Message from President's Council: Sustainability Planning and Action
Dear UPEI Community,
Over the past several weeks, University leaders have been discussing UPEI’s financial outlook as part of our development of a sustainable budget for 2027–28 and the years ahead.
Like universities across Canada, UPEI is operating in a significantly altered financial environment, driven by enrolment declines and ongoing uncertainty; constrained revenues; and annual cost inflation. The pressures are significant across the sector. Cape Breton University has estimated a $77 million revenue shortfall over three years as enrolment declined. Memorial University, meanwhile, reduced operating expenditures by $18.6 million in 2025–26 and has since required units to identify additional reductions as part of its ongoing sustainability work.
UPEI has already taken significant steps to manage expenditures and vacancies, strengthen recruitment and retention, and pursue new revenue opportunities. These efforts have helped, but with enrolment below previous projections and the cost of delivering programs and services continuing to rise, additional planning is required. By undertaking this work now, with a focus on 2027–28 and beyond, UPEI can identify thoughtful, sustainable solutions rather than face more drastic measures later.
As part of that work, faculties and administrative units are being asked to review their operations and identify realistic opportunities to reduce costs, improve how we work, and, where appropriate, increase revenues. We recognize that many areas already feel these impacts and that identifying further opportunities will not be easy.
UPEI’s planning is focused primarily on the 2027–28 budget and longer-term sustainability. (UPEI community members can view the recent Town Hall presentation here: 2026-10-05 Town Hall re Sustain_FuturePlan.) Leaders are being asked to work with their teams to develop practical options for consideration through the University’s established planning and decision-making processes.
Our objective is broader than balancing a single year’s budget. It is to ensure that UPEI can continue to invest in academic quality, student experience, research, as well as the people and programs central to our mission.
Achieving that will require difficult conversations, thoughtful choices, and ideas from across the University. We will continue to share information as the planning process progresses and as opportunities for further engagement arise.
Thank you for your continued commitment to UPEI and for contributing constructively to this important work.
In partnership,
Wendy M. Rodgers, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor
Paula Wood-Adams, PhD
Interim Vice-President Academic and Research
Tim J. Walker, FCPA, CA, ICD.D
Vice-President Administration and Finance
Jane Ngobia, PhD
Vice-President People and Culture
