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Hi GAPS Community,</div>
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We would like to share with you an announcement that came from the University of Victoria Graduate Physics Society. You can find more information below, and in the provided links. In summary, the BC government is proposing changes to the financial structure
of post-secondary education. One potential outcome is that domestic student tuition may increase at an increased rate. The consultation deadline for the proposed changes is set for January 15, so you would need to act fast if you would like to take action.
Unfortunate timing, but we were unaware until today. Please feel free to share this with anyone who you think would want to know.</div>
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Please note that the links below are the government releases. The attached emails and documents within are from UVic and their Graduate Student Physics Society, not material created by GAPS.</div>
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<a href="https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025PSFS0056-001159">https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025PSFS0056-001159</a></div>
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<a href="https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/ReviewofSectorSustainability_TermsofReference.pdf">https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/ReviewofSectorSustainability_TermsofReference.pdf</a></div>
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Have a nice evening,</div>
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GAPS Committee</div>
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<b>From: </b>Grads-phast <grads-phast-bounces@lists.uvic.ca> on behalf of Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program Assistant <physgrad@uvic.ca><br>
<b>Date: </b>Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 8:24 AM<br>
<b>To: </b>'grads-phast@lists.uvic.ca' <grads-phast@lists.uvic.ca><br>
<b>Subject: </b>[Grads-phast] FW: Provincial Funding Review - Please Circulate<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">FYI, in case you are interested…</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Best,</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cindy</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><img src="cid:image001.jpg@01DC8464.341ACD40" alt="Dynamic edge" id="Picture_x0020_3" width="624" height="12" style="width: 6.5104in; height: 0.125in; max-width: 100%; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"></span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 80%;">Cindy Kutyn (she/her) | Graduate Program Assistant | Department of Physics and Astronomy | T 250-721-7700| </span></p>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 80%;">University of Victoria | Elliot Building | Rm 101 | PO Box 1700 STN CSC | Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 |</span><span style="font-size: 9pt; color: blue; line-height: 80%;"><u><a href="http://www.phys.uvic.ca/" originalsrc="http://www.phys.uvic.ca/" data-outlook-id="0852626b-fddf-4538-91e8-e2c73c20e3dd" style="color: blue; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">http://www.phys.uvic.ca</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 80%;"><i>I respectfully acknowledge that I am a guest on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən, Coast Salish, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples.</i></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 80%;"><b><i>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. </i></b></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 80%;"><b><i>Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all
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Dear students, </p>
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The Province is moving to change the financial structure of post-secondary education. This has direct implications on all of us, as students. Some of the terms are contentious. The BC government has not ruled out removing or adjusting the 2% limit on domestic
tuition increases, which would clash with the provincial mandate to ensure that post-secondary education remains affordable for students. </p>
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In addition, the government has set a consultation deadline of January 15<sup>th</sup> 2026. The timing and scope of this consultation means students have had
<i>no meaningful opportunity</i> to weigh in on changes that could directly impact them. </p>
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In response, the GSS has launched a campaign to advocate for the removal of the “no new funding” from the review’s terms of reference, and demanding the Province immediately and publicly commit to maintaining the 2% cap on domestic tuition, among other student-focused demands. Our
open letter to the government is available on our website <span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">
<u><a href="https://gss.uvic.ca/advocacy/psireview/" originalsrc="https://gss.uvic.ca/advocacy/psireview/" data-outlook-id="ded628e4-e8ab-48a8-84be-4197b97ac53f" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">https://gss.uvic.ca/advocacy/psireview/</a></u></span></p>
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We are calling on our members to take action now, make your own voice heard by sending a letter to Don Avison, KC (<span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a href="mailto:psfs.sustainability.review@gov.bc.ca" target="_blank" data-outlook-id="ca5074f7-9ea4-457d-be5e-704e72375029" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">psfs.sustainability.review@gov.bc.ca</a></u></span>)
who is leading the review, and to the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Hon. Jessie Sunner (<span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a href="mailto:PSFS.Minister@gov.bc.ca" target="_blank" data-outlook-id="39540fd8-1b6a-474b-b049-f08fc0a560f6" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">PSFS.Minister@gov.bc.ca</a></u></span>),
preferably on or before January 15<sup>th </sup>. Additionally, if you are eligible to vote in BC, we encourage you to contact your MLA to voice your concerns directly to them. You can find your electoral district in
<span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a href="https://mydistrict.elections.bc.ca/" target="_blank" originalsrc="https://mydistrict.elections.bc.ca/" data-outlook-id="97c7af1f-13f2-430e-87b0-bf217175d2aa" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">https://mydistrict.elections.bc.ca</a></u></span>,
and a list of MLAs by district in <span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a href="https://www.leg.bc.ca/members/find-mla-by-constituency" target="_blank" originalsrc="https://www.leg.bc.ca/members/find-mla-by-constituency" data-outlook-id="57c0661e-eb31-4363-8a09-9e8e39c8c54c" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">https://www.leg.bc.ca/members/find-mla-by-constituency</a></u></span>. </p>
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The GSS is supporting students who wish to take action by hosting a working group led by executive director, Kyla Turner. These sessions will walk you through advocacy, letter writing, and how to communicate your concerns to Don Avison and your MLA, 1-3pm,
Wednesdays, Jan 14, 21, 28, at the Grad House Board Room. </p>
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If you need more info, visit <span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a href="https://gss.uvic.ca/advocacy/psireview/" target="_blank" originalsrc="https://gss.uvic.ca/advocacy/psireview/" data-outlook-id="0144d2dc-fadf-44b1-8ffb-7f4f1ceef9fd" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">https://gss.uvic.ca/advocacy/psireview/</a></u></span> or
email <span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);"><u><a href="mailto:gsschair@uvic.ca" target="_blank" data-outlook-id="733f71f4-4846-4fe8-934b-58de99841de1" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">gsschair@uvic.ca</a></u></span>. </p>
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From the Graduate Students’ Society</p>
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<span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Kyla Turner (she/they)</span></p>
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<span style="color: black;">Executive Director, University of Victoria Graduate Students' Society</span></p>
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<span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Room </span><span style="color: black;">102, Halpern Centre for Graduate Students<br>
Box 1700, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2<br>
GSS front desk: 250-472-4543<br>
</span><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><u><a href="http://gss.uvic.ca/" originalsrc="http://gss.uvic.ca/" data-outlook-id="1d300058-8038-472d-949d-3531a4eadf10" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">http://gss.uvic.ca</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="color: black;">Keep in touch by signing up for our bulletin here: </span>
<span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><u><a href="https://gss.uvic.ca/gss-bulletin/" originalsrc="https://gss.uvic.ca/gss-bulletin/" data-outlook-id="4be665e9-4cba-4142-ae2b-51d542a9ced5" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">https://gss.uvic.ca/gss-bulletin/</a></u></span></p>
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