Portage College has been forced to cut more than $4 million from its 2013-14 budget, following the release of the provincial and federal budgets.
“Portage College has cut 10 per cent from its 2013-14 budget,” according to a media release from the institution, released last week. “The hit of -7.3 per cent to the college’s base grant was in addition to the normal operating cost increases associated with contractual obligations.”
The release further states that the budget cut was affected by “indirect costs and anticipated loss of revenue associated with other provincial and federal budget reductions to funds supporting underrepresented learners.”
The $4 million cut will result in job losses, a campus closure in Vegreville, campus reduction in Bonnyville, and a shift in the delivery of academic upgrading. A total of 15 full-time positions will be eliminated.
The release further states that the college, which operates throughout the Lakeland, will not close any programs. A month-long financial review was done by the college to help with decision-making.
“We are poised to address the opportunities before us,” said Nancy Broadbent, the vice-president of student and college services with Portage College in the press release. She adds, “We regret the loss of our colleagues. Reductions are always difficult, and change causes immediate distress.”
The college will approach the delivery of academic upgrading differently now, which is something the institution was anticipating for some time, according to Vice President Academic Mardere Birkill.
Students will continue to have access to upgrading courses but the college will be looking at “deepening our partnerships within the K-12 system. The ultimate goal should be the elimination of any need for up-grading,” said Birkill in the release.
President of Portage College and CEO Dr. Trent Keough said the closure of the Vegreville campus and the reduction of the Bonnyville campus are “regrettable actions.”
He said, “Historical enrolment patterns were pointing us to change. The recent budget changes have only accelerated the anticipated decline in our traditional upgrading programming,” and, “We must remember that our students evolve with us through change.”
A separate press release specific to the changes occurring at the St. Paul campus was also offered from Portage College last week.
“Portage College is aligning itself with new government priorities that call for reduced duplication and increased transferability of programs,” says the release, which further explains that the college has been experiencing a decline in academic upgrading enrolments.
“The Alberta government has sent clear messaging about the need for students to attend the education system. Tax payers should pay the cost of high school completion only once per Albertan,” says the release.
Despite this, “Academic upgrading will continue to be available. Students will see no reduction to access at the St. Paul Campus,” says the release. The college will be restructuring the delivery of academic upgrading programming in St. Paul to ensure it remains viable.
“Good news for St. Paul is that the 2013-14 budget has been established for the absorption of the program expansions in the Food Science Centre,” says the release. “This will ensure the college is able to continue the vision which has been seeded by Rural Alberta Development Fund and Western Economic Diversification Canada. In addition, the college has added an outreach nursing program for delivery from the Lac La Biche and St. Paul campuses.”
In total, there were three faculty positions declared redundant in St. Paul, four staff association positions declared redundant, three new faculty positions will be created, one new management position will be created, and one new staff association position will be created.
Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills Wildrose MLA Shayne Saskiw said the seven per cent budget cut to post-secondary education in this year’s budget is “quite the blow to the post secondary institutions.”
Last week, Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel addressed the city and “raised the alarm” about the cuts, and now institutions are also bringing up the cuts, says Saskiw, who is against the idea of centralization of the post-secondary education system.
When speaking specifically of Portage College, Saskiw said “they’re trying to stretch every single dollar,” but changes will affect the whole region. The MLA adds that the cuts are not helping with growth in northeast Alberta.
