LFA president urges Langara board to replace Paula Burns ahead of in-camera session
Pauline Greaves-Aylward says Langara is “still without a plan” after a 92% faculty non-confidence vote last fall
By PHILOMENA OKOLO
Updated Feb. 2, 2026: Updated to include a comment from Board of Governors Scott Murray.
Langara Faculty Association’s president urged Langara College’s board of governors on Thursday to replace president and CEO Paula Burns. Pauline Greaves-Aylward delivered her message during a public meeting, shortly before board members were set to vote on the matter behind closed doors.
Greaves-Aylward said faculty are pressing for change because they believe the college remains in crisis, marked by repeated reductions, instability and what the union describes as decision-making without meaningful consultation. She said they also have not seen a credible plan to stabilize Langara’s finances while protecting teaching and student supports.
“What we asked [board chair Scott Murray] to do is replace the president,” Greaves-Aylward told the Voice in an exclusive interview after the public meeting. “The president does not have the ability to get us out of this crisis. We need some new leadership with some good vision and strategy to get us out of this crisis.”
Murray said that following the meeting, the board would be discussing in-camera the review and evaluation of the president that it had undertaken last fall, and which was performed by an independent 3rd party. The review involved representation from staff, students and faculty.
“We are keenly aware that there is a lot of interest and concern from faculty and we completely appreciate that,” he said.
Pauline Greaves-Aylward also raised concerns to the board about the costly administrative structures, comprising of nearly 170 managerial positions that cost over $21 million annually and pressed governors on whether there is a plan to reduce management costs.
“The LFA board and members are concerned about the strategy being used for reduction across the college,” Greaves-Aylward said. “This issue is not just related to low enrolment of international students. This college was viable and strong before international students.”
She said losing crucial faculty and staff has resulted in students having limited access to support services.
“Where do these vulnerable students go to get services and support,” she asked. “Why cancel the Mental Health Ambassadors program that is a crucial support to students, but hire a director of counseling who is removed from the students seeking support?”
Greaves-Aylward also noted that if the college is prioritizing student success, investing in faculty rather than additional administration or management staff is the smart option.
“One of the college’s strategic focuses on student success, the recruitment and retention of students,” she said. “Just something to keep in mind when you’re assessing this goal and its effectiveness.”
Greaves-Aylward said faculty remain concerned about instability and interim leadership across the college, arguing that the college must prioritize hiring permanent academic leaders in place of interim candidates to ensure the college’s long-term success.
“We still need a plan that demonstrates how we will stabilize the college and survive this financial crisis and the sector review,” she said.
Following Greaves-Aylward’s speech, Burns rebutted, saying she did have a strategy: “There is a strategic framework of future focused and there is an institutional recovery plan, which many members have been working on.”
But English professor Tanya Lewis, attending the meeting as an observer, voiced skepticism, telling the board she is “deeply concerned” that what has been presented as a plan amounts to “window dressing.”
“I’ve read every document that’s publicly available about the strategy,” Lewis said. “Much of what is written down will apply to any other institution, to any other management enterprise. Much of it feels generic.”
She also told the board that LFA concerns were not being given adequate consideration.
“The board will be discussing that this evening along with other talking points and we will share the outcome of that discussion in the coming days,” Murray said.
A public announcement was expected Monday and any decision would typically involve notifying Burns and internal HR processes first.
VIDEO: Reactions to Board of Governors meeting to replace president and CEO Paula Burns
Sean James, former instructor in Modern Languages, expresses frustration after the Board of Governor’s meeting, on Jan. 29, 2026.
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