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September 20, 1982

 

Mad Hat er

A Douglas Col lege .N

 

letter.

ARCHIVES

 

 

 

 

 

PRESIDENT'S REPORT TO DOUGLAS COLLEGE BOARD

A. External Matters - Municipal

 

New Westminster City and First
Capital City Development Co. Ltd., are
in direct negotiations with Beacon
Industries regarding their lease on a
portion of Simcce Park. It is
increasingly apparent that the College's
offer of the present McBride Site
buildings to Beacon Industries is not
likely to be picked up, because of the
total cost of removal and relocation.

It appears increasingly likely that a
satisfactory resolution regarding Simcoe
Park is in the offing. The City has been
apprised of the College's continuing
stance in this matter, by memorandum.

'B. External Matters - Education

 

I attended a meeting of the Council
of Principals in Cranbrook on August
24th. It is apparent that other colleges
are in the same general situation as
Douglas College - that is, the immediate
mid-year reductions in our Operating
Budgets have been accommodated without
major impact on pre-planned fall and
early spring educational programs for
this academic year. However, it is the
opinion of all College Principals that
all Colleges and Institutes of the
Province face a 1983/84 fiscal year
that could have extremely serious con-
sequences for the existing level, range
and quality of educational programs.
Needless to say, if the forecast
budget proves to have been a pessimistic
prediction, the situation will be
correspondingly bettered. It is clear
that Douglas College was treated fairly
as an institution in this latest round
of reductions. It is also clear that
Douglas College, to same degree, is
having a more difficult time than same
other institutions, partially as a "down
stream" result of the college split, and

the subsequent scaling down of
operations in the college to fit within
a new financial framework.

Our Section 66 report to the Ministry of
Education, in which the College defines
its reasons for existence, and justifies
its continued existence, is under pre-
paration. Mr. DellaMattia, Dean of
Education and Student Services, has
consented to prepare the report. Upon
its completion, an unapproved copy will
be sent to Victoria for review by
Ministry staff. The finished report will
be presented to the Board at its next
regular meeting, after review by the
Education and Services Canmittee.

We have heard nothing further from the
Ministry regarding the possibility of
sharing space in the New Westminster
Permanent Campus with the Open Learning
Institute.

Mr. Deerr, Dean of Community Programs
and Services, invited me to meet with

Dr. Ron Faris, Executive Director,
Continuing Education, Ministry of
Education. Dr. Faris gave a full and
detailed accounting of the current stressk
within the Ministry, and the problems
faced by senior officials in the Ministry
in accommodating the mandated budget
reductions. Dr. Faris confirmed the
information we have received from other
sources within the Ministry regarding

the intention to continue reductions in
direct grants for Community Programs and
Services from the Ministry.

We have been receiving a steady stream of
requests from the newspapers and
television stations on the Lower Mainland
regarding various aspects of current
fiscal situations, and student registratix
Douglas College has received a considerab.
amount of publicity through television