Budget forum answers $1.2 million question

 

In a college-wide presentation held
April 23, the four vice presidents outlined
the impacts of the 1997/98 budget.
“Basically, our costs have increased while
our funding has not: We are $1.2 million
short this fiscal year,” said Vice President
of Finance and Administration Peter
Greenwood. “We’ ve tried to minimize
impacts anywhere we could, but we’ ve
also had to make some tough decisions.”

Total Douglas College revenues for
1997/98 are projected to be $47 million,
with tuition fees and ancillary fees frozen
and the ability to introduce new revenue-
generating activities reduced. Greenwood
said that while last fiscal year Senior
Administration decided that each College
division would face a reduction of 1.5%,
this year selective reductions were worked
out following consultations with College
departments and faculties. In 1997/98,
with each division reducing costs by
varying percentages, college-wide
reductions will equal 3%.

“We have all worked hard to develop
proactive strategies that keep the needs of
learners and instruction in mind,” said
Mia Gordon, Vice President of College
Development. As Gordon introduced the
budget implications for her division, she
expressed what many who attended the
forum were feeling: “It’s been a difficult
process all the way through. I want to
give a lot of credit to the department
heads and deans who struggled with
reductions in services, knowing the
important impacts they would have on
people and the College.”

This fiscal year, the division of
College Development will face $253,100
in reductions. One staff position and two
sections of faculty release time have been
cut from Institutional Research, as has the
administrative position for Thomas Haney
Centre. Mia Gordon will take over duties
for the Maple Ridge campus. College
Development activities face a reduction
of $49,600, and the Communications and
Marketing Office will streamline its
services to offset a $48,000 reduction.

The division of Educational Services
will see a $275,00 reduction, Al Atkinson
said. Specific reductions range from
$112,400 in student development
(including staffing adjustments in EASL,
RSS, and New Directions) to $50,160 in
the Registrar’s Office (including a
reduction in hours of service and the
cancellation of the January graduation
ceremonies). Learning Resources will
save $41,000 through reduced staffing
and collection costs, while the Centre for
Sports, Recreation and Wellness will cut
$6,600. The new divisional responsibility
of Systems and Computing/CET (see
story page 4) will handle a reduction of
$76,000 by eliminating one staff position
(currently vacant) and implementing
smaller cuts in software development,
supply and maintenance costs.

Peter Greenwood reported that total
reductions for the Finance and
Administration division amount to
$263,000. The evening switchboard
position has been cut, and maintenance
costs have been reduced. College cleaning
will now take place less frequently (every
six days instead of every five), and waste
baskets not in open/public access areas
will be emptied weekly rather than daily.
A Financial Systems Support Coordinator
position has been put on hold, and other
staffing and college operation costs have
been reduced.

con't page 10. . . see “budget”

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John Irving