Senate serves as UFV’s academic governing body, making decisions that shape the daily experience of students and faculty. It advises the Board of Governors — responsible for the university’s business affairs — on matters of shared interest. Monthly public meetings are open to all members of the UFV community. This article will recap key agenda items of the hybrid Senate meeting held on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025.
David Johnston, registrar and associate vice president, enrollment management, and Vladimir Dvoracek, associate vice president of institutional research and integrated planning, presented an update on the Fall 2025 registration and enrollment numbers regarding the SEM plan targets for 2030-31.
The update showed that domestic full-time student enrollment (FTE) has increased from 7,574 to 8,250, the highest FTEs for UFV in 15 years. For international student enrollment, Dvoracek also presented a decline of over seven per cent from 2024 to 2027.
He explained that back in 2005, the university was operating at 109 per cent of its target, with more funded students than the ministry expected. However, during the pandemic, that percentage dropped to 93 per cent. In 2024, it rose to 102 per cent, and this year it is projected to reach 105 per cent.
Although the university is meeting and exceeding its enrollment targets, the decline in international students — while offset numerically by an increase in domestic students — is not offset financially. The university receives block funding from the government, meaning its core funding does not change based on the student mix. However, tuition revenue does.
This shift from international to domestic students creates a major financial impact due to the difference in tuition fees. While domestic student tuition is approximately $5,000, international student tuition is around $23,000. The difference is roughly $18,000 in tuition revenue per international student who is replaced by a domestic one.
Dvoracek commented that although fewer new international students are coming in, many are still enrolled from previous years. This creates a delayed effect, meaning the full impact on total enrollment will take time to appear. He reassured that UFV is aware of the issue and working on solutions.
He noted that UFV’s share of Fraser Valley high school grads transitioning directly to post-secondary has declined slightly, with SFU and BCIT having gained ground, increasing their share by 2-3 percentage points. However, Langley shows an increase for UFV.
When questioned about how transportation affected enrollment numbers, UFV President Dr. James Mandigo acknowledged how this could affect students and commented on the campus shuttle, managed by the Student Union Society (SUS).
“SUS is the primary driver of that shuttle service … I know that one of the big issues when Minister [Jessie] Sunner was here one or two weeks ago, one of the top items that [SUS] raised with [her] was around the Fraser Valley Express route 66.”
He affirmed ongoing efforts to advocate for better access and affordability in support of students.
A discussion broke out regarding immigration enrollment, in which Mandigo asserted that some numbers would have to be corrected due to the political forecast.
“I think we’re going to have to adjust down in terms of our expectations and planning because … the federal government is not signalling any course of change in this policy. In fact, they are going in the other direction, even taking more rigid measures.”
Mandigo explained that Canada, the U.S., Australia, and the UK — once dominant in international student recruitment — have all introduced tighter immigration rules, making it harder for students to study abroad. Meanwhile, countries like China, Germany, Malaysia, and Vietnam are stepping up, launching new visa programs and policies to attract international talent. Mandigo observed that it’s become a strategic move in global politics and economics.
In the President’s Report, Mandigo highlighted the launch of the St’elt’elawtexw Community Report, meant to celebrate the university’s deep connection with its community. Claire Hay and Martin Warkentin were awarded for Open Education work; Dr. Satwinder Bains was honoured for her advocacy against caste oppression; students received the Forged by Youth award for the sculpture Finding Resolution; and Stephanie Ohlmann launched a children’s book titled Hello Abbotsford (2025) promoting linguistic diversity and inclusion.
