Latest news with #JeffKeshen
CTV News
01-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Judge dismisses students' union injunction application against University of Regina
A judge has dismissed an injunction application filed by the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) against the University of Regina (U of R). The union filed the lawsuit against the U of R for withholding fees and terminating their fee collection agreement in April after it was announced the university would terminate URSU's collection agreement effective Aug. 31, citing concerns with URSU's 2024 audited financial statement. 'For more than a year and a half, the University raised concerns regarding URSU's unsustainable financial position and has tried to engage constructively with URSU leadership, offering financial and governance assistance,' U of R President Jeff Keshen said in a statement posted to social media Friday. 'Unfortunately, URSU did not take the steps recommended by the University to improve and address these matters. The external audit of URSU's 2024 financial statements identified significant uncertainty regarding the organization's ongoing sustainability,' he added. Through its injunction application, URSU sought to compel the University to release the Winter 2025 student fees, and continue collecting and transferring fees to URSU indefinitely. 'The court determined the university established a real risk URSU would not properly allocate student funds if the university were ordered to transfer the withheld student fees to URSU as a lump sum payment,' according to the U of R's post. 'And the payment protocol was, 'a measured and practical method to ensure that URSU applies fees collected from students to legitimate expenses.' The court also held that compelling the University to continue to collect fees from students on URSU's behalf in the present circumstances would be irresponsible and unfair to students. 'While we are naturally disappointed with the outcome, we respect the court's reasoning and appreciate the clarity it has provided regarding the payment protocol,' a spokesperson for URSU said in a response to CTV News. URSU representatives added it does not intend to escalate the matter through further litigation. 'We are focused on working collaboratively with the University of Regina to find long-term, sustainable solutions that support the interests of our student body,' the statement said. We recognize the importance of financial accountability and governance, and we are committed to improving internal systems to restore confidence and stability.' The university is assuring students they remain committed to keeping core student services in place, including health and dental benefits, UPass, and support of student societies continue into the Fall without disruption. Updated information, along with FAQs, will be shared in the next couple of weeks. 'The university also remains committed to working in good faith with student leadership that demonstrates a commitment to good governance and sound financial management in the best interest of students,' Keshen said. 'We encourage University of Regina students to get involved to make the changes necessary to result in an effective and accountable student representative organization.' 'We are hopeful through continued dialogue and cooperation, we can move forward in a constructive way that benefits both the University and the students we serve,' URSU added. - With files from Caitlin Brezinski and Wayne Mantyka
CTV News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘ReconciliACTION': What is it and how can you take part?
FNUniv President Jacqueline Ottmann (L) and U of R President Jeff Keshen (R) speak at the National Building Reconciliation Forum on May 15, 2025. (Donovan Maess / CTV News) (Donovan Maess)
CBC
03-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
University of Regina raises tuition and cuts staff amidst budgetary challenges
Social Sharing Students at the University of Regina will be paying more for tuition in the 2025-26 academic year. The university's board of governors has approved the 2025–26 operating budget, which includes budget reductions of about two per cent. "Given the financial situation, cost-saving measures will be implemented across the University in alignment with our core mission of teaching and learning, research, community connection and student support," the university said in a news release Wednesday. Those measures include a four per cent tuition increase for new and returning students, as well as job losses. So far, the university has confirmed five layoffs. In its release, the university cited several factors behind the financial pressures: a drop in international students, flat domestic enrolments and tensions from the United States. "Along with ongoing financial pressures related to inflation, universities are encountering challenging financial times," Wednesday's release said. Jeff Keshen, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Regina, confirmed that the university has had a 59 per cent drop in new international student enrolment for the 2025 winter semester. "That's mainly due to what's been a real glacial pace of processing by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)," Keshen said. "So that has resulted in millions of dollars in lost revenue for our institution, and colleges and universities across Canada." Recent IRCC changes include a reduction in the number of study permits issued in Canada. Keshen said this has created apprehension among prospective international students, who fear being rejected by Canadian immigration. "The problem is that those students are no longer applying in those same numbers because Canada's reputation abroad has been so sullied because of all these rule changes, and because the students know that there's been such delays in processing and such high rejection rates," Keshen said. A counry-wide challenge Keshen noted that other institutions across the country are experiencing similar drops in international enrolment. "I will say that our 59 per cent drop is not out of line with what other institutions have experienced," he said. He added that the university had a multi-year funding agreement with the provincial government, an arrangement many other post-secondary institutions do not have. "We were thankful because a lot of places, they're either freezing it completely or they're cutting it," he said. That funding agreement expired last year, but was extended for one additional year. Keshen said it's unclear whether the province will continue supporting it amid ongoing economic uncertainty. The university says it does not take tuition increases lightly and will continue efforts to attract international students to Regina. Keshen echoed that sentiment, encouraging students in need of financial support to contact Student Affairs.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Students' union files lawsuit against University of Regina over terminated fee agreement
