more than 80%, a figure the Faculty Association finds deeply concerning and difficult to reconcile with the constraints being placed on academic units. The Faculty Association is not opposed to appropriate administrative investment, but we believe the current trajectory is unsustainable and out of step with the priorities of a teaching and research university. Resources that should be supporting faculty, students, and academic programs are instead flowing toward administrative overhead and external contractors. This is not sustainable. A Question of Institutional Direction The UPEIFA urges University leadership to reflect on what these budget decisions signal about UPEI’s identity and direction. A university’s strength lies in the quality of its teaching and research — in the faculty who mentor students, generate knowledge, and contribute to the community of scholars. Continued underinvestment in this core mission, while non-academic administrative costs balloon, puts the academic reputation and integrity of the institution at risk. The Faculty Association is calling on the administration and Board of Governors to: -Reverse cuts to academic units and restore adequate funding for teaching and research; -Provide full transparency on the growth in spending on consultants, legal services, and senior administration; -Commit to a budget process that meaningfully engages faculty and reflects the academic priorities of the University; and -Develop a clear plan to rebalance institutional spending to support UPEI’s core educational mission. It bears emphasizing that UPEI is PEI’s only university. Island students do not have the option of turning to another local institution if course availability declines, class sizes grow, or academic supports are reduced. The consequences of de-prioritizing the academic mission fall disproportionately on Island students, families, and communities who depend on UPEI to provide accessible, high-quality post-secondary education. Beyond its role in the classroom, UPEI is also a major driver of the provincial economy. The University attracts students, researchers, and talent to the Island, supports local businesses and communities, and helps develop the skilled workforce that PEI’s economy depends on. The availability of a quality university education on PEI is not a luxury, it is vital to the province’s long-term prosperity. When the University’s academic mission is undermined, the consequences extend well beyond campus. The University carries a particular public responsibility that makes these budget decisions all the more serious. The UPEIFA represents the faculty, librarians, sessional instructors, clinical nursing instructors, and clinical veterinary professionals of the University of Prince Edward Island and is committed to advocating for a University that serves its students, its community, and the public interest. |
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