VIU Students Call for the Removal of President Deborah Saucier
The VIU Students’ Union (VIUSU) Board of Directors has officially called for the removal of VIU President Deborah Saucier due to severe financial mismanagement, failed capital projects, and a leadership approach that has isolated students, faculty, and staff from decision-making. On February 21, VIUSU formally passed a motion among the Board of Directors and has since sent the decision to the VIU Board of Governors as an information item, urging immediate action to restore ethical, accountable, and student-centered leadership.
Financial Mismanagement Threatens VIU’s Future
Under President Saucier’s leadership, VIU’s financial position has reached a crisis point. The university has nearly drained its financial reserves and will be forced to rely on short-term provincial funding later in 2025 to cover payroll and operational expenses. Instead of making responsible financial decisions, in 2024 the administration spent over $900,000 on additional security and PR consultants while delaying key projects and reducing or cutting student services. Students are being told there is no funding for essential academic and student supports, yet the senior administration budget is the only one not facing reductions in VIU’s draft budget recommendations.
Student Services in Decline
"The cuts to student services are having a direct and devastating impact on students," said VIUSU Director Maggie Velisek. "Students are struggling to access academic advising, mental health resources, and even basic campus facilities like the library. At the same time, we see wasteful spending at the top, with no regard for the real needs of students. It’s unacceptable, and it’s why we are calling for new leadership at VIU."
Students have witnessed the erosion of key academic and student services under this administration. VIU was once a national leader in Indigenization, internationalization, and outdoor recreation, but these defining strengths have been neglected or abandoned. The collapse of the Student Information System (SIS) modernization project has wasted resources and delayed critical improvements to student services. The student housing project is now two years behind schedule and $20 million over budget, worsening Nanaimo’s already dire housing crisis. The cancellation of the Centre for Reconciliation Excellence (CoRE) and a major daycare project has left students, parents, and the wider community without access to essential childcare spaces.
Lack of Transparency and Student Exclusion
VIU’s governance has also become increasingly closed and unaccountable, with decision-making concentrated in the hands of a small group of administrators. Student leaders have been systematically excluded from decisions on service reductions, student fee changes, and academic program cuts. Faculty and staff have faced similar barriers. This pattern of exclusion dates back to 2023, when VIUSU representatives were removed from a VIU town hall discussing budget deficits and service cuts. Since then, students have been shut out of critical decision-making spaces, deepening the lack of transparency and trust across the university community.
A Less Accessible, Less Student-Friendly Campus
Instead of making campus more welcoming and supportive, VIU’s administration has implemented changes that have made it more restrictive. Student support offices, including the President’s office, have been moved behind locked doors, cutting off direct engagement with students. A sharp increase in campus securitization has failed to meaningfully improve safety and instead fostered a climate of exclusion and disconnection.
The VIU Library - once the most accessible in BC, open 24 hours a day - has had its hours drastically reduced. Students, who rely on the library for studying and assignments, have been told it is “too dangerous,” yet the administration has provided no evidence of increased safety concerns to justify this decision. Meanwhile, security spending continues to climb.
A Call for Leadership Change
“VIU’s leadership has made reckless financial decisions that put the university’s future at risk. Students are paying more while receiving less, all while being shut out of the conversations that impact our education,” said VIUSU Director Leah Vaisanen. “This is not just a student issue - VIU’s mismanagement will have huge impacts on the broader community if the administration continues down this path.”
The university needs to be held accountable by the community as it serves as an economic anchor in Nanaimo, educating 8,000 students each year and supporting 2,000 jobs.
Without decisive action, the university faces declining enrolment, further program cuts, and lasting damage to its reputation. Faculty, staff, alumni, and students all have a stake in ensuring VIU is well-governed, financially stable, and student-focused.
VIUSU Demands Immediate Action
The VIU Students’ Union is calling on the Board of Governors to remove President Saucier and immediately initiate an open, transparent, and community-inclusive process to appoint new leadership that will restore trust, integrity, and accountability at VIU.
We urge faculty, staff, alumni, and the VIU community to demand accountability and advocate for leadership that prioritizes students, responsible financial management, and the long-term sustainability of the institution.
Read the full motion submitted to the VIU Board of Governors here.
