In the January 22 edition of Over the Edge, Jorden Evens thoughtfully highlighted several real and compounding barriers to accessible and affordable post-secondary education. These include the difficulty of securing meaningful summer employment without prior experience, the challenge of balancing academic studies with low-wage work, rising costs of living, especially for students who must relocate to attend university, and government financial supports that have not kept pace with inflation or growing expectations of universities. Some faculty and staff may also recall a time when provincial funding supported on-campus student employment at a much higher level.
Taken together, these realities rightly prompt an important question: What is UNBC doing to support students within this context?
It is important to be transparent. UNBC, like all public universities in British Columbia, has a legislated requirement to operate within a balanced budget. We do not have the financial capacity to solve all the structural drivers of student financial insecurity on our own. However, we do have a responsibility to act, working in partnership with students, families, governments, communities, and donors, to strengthen the supports that help make post-secondary education more accessible and affordable.
First, I want to express sincere gratitude to the many donors who have contributed to student scholarships and bursaries over UNBC’s 35-year history. Their generosity has made a meaningful difference in students’ lives. As of the most recent academic year, UNBC administers approximately $4.1 million in scholarships and bursaries across more than 1,200 awards. Each year, between 98–99% of these funds are distributed directly to students. That is a remarkable level of impact. At the same time, as Jorden rightly notes, rising living costs continue to erode the real value of these supports, underscoring the need to grow our scholarships over time.
In addition to financial awards, UNBC has taken steps to expand on-campus employment opportunities over the past three years. These roles provide not only income, but also meaningful experience that can strengthen students’ resumes and improve access to future employment. In 2023, UNBC employed 281 students, 302 in 2024, and 319 in 2025. We have also expanded opportunities through Teaching Assistantships and will continue to look for ways to grow student employment as resources allow.
Second, UNBC’s leadership has approved a new, one-time investment of over $150,000 in each of the upcoming 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years for additional scholarships to support both new and continuing students. Our Offices of the Registrar and Student Success teams are working to roll out this funding in a meaningful way to current and future students that support the enrollment goals of the university. Please watch for details coming in the next few months.
These initiatives will not eliminate the broader affordability challenges facing post-secondary education, but they represent concrete steps UNBC is taking, alongside our partners, to reduce financial barriers where we can as we look to enhance the value of our scholarship funds. Just as importantly, we will continue to advocate collectively for the systemic investments needed to ensure that access to higher education in northern British Columbia is not determined by a student’s financial circumstances. UNBC will continue to work hard to keep university education financially accessible to the residents of northern BC and beyond.
