Finance Minister speaks on campus

Elizabeth Cull met with
a class of political
science students and
others from the College
community on campus
March 14. The Finance
Minister spoke about
fiscal issues around
post-secondary
education, and took
questions from students.

 

College responds to provincial
post-secondary plan

n March 13, Douglas College
received the just-released
Ministry of Education, Skills and

Training document “Charting A New
Course: A Strategic Plan for the Future of
British Columbia’s College, Institute and
Agency System.” The Ministry asked for
comments from the College by March 26.

To gather input for a preliminary
response, the plan was widely circulated.
In addition, a focus group session was
held, which included the Chair and Vice-
Chair of the Board, the President of the
College, the Chair of Education Council,
the President of the Douglas College
Faculty Association, and representation
from the BCGEU.

“This is an important Ministry
initiative and a valuable first step toward
system-wide strategic planning,” says
College President Susan Hunter-Harvey.
“The College’s ability to respond quickly
and effectively to this issue proved that
we can sit down and look at issues
collectively. And while all employee
groups were understandably concerned
about the impact of this plan on our
future, it was a very positive morning.”

Generally, the College is pleased to
support the provincial vision of strategic
planning for post-secondary education. A
number of comments and concerns
surfaced from both written input and
focus group discussion:

The direction of the entire report is
geared toward employment. Following
this, concern was expressed that

community colleges not be viewed as
career/vocational institutions only, but
also as providers of essential academic
programs under a comprehensive
educational model.

The document also contains several
thrusts toward centralization. It was felt
that the role of the Centre for Curriculum,
Transfer and Technology needs to be
clarified, particularly regarding
curriculum development and
implementation of technology.
Responsibility for strategic planning and
the role and mandate of the new
Information Management Centre also
need greater explication.

Greater clarity is also needed regarding
changes to the funding formula, with
particular attention to the establishment,
approval and evaluation of funding
objectives, and how stated goals will be
accomplished during a time of fiscal
restraint. It is important that Ministry
representatives emphasize the importance
of collective agreements supporting new
directions.

Work-study integration to complement
classroom time is emphasized throughout
the document. While it was agreed that
this is an important direction, it was
emphasized that employers need to “buy
in” to the process as partners in education.

The report touches on the crucial
nature of transfer arrangements with
partner institutions, and the importance of

continued on page 6

3

Pinetree Way
update

« The first series of job placements
for the new Pinetree Way campus—five
faculty and several support staff—were
posted in late March. Current employees
interested in working in Coquitlam should
watch for postings on the Personnel job
board and in local newspapers.

ze Construction of the new campus
continues on schedule. Most of the
external structure, including brick and
stucco work, will be completed by late
April. Work on internal facilities such as
electrical systems will continue until mid-
August.

z« In preparation for Douglas
College’s new multi-campus structure,
Thomas Haney Centre Director Marian
Rossell has been seconded to expanded
community liaison responsibilities
throughout the College region. Rossell
will be seeking and developing
partnerships with key community
stakeholders in business, education and
government.

ze The Pinetree Way campus will be
featured in a major supplement in the Tri-
City News on April 21. Generated by the
Communications & Marketing Office, the
supplement will feature stories on all five
career programs, university transfer
options, and Developmental Studies
Program to be offered in Coquitlam in
September. Other articles will examine
future campus growth and student
opportunities in the Co-op Program. |

 

Quote of the Month:

dedicated to Jeff McDonald

Annie Dillard on being a writer:
“Your work is to keep cranking

the flywheel that turns the
gears that spins the belt in the
engine of belief that keeps you

and your desk in midair.”

Best of luck to you in your new
writing pursuits, Jeff. We’ll miss you.