INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / JANUARY 10, 1989

 

 

 

 

President’s Report

(Dated December 15, 1988)

A. EXTERNAL MATTERS
- MUNICIPAL

Discussions continue with
New Westminster City, regard-
ing acquisition of additional
parking spaces for College use.

The Council of Maple Ridge
Municipality has agreed to ac-
quire land on behalf of the
School District, Douglas Col-
lege, and the Municipality for
the construction of the joint-use
facility - the "Telosky Project”.
In this development the
Municipality will act as the
agent of the consortium in ac-
quiring the land, and carrying
out expropriation proceedings,
should that be necessary.

B. EXTERNAL MATTERS
- EDUCATION

On December 12, the College
team met with officials from the
Ministry of Advanced Educa-
tion and Job Training, to discuss
our program profile for next
year. This will be the basis
upon which our eventual budget
allocation will be made.

The meeting was most satis-
factory. Our program profile
proposals, based on our five-
year plan, were accepted
without change. The Ministry is
hoping that Douglas College
will grow over this next year,
and has accepted the fact that
any additional significant
growth, must involve additional

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instruction space, and enhanced
services.

Discussions are continuing
with the Ministry, regarding the
possibility of leased space to ac-
commodate not only proposed
transfers of BCIT Programs, but
also general increase in the
areas of academic programs,
and applied programs.

The regular meeting of the
Council of College and Institute
Principals was held on Novem-
ber 29. The session was
extended by 1/2 day, in order to
discuss general concerns with
Mr. Gary Mullins, our new
Deputy Minister. Mr. Mullins
seems to have a good grasp of
the general needs of the system
and is an enthusiastic supporter
of the College mission. Prior to
the Council of Principals meet-
ing, on November 21, Mr.
Mullins paid a visit to Douglas
College and spent the morning
with me discussing our present
situation and prospects. Mr.
Mullins informed me that
Douglas College is viewed as
having been exemplary in its ef-
forts to accommodate student
demand, and affirmed that it is
the intention of the Ministry that
the College should be given
more resources in order to meet
this demonstrated demand.
Among other things, I discussed
the matter of the future of Adult
Basic Education and English as
a Second Language programs in

the light of the uncertainty
regarding government policy on
these two areas. Statements he
has made since, at the Council
of Principals meeting, indicate
that he is aware of the impor-
tance of these matters as public
educational policy.

C. INTERNAL MATTERS
- EDUCATION

On November 23, there was a
College Assembly of interested
faculty, staff and students. The
significance of the changing
role and expectations at secon-
dary schools in terms of our
activities was mentioned, as
were matters of general work-
loading, and institutional stress
resulting from a high rate of in-
stitutional growth, limited
dollars, and now, difficulties
regarding space.

There was a vigorous ques-
tion session following the
presentation.

On November 23, a
workshop was held with chair-
persons of our College Standing
Committees, to discuss
problems in our "governance"
system. The meeting was in-
tended to be one that addressed
problems, and it certainly
resulted in the description of
many of them!

Substantial progress was
made in defining problems. A

continued on page 9

 

 

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