Social Sharing The University of Regina Students' Union has filed a lawsuit against the university as a dispute over the student organization's governance continues to escalate. A statement issued Friday by URSU's board of directors says the university is making "unilateral decisions without any co-ordinated input from the student body." The board claims the university is putting services at risk with potential negative impacts on students. Earlier this month, university president Jeff Keshen announced he had terminated the U of R's fee collection agreement with the student union effective Aug. 31. Keshen said university officials had lost confidence in URSU after an auditor reviewed its 2024 audited financial statements and found its finances unsustainable. WATCH| U of Regina ends funding agreement with students' union U of Regina ends funding agreement with students' union 17 days ago Duration 2:13 University of Regina president Jeff Keshen says the decision to terminate the agreement with the U of R Students' Union came on the heels of an auditor's report that found issues with spending. "The auditor pointed to an ongoing material uncertainty, which in auditor's language means that the financial sustainability of that organization is in serious question, meaning that they may not be able to pay their bills, they may not be sustainable," Keshen told CBC News earlier this month. URSU's financial report found that during the 2023-2024 fiscal year it had posted revenue of $8.9 million and expenses of $10.2 million, leaving the organization in a "deficit position" of approximately $1.3 million. Keshen said the auditors found URSU is "depleting any reserves that they have," and that the university has a responsibility to students to ensure the fees they pay are used responsibly. 'Unsubstantiated rumours' URSU's statement on Thursday claims the university should not have intervened in student governance "absent evidence of fraud." "Despite unsubstantiated rumours you might have read on social media, we do not have evidence that anyone committed fraud or that admittedly poor decisions were made in bad faith," the statement reads. The board admits that its prior record of financial loss is a reflection of much needed change to URSU's governance structure and its internal spending policies. In a statement, the University of Regina said it is "disappointed" with URSU's legal action. "Over the past several months, the University has tried to work with URSU leadership, offering financial and governance assistance. Unfortunately, URSU has not undertaken the steps recommended by the University to improve and address these matters," the statement reads. As a result, the university's administration says, it made the decision to terminate the agreement. The university said that earlier this year it implemented a payment protocol that would allow URSU to receive student fees so that its operations and student services, such as the UPasss bus pass and health and dental benefits, would not be interrupted. URSU has chosen to not engage with that protocol or access the funds, according to the U of R. "The University will be defending the action, and will not comment further while the matter is before the Courts," the statement reads.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Students' union files lawsuit against University of Regina over terminated fee agreement
The University of Regina Students' Union has filed a lawsuit against the university as a dispute over the student organization's governance continues to escalate. A statement issued Friday by URSU's board of directors says the university is making "unilateral decisions without any co-ordinated input from the student body." The board claims the university is putting services at risk with potential negative impacts on students. Earlier this month, university president Jeff Keshen announced he had terminated the U of R's fee collection agreement with the student union effective Aug. 31. Keshen said university officials had lost confidence in URSU after an auditor reviewed its 2024 audited financial statements and found its finances unsustainable. WATCH| U of Regina ends funding agreement with students' union "The auditor pointed to an ongoing material uncertainty, which in auditor's language means that the financial sustainability of that organization is in serious question, meaning that they may not be able to pay their bills, they may not be sustainable," Keshen told CBC News earlier this month. URSU's financial report found that during the 2023-2024 fiscal year it had posted revenue of $8.9 million and expenses of $10.2 million, leaving the organization in a "deficit position" of approximately $1.3 million. Keshen said the auditors found URSU is "depleting any reserves that they have," and that the university has a responsibility to students to ensure the fees they pay are used responsibly. 'Unsubstantiated rumours' URSU's statement on Thursday claims the university should not have intervened in student governance "absent evidence of fraud." "Despite unsubstantiated rumours you might have read on social media, we do not have evidence that anyone committed fraud or that admittedly poor decisions were made in bad faith," the statement reads. The board admits that its prior record of financial loss is a reflection of much needed change to URSU's governance structure and its internal spending policies. In a statement, the University of Regina said it is "disappointed" with URSU's legal action. "Over the past several months, the University has tried to work with URSU leadership, offering financial and governance assistance. Unfortunately, URSU has not undertaken the steps recommended by the University to improve and address these matters," the statement reads. As a result, the university's administration says, it made the decision to terminate the agreement. The university said that earlier this year it implemented a payment protocol that would allow URSU to receive student fees so that its operations and student services, such as the UPasss bus pass and health and dental benefits, would not be interrupted. URSU has chosen to not engage with that protocol or access the funds, according to the U of R. "The University will be defending the action, and will not comment further while the matter is before the Courts," the statement reads.
