Mad Hatter Page 4

 

 

 

 

douglas college
Inter Office Memo Date: _October 21, 1983,
To: MAD HATTER
From: THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Re: COLLEGE PRESENTATION

 

On September 29th, Bill Day, College President, made a
presentation to approximately 40 members of the college student, faculty,
staff and administrative body. The presentation was in two parts.

The first section dealt with Bill's interpretation of the
significance of the current legislation to the colleges and institutes of
the province, and to Douglas College.

The second part of the presentation dealt with the proposed
directions of college activities over the next two-to-three years, within
the framework of our proposed 5 Year Strategic Plan, and the current
economic and political environment.

A summary of primary directions of the college over the next
two-to-three years follows:

1. Nothing in the environment prevents Douglas College becoming a better
community college - that is, one that is increasingly involved in and
responsive to the needs of the communities of our geographic region.

It is important that we do not confuse activities that we like to perform,
prefer to perform, or habitually perform, with the concept of “community”.
As communities change, needs change - and therefore, the college must change.

2. The curriculum must be diversified. In spite of restrictions, the college
will continue to diversify its curriculum, because for many people, the
college represents their only effective access to post-secondary education
and training. At this time, we still lack the substance of engineering-
related vocational and technical training programs, which would help to
round out the college's curriculum. This is not a development of the
recent past, but a goal that was defined for the college in 1973, and is
still held to be valid.

3. In spite of the excellent relationships the college has developed with a
number of constituencies, through the work of its faculty, staff and
administration, the college lacks an adequate public profile and easy
relationships at the level of municipal, school district, provincial
and federal politics. Therefore, the Board and administration of the
college have undetaken an assertive program of action that will involve
a heightened profile for the college through advertising and publicity,
relationships with M.P.'s, M.L.A.'s, School Boards, Municipal Councils,
and coordinating groups. One way or another, the college community will
increasingly be involved in activities calculated to raise the college
profile, and broaden the general base of its political support.