TRU faculty loses court challenge of art program cuts

University professors in Kamloops lost their bid to challenge the school’s decision to cut multiple art programs.

Thompson Rivers University ditched the programs as enrolment dwindled over several years. The faculty association challenged the decision in court. More than a year later, a BC Supreme Court judge ruled in the university’s favour.

While Justice Maria Morellato found university leadership overstepped its authority in suspending admissions to arts programs in 2023, the board of governors acted reasonably and within its powers to cut its visual arts programs the next year, according to an Oct. 28 decision.

Though it still offers individual arts courses, there are no certificate or degree programs for new students.

The university cited a decade-long decline in arts enrolments, low completion rates and high operational costs for its review and eventual cuts to the program, but told faculty the decision wouldn’t result in job losses, according to the decision.

The faculty association didn’t ask the court to determine whether or not the arts programs should have been cut. Instead, the judge was asked to review whether or not the university’s board of governors followed its legal decision-making procedure.

While the board has the authority to decide whether or not to keep the programs, the faculty association argued it didn’t properly follow its own policies, including a rule that the board must seek advice from the senate, the school’s other governance body.

Justice Morellato found the board of governors did seek the senate’s advice before voting to cut the programs. She found that the 2023 decision to suspect new applications was a moot point because of the board decision.

She dismissed the faculty association’s petition to the court.