Universities Under Pressure

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026

1:30pm - 3:00pm

Lecture by:
Marcus Shantz

Universities are in the news lately, grappling with a bewildering set of issues and challenges ranging from budget deficits, to demographic “cliffs”, to protests and the limits of free speech, to the rapid spread of artificial intelligence. In this lecture, we’ll look past the headlines to better understand what’s happening on our campuses, and what it means for students and Canadian society.

About Marcus Shantz

Marcus Shantz

Marcus Shantz is President of Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo. A lawyer by training, he practiced in Toronto before returning home to lead a property development business in St. Jacobs, Ontario. Since becoming Grebel’s president in 2017, Marcus has served through a time of disruptive change in the university sector, including the COVID-19 pandemic, funding and enrolment challenges, and the onset of artificial intelligence.

Back To Lecture Series