( The 1999/2000 College

 

 

Budget )

 

Funding
changes allow
for growth at
Douglas

ANDREW MARCHAND

ew funding from the Ministry
N= Advanced Education,

Training and Technology will
yield 120 new full time student
spaces (FTEs) to be opened next
September. Thirty-one new sections
will be offered, allowing for an
increase in sections from University
Transfer to Arts and Adult Basic
Education classes as well as the
adoption of a Computer Software
Specialist Program.

ffered primarily at David Lam
0 Campus, the new student

spaces will further Douglas
College’s attempts to keep the
campus open during the summer
semester. David Lam currently
operates at 54% capacity and is the
only public college to close its doors
during the summer. To fully utilize
the campus, Roy Daykin, Director of
Finance for Douglas College, stated
that the David Lam summer semester
must operate at the same level as
regular semesters. This would require
further funding for an additional 200
FTEs. Susan Witter, President of
Douglas College, believes that the
Provincial Education Ministry and the

MLAs are aware that this is an area
requiring consideration.

institute a reallocation of

funding to remedy areas in need
of assistance. Growth in college
enrolment has left a need for more
sections and staff, and so $448,000
will be reassigned for two full-time
spaces each at the Registrar's Office
and Systems and Computing. Money
will also be made available for an
additional 44 new sections, 20 of
which were opened this summer to

(Cis administration will also

compensate for a surprisingly large

enrolment. Some areas that will incur
a loss of funding include Centre
2000, the New Directions Program,
and the Centre for Sport, Recreation
and Wellness as well as Event, the
Douglas College Review.

merous letters of complaint

N= received in reference to
the decision to cut Event’s

funding. Witter commented that the
magazine's directive must be to
reverse its trend of deficit and
become self-sustaining. Over the
next five years, their funding will be
reduced by allotments of 20% until
the magazine becomes completely
financially autonomous.

espite such cuts, the budget is
D good news for most within the

college. The Ministry gave a
further $47,000 to offset the

continued tuition freeze, and
Douglas's FTE funding was the largest

amount allotted from the Ministry to
all Colleges and University Colleges. A
portion of it will also allow for the
upgrade of a variety of equipment.

here is still continued concern
Tx the restoration of funding

for post-secondary education
among educators and students across
the nation. The College Institute
Educators’ Association of BC (CIEA)
and the Canadian Federation of
Students (CFS) make it clear that
without persistent efforts from the
federal government, post-secondary
education will still be at risk. The
threat of rising tuition fees could
easily make higher learning
inaccessible for the average Canadian.
Both the CIEA and CFS concede that
the Western Premiers are acting
responsibly by putting the issue on
their agenda.

budget decision process both

open and informed, College
Administration distributed
newsletters and consulted many
people from all levels within Douglas,
A College-Wide Budget Forum,
attended by 75 people, was held May
5 to provide comments from the
college community. A final forum wil
be held 5:30 pm, June 14, and the
conclusion of the budget process will
be decided at the College Board
meeting at the end of June.

LE the interest of keeping the

 

June 1999 the Other Press page 8