Take a Stand and Share Your Story

Dear Bishop’s Alumni,  

As many of you know, on October 13^th the Government of Quebec announced new policy measures that will have a profound effect on our university. To begin, I would like to thank those of you who have already offered your support. I hear your concerns and share your apprehensions.  

The end of this message contains two concrete suggestions as to how you can help. 

Let me briefly outline the proposed new policy. If implemented as planned, beginning in fall 2024 the annual tuition at Quebec universities for undergraduate Canadian students from outside the province will effectively be doubled, from approximately $9,000 to $17,000 per year. While tuition for our international students would not increase, the Quebec Government now plans to appropriate a very significant portion of these fees resulting in a major financial loss to Bishop’s. The government did not consult with the university community prior to announcing this policy and it was not a policy change that we were expecting. 

I want you to know what this policy means for Bishop’s and the actions we have been taking in recent days to press the government to reconsider.  

To put it bluntly, this policy would be catastrophic for Bishop’s University. The proposed changes to tuition for Canadian students from outside Quebec will disproportionately affect Quebec’s three English-language universities, and Bishop’s most of all. Last year, roughly 55% of our students were from Quebec, 30% from elsewhere in Canada, and 15% from other countries.  

As alumni of BU, you know better than anyone how much we have always cherished our diverse campus community and our exceptional position as an English-language institution of higher learning in Quebec. We are strong advocates for the protection of the French language and are a driving force for bilingualism, cultural exchange, and an inclusive environment.  

We are allies to attracting the talent that Quebec needs, ensuring that students from elsewhere have the skills they need to succeed in Quebec or anywhere they choose to go next. Ultimately, the Bishop’s experience allows all graduates to build bridges and networks, thus becoming ambassadors for the university and for the province. 

Since the announcement, we have been working tirelessly to inform the public through the media, public statements, and engaging our many allies and partners in the community and across the province. I have also had constructive discussions with the Minister of Higher Education who has acknowledged on more than one occasion how Bishop’s small size and regional character puts it in a very precarious situation.  

My objective is to ensure that government officials and the public are fully aware of the far-reaching impacts of this policy and the threat it poses to the English-speaking institutions of higher learning in Quebec, and to Bishop’s in particular. I am encouraged by the support we have received from members of the public, including many Francophone public figures, journalists, and members of our community who share our concerns over what this policy may mean for our university and Quebec’s entire university ecosystem.  

While we are relieved that the government has made clear that current students will not be affected by these increased tuition fees, next September is just around the corner.  Bishop’s has already received more than 125 applications from Canadian out-of-province students, and offers are well underway. Faced with this dramatic hike in tuition, we fear a great many will have no other choice but to decline our offer.  

I will keep you updated as the situation evolves. In the meantime, I hope you will reflect on your own experience at our university and what makes Bishop’s special. We hope that students from Quebec, Canada, and around the world will continue to benefit from the unique experience Bishop’s provides as they have done for 180 years.  

Sincerely,  

Sébastien Lebel-Grenier
Principal & Vice-Chancellor
Bishop’s University  

P.S.  How you can help: 

If you came to Bishop’s from outside Quebec, send us a testimonial about the positive experiences you had at Bishop’s, in Lennoxville, and in the province, so we can share it far and wide.  Please send your testimonial to: testimonials@ubishops.ca. 

If you live in Quebec today, please call or write your local Member of the National Assembly to express your dismay about this policy and its impact on the University that you love.