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College board approves cuts |
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Written by BERNICE TRICK
Citizen staff
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Friday, 18 April 2008 |
Amid boos and hard-hitting comments from the public gallery Friday, College of New Caledonia directors prevailed with cost-cutting measures through cuts and suspensions of programs.
To balance its 2008-09 budget, directors approved year-long suspensions of the forestry resource, athletics and hospitality administration programs, but it was the suspension of education programs for special needs adults to 2009 that raised the people's dander.
When CNC vice-president Lynn Jacques explained the plan is to engage a community-wide strategy to support educational needs of adults with special needs, a gallery member said, "We don't want another committee. It was working fine before you cut it."
The board is hopeful that better funding times and community partnerships will allow the programs to be reinstated through restructuring.
The future plan for "potential continued delivery" for the forestry program is to work closely with the Council of Forest Industries and the Ministry of Forests to renew the program funded from the CNC woodlot revenue.
The one program that didn't go on the chopping block is the Northern Outdoor Recreation and Eco-tourism program in Valemount.
Directors voted to keep the program for another year during which time they will work with the Robson Valley in looking at other ways to fund it since it has a major economic impact on the community.
Directors approved the operating budget for the 2008-09 school year, but had to make up a $250,043 shortfall by dipping into reserve funds from the 2006-07 fiscal year. It allows them to submit a balanced budget totalling $43,536,325 to the government.
"Preparation of the budget has been extremely challenging," said Penny Fahlman, vice-president of finance. "The college initially faced a shortfall of $1 million, and then further information on the (provincial) operating grant increased the shortfall to $1.4 million, so the college had to suspend or reduce a number of programs, courses and services," Fahlman said.
CNC's proposed cuts include 23 faculty and staff members as well, but during most years some will become redundant by mid-summer when more is known about fall enrollment and need for programs.
Other cuts include a reduced number of University Transfer classes, cuts to administration by a full-time dean and full-time administrative support position, suspension of Business -The Next Generation program and suspension of the CNC matching donation program which used to be funded by the province.
Revenues include the advanced education ministry grant of $27,458,747, an increase of $1.3 million over last year, Industry Training Authority grant which is not known as yet, tuition revenues making up about 14 per cent of the budget, and miscellaneous funds, mainly from contract revenue, accounting for about 12 per cent of the budget.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 18 April 2008 )
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