OCSU Annual Presentation to the Okanagan College Leadership Council

Annabelle Lee and Anna Borysova are International Development students and are presenting to the Okanagan College Leadership Council on behalf of the Okanagan College Students’ Union, of which they are elected representatives. They are presenting student-identified priorities and concerns regarding academic continuity, communication, campus experience, and student support across all Okanagan College campuses. This brief reflects direct feedback from students enrolled in a broad range of programs and campus locations.

Program Stability & Regional Campus Concerns

Course Cancellations & Reduced Access

• Students are distressed at the significant course and sudden program cancellations across campuses (Arts, CIS, Business, and others), including required courses vital for graduation. Changes are inevitable, but communication is sorely missing, adding to the stress and confusion. Students in Vernon, Salmon Arm, and Penticton increasingly cannot fully complete programs locally, despite recruitment materials promising otherwise.

• Kelowna Centralization is forcing more students to commute considerable distances or move to Kelowna to attend in person learning. In the cost of living crisis and poor transit reality of the valley, this causes undue hardship for many students. Shrinking course options undermine academic planning, student confidence, and trust in the institution.

Student Experience & Campus Environment

Personnel & Course Delivery Instability

• Sudden instructor changes and shifting class formats create uncertainty and disrupt student academic decision-making and confidence. Sudden staff changes signal instability that students feel directly.

Wellness Centre Access

• OCSU requests designated OC student-only time blocks during peak academic hours to ensure the Wellness Centre serves its intended population.

Housing, Food Services & Affordability
Residence Access & Safety

• Third-party management has created unclear accountability for parking, building access, and safety, especially overnight.

Food Services

• Vendors continue to lack affordable post secondary student-budget options. OCSU urges the mandate of at least one balanced value meal under $7 at all food service locations.

Building Impacts

Exam Season

• Students request that heavy construction be minimized or paused during exam periods in Kelowna. Up North, concerns are rising about limited library hours in Vernon and Salmon Arm during the upcoming exam period, which will undermine study time, and add additional stress loads to students.

Funding Crisis & Institutional Advocacy
Budget Pressures

• Students are aware of the projected $8.5M deficit and the resulting program cuts, ERIPs, and layoffs.These reductions are visibly affecting program quality, course availability, and campus morale.

Call for Joint Advocacy

• Students urge OC leadership to stand with student organizations in advocating to the provincial government for sustainable funding and to not lobby changes to the Tuition Fee Limit Policy.

Summary of Student Requests

• Develop and implement a clear communication strategy for current students.

• Stabilize program offerings and ensure that students can reliably complete credentials at their chosen campuses as advertised.

• Address Kelowna campus congestion caused by large numbers of visiting high-school students, ideally by prohibiting them from staying on campus during their breaks.

• Mandate affordable value-meal options from all food vendors contracted by OC.

• Ensure responsible management by third party contractors of student-facing services, including housing, the new wellness centre and security.

• Limit heavy construction during exam periods, and maintain adequate library access on all campuses, particularly during exam season.

• Advocate publicly and collaboratively for improved government funding for the Post Secondary Sector.

OCSU is committed to student success, institutional stability, and a strong future for Okanagan College. We ask for your partnership in addressing these challenges and delivering a campus experience that aligns with the expectations set during recruitment and the standards students deserve.