Victoria University undergoes process of renegotiating federation agreement

Victoria University, along with the other two federated colleges, Trinity and St. Michael’s, have begun the process of renegotiating their federation agreement with the University of Toronto. This agreement was last updated in 2008, and it acts as a foundational document to guide relations between the educational institutions. The practical aspects of each of the federated college’s relationships and funding agreements are outlined in their operating agreements, which will be reviewed following the discussions around the federation agreement.

Exact details of the ongoing renegotiations are privy to confidentiality, but in a statement to The Strand, Victoria University stated, “Through good faith and a shared commitment to our students, negotiations are currently proceeding to update the agreement.” The statement continued by explaining that the agreement allows Victoria University to admit “UofT students into our colleges, deliver courses, independently manage our assets including our buildings, and have our own faculty and staff. Our close collaboration and shared priorities with UofT are focused on best serving our students, who have the benefit of being part of both UofT and Victoria University. This includes rigorous academic programming that prepares our students for a complex and quickly evolving world, innovative curriculum development and funding based on space allocation and student census, as well as academic, co-curricular, wellness, and social resources.”

In an interview with The Strand, VUSAC Vice-President External Cameron Miranda-Radbord stated that this renegotiation “has the potential for a big to really change and change in ways that are really positive…it’s really important for students to be involved in the process because it’s not only going to affect our class but also generations of students to come. So things like meal plans, residence accommodations, academic support, all of these need to be at the forefront…I think that the current situation is untenable. When you look at how much students are paying to eat and to live. I think that we need something to change, and I think that this can be the start of that process …We deserve the low fees, the sufficient financial aid, the things that will allow students to attend, no matter the economic circumstances of the family they were born into. So I think that needs to be at the core of what administrators advocate, and that’s what we’ll be pushing for.”