VIU, Keep the Promise.

VIU is turning its back on students in the WUSC Refugee Program. Tell the Administration and Board of Governors to honour VIU’s commitments.

Personalize Your Letter

Before sending your letter, please update the sign-off to include your name and/or your connection to Vancouver Island University (VIU).

For example: VIU Student, VIU Faculty Member, VIU Staff Member, VIU Alumni, Former Refugee Student, Community Member

You are also encouraged to personalize the letter by sharing why the Student Refugee Program matters to you. Adding your own experiences or perspective can help strengthen the message.

Please review your letter before submitting to ensure your sign-off is complete.

“For refugee students hoping for the same opportunity, this program ending could mean losing a pathway to education, safety, and a fresh start. I find that heartbreaking because I know what this opportunity made possible for me. ”

— Former WUSC Student Refugee Program participant

Students are calling on VIU to:

Keep the commitment.
Protect the program.

1. Honour existing commitments.

Provide the full financial support already promised to the refugee students currently sponsored at VIU.

2. Reverse the decision to withdraw from the program.

Restore financial and staffing support to previously committed levels.

A promise that
changes lives.

The WUSC Student Refugee Program is students supporting students. VIU students contribute through student fees, and student committee members help welcome and support refugee students as they build their lives and pursue an education here.

VIU has given notice that it intends to leave the program. VIUSU's position is that this notice came too late to end the university's obligations to the 2026–27 intake, and that its withdrawal can only take effect beginning with the 2027–28 intake.

Despite reporting a $5.3-million surplus for the year ended March 31, 2026, VIU is withdrawing its support. The elected VIUSU Board of Directors is calling on VIU to honour its existing commitments by providing the full financial support already promised to refugee students currently sponsored at VIU, and to reverse its decision to withdraw from the program by restoring financial and staffing support to previously committed levels.

Sources: VIU's 2025/26 audited financial statements, page 2 ($5,288,474, rounded to $5.3 million); VIUSU correspondence, April 22, 2026, for program history and support commitments.
$5.3M
VIU's reported surplus for 2025–26
30+
Refugee students supported through the program at VIU
17 years
VIU and VIUSU have been supporting refugee students together since 2009.

How we
got here.

Students voted to support this program through their fees, alongside commitments made by VIU. For years, that shared commitment has helped refugee students access education and find community. Students have kept their commitment. VIU is walking away from theirs.

  1. 2009

    The program begins at VIU

    The WUSC Student Refugee Program was established at VIU, helping refugee students resettle in Canada and pursue a university education.

  2. 2013 & 2018

    A shared commitment

    VIUSU and VIU formalized their shared funding commitments through agreements in 2013 and 2018. Students voted in referendums to match the university’s commitments, building a partnership that refugee students could count on.

  3. October 2025

    Continued support confirmed

    Carolyn Russell, VIU’s former Vice-President Students, confirmed VIU’s continued commitment to the program and promised to work with VIUSU on any future changes. VIUSU relied on that confirmation when proceeding with commitments to incoming students.

  4. February 2026

    Funding withdrawal communicated

    Carolyn Russell communicated VIU’s decision to withdraw funding from the program, without the collaboration the university had promised. VIUSU continued to uphold its commitments and support the program, while taking on additional responsibilities.

  5. April & May 2026

    VIUSU calls for recommitment

    VIUSU called on VIU to honour the partnership: restore financial and staff support, settle outstanding contributions, and confirm support for current students and future intakes.

  6. October 2026

    Students take legal action

    Elected student representatives are pursuing legal action and mobilizing public support to urge VIU to reverse its decision to withdraw from the program.

FAQs

About the campaign

  • WUSC stands for World University Service of Canada. Its Student Refugee Program connects refugee resettlement with access to post-secondary education. This campaign is led by VIUSU and focuses on the program at VIU.

  • Students contribute through student fees established by referendum. The program is a shared partnership, with contributions and support from both students and the university.

  • The commitments made by VIU in October 2025 included support for two incoming students for the following year intake (26/27): full support in their first year, followed by tuition support for each of the next three years.

  • The program depends on shared funding and staff support. The Students’ Union has absorbed additional responsibilities and cannot sustain the university’s share of the partnership on its own.

  • This campaign belongs to students. Personalize your letter with your connection to VIU and why this program matters to you, then share the campaign with your classmates, colleagues, friends, and family.

    Together, we can push VIU to honour its commitments to the students who depend on this program.

    You can email savewusc@viusu.ca to get more involved.