KPU board of governors review draft annual reports, receive 2026 budget update
The BOG also appointed its new chair and vice-chair and said goodbye to departing board members
The next KPU BOG meeting will take place on Oct. 1 at 4:00 pm. (File photo)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s board of governors (BOG) received an annual report on KPU’s sexual violence and misconduct policy during a meeting on June 25.
In compliance with the provincal government’s Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act, the report highlighted enhancements to the university’s anonymous reporting systems for sexual violence, which were implemented with $20,538 in ministry funding from fiscal year end 2023.
The enhancements included launching videos on sexual violence support and creating an anonymous reporting form, among others.
“I worked with the ministry on a working group that released a toolkit to provide guidance to post-secondary institutions on the annual report that they developed,” said Jennifer Jordan, director of student rights and responsibilities at KPU. “And we had a response to an uptick in Moodle misuse, so we did some activities to address that issue.”
The report noted 23 students were supported regarding sexual violence, which was an increase from previous years. KPU received three anonymous reports, two of which were sexual violence related. Almost 100 people completed the Safer Campuses course offered through Moodle.
The BOG was also presented with a draft of KPU’s 2024-25 Accountability Plan and Report, an annual report that fulfills the requirements of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills’ Accountability Framework. The framework is aimed at ensuring institutions and the ministry are accountable to the public regarding their respective performance.
Among overviewing KPU’s facilities, strategic priorities, and other areas, the document also highlights the diversity of both student and employee bodies. Almost 80 per cent of students are racialized, 69 per cent of students are multilingual, and 39 per cent of students have a disability or medical condition, the draft report read.
Sixty-three per cent of domestic students and 62 per cent of international students identify as women, while 32 per cent of domestic students and 37 per cent of international students identify as men. Seven per cent of domestic students and two per cent of international students have trans experience or identify as non-binary, according to the draft document.
Fifty-six per cent of faculty are women, 41 per cent are men, and four per cent have trans experience or identify as non-binary. Thirty-one per cent of faculty are racialized, 43 per cent are multilingual, and 45 per cent have a disability or medical condition, the draft noted.
The proportion of students reporting very good or excellent health was 41 per cent for physical health and 31 per cent for mental health in calendar year 2024. For employees, these stats were 46 per cent for physical health and 42 per cent for mental health.
The proportion of students reporting satisfaction with their educational experience was 80 per cent in calendar year 2024. This same proportion was recorded for employees who are satisfied with working at KPU.
“[The report is] due to the ministry by July 11, and by then it will be a final draft with proofreading and copyediting done,” Planning and Accountability Director Meredith Haaf said.
The BOG also carried a motion to approve proposed targets for specified performance measures outlined in the Accountability Plan and Report. A couple of the benchmarks included in the changes are to maintain or increase the 80-per-cent level of employees satisfied working at KPU and to at least maintain calendar year 2024’s proportion of 16 per cent of students engaged in research, since increases may not be possible due to KPU’s financial situation.
Lily Chong, university secretary and executive assistant to the president, notified the BOG of incoming and departing board members. The candidates elected as student representatives for the next term, which starts on Sept. 1 and ends on Aug. 31, 2026, are Karanbir Boparai and Anirudh Agnihotri.
The departing board members completing their terms are Rhiannon Bennett, Ivy Chen, and Muhammad Afzal Malik. Amrit Chahal and Mehtoj Ghuman, who are both student representatives on the BOG, are also leaving. Chong said there are now four vacancies on the board.
The BOG also reappointed KPMG LLP as KPU’s external auditor for the 2025-26 reporting year as well as approved a draft management discussion and analysis for the year ended March 31. The document provides detail about the university’s financial statements from management’s perspective, Associate Vice-President Finance Carole Laplante said.
The board also received an update on the fiscal year 2026 budget.
“Monitoring of enrolment and tuition projections continues to be top priority for KPU. Enrolment updates are shared regularly with KPU leadership to ensure alignment with budgeted projections,” the update read.
“As of the summer term, early estimates indicate that the tuition shortfall is growing and as of May 22, 2025 tuition is $1.9M less than the budget projection.”
To address the funding shortfall, KPU had taken on a number of measures, including conducting hiring reviews, reducing contingency funds, and minimizing general expenditures, according to the meeting’s agenda.
The board also approved edits to KPU’s university draft budget principles and priorities for fiscal year 2026-27. This draft evolved from the previously board approved one for 2025-26, which “had remained relatively unchanged for several years,” the agenda read.
The BOG then elected board members Erin Barnes as chair and Stephanie Smith as vice-chair for the upcoming board term.
The next BOG meeting is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 4:00 pm in the KPU Surrey Cedar Board Room. For more information, visit www.kpu.ca/governors.
