UVic Unions and Student Groups Launch a Petition for Improved Student Accommodations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2025: UVic Unions and Student Groups Launch a Petition for Improved Student Accommodations
Victoria: A coalition of all unions and major student groups at the University of Victoria launched a petition on Monday to push the University’s senior administration to address current serious problems with UVic’s student accommodation systems. We sent a letter to the senior administration expressing our concerns in April and have seen no positive action since.
Students with disabilities at the University of Victoria deserve equitable access to their education. Right now, that access is being compromised. Years of underfunding, poor planning, and short-term fixes have led to a crisis in the delivery of academic accommodations for students. Students are writing exams in environments that don’t meet their documented needs. Instructors and staff are being asked to take on increasing responsibilities without the proper support or training, and the University is shifting away from centralized systems that helped ensure fairness and consistency.
This is not just a policy problem—it’s a human rights issue. Under the BC Human Rights Code and the Accessible BC Act, UVic is legally obligated to remove barriers to education and provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. We are calling on them to do this – now, and with long term commitments for the future.
Hannah Brown, student representative for the UVic Society for Students with a Disability states that “Students deserve to be able to take exams in an environment that is fair and equitable. Those who already face barriers to their education are being let down by UVic’s underfunded and understaffed services. As students, we want the university to provide a sustainable centralized system of administering accommodated exams for everyone who needs them, similar to those found at other major Canadian universities.”
Lynne Marks, Lead Negotiator for the UVic Faculty Association notes that while “all universities are facing challenges with the increased need for student accommodations, UVic’s approach is particularly unfortunate. The administration has reduced the support that students need, and places increased responsibility on overworked instructors and staff, while threatening to further reduce the existing limited supports available.”
Organisations supporting the petition: PEA UVic Chapter, CUPE 951, CUPE 917, CUPE 4163, University of Victoria Faculty Association, UVic Students Society (UVSS), UVic Graduate Student Society (GSS), Society for Students with a Disability (SSD), UVic Pride Collective, Native Students Union (NSU), Campus Community Garden, Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM).
Media Spokespeople:
Hannah Brown
Co-Chairperson of the Society for Students with a Disability.
Email: hlbrown@uvic.ca
Lynne Marks
Lead Negotiator, UVic Faculty Association
Email: LSMARKS@uvic.ca
Media Liaison:
Amal Vincent, UVic Faculty Association
Email: amalv@uvic.ca
Phone: +1 250-472-4923
