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President's Page |
TRENT CONTENTS Proposed Change, Change ... and Debate Association President's Message Topping the Competitive Recruitment Environment The Interactive Learning Centre Profile of a Volunteer: Roy O'Brien '75 "How To" series Toronto realtor Mary Crawford '82 Collections and Obsessions : Jim Doran's Various Vinyl |
by Bonnie Patterson Over the last few weeks, much has been said and written about the future of higher education in Ontario. The agenda of the government in power, funding for future student growth, restructuring of colleges and universities, even the possibility that we will soon have private universities in the province - all these and more are on the minds of the public and the news media. We at Trent University are keeping a close eye on all these discussions as we take steps to ensure that we are well placed for the future with our autonomy intact, prepared to move ahead into the new millennium. A great deal has been accomplished at Trent over the last year in the areas of curricular review, academic renewal, research program planning, fund raising and capital development. It is disappointing that we at Trent were not successful in our first bid to secure a share of the recently announced SuperBuild funds for capital development. The Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities has told us that ours was a good proposal, worthy of funding, and we remain hopeful that additional dollars can be made available to support Trent. An encouraging message on future funding possibilities has also come from the Minister of Finance. Minister Eves provided a context for our ongoing discussions with government when he said: "There is still more to do and many colleges and universities across the province face unique circumstances, for example existing space shortages and capital restructuring issues. I want to take this time to assure those institutions facing significant challenges with respect to facilities renewal that your concerns have not been overlooked. I will be working with my colleague Dianne Cunningham, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities to see that significant additional funding is provided again this year where it is most needed." At the time of this writing, there has been no announcement as to what levels or when additional funding may be made available. We remain both hopeful and patient, and expect to receive word within weeks. One of the most important issues facing the province beginning in 2003 is ensuring access for the anticipated increase in student numbers as a result of demographic growth in the 18-24 year old age group and the double cohort resulting from educational reform in high schools. I believe the government recognizes the importance of ensuring there will be places for them. Last year we turned a small corner in our enrolments, stopped the decline and modestly increased the numbers admitted and the admission standard of those coming to Trent. This year we have seen a welcomed 25 per cent increase in the total number of Ontario secondary school applications for admission to Trent in September 2000. The fact that this is the highest increase in the province is not lost on Ministry officials and clearly illustrates demand for Trent among the province's youth. Our increases have been across all programs - arts, sciences, administration and education - and most importantly we have increases in those selecting Trent as their first or second choice. Life goes on after SuperBuild. The major challenges we hoped to address in part through the integrated Capital Development Strategy are still with us - the need:
The list goes on. It is critical to our future that we build on key strengths and be positioned to grow, still keeping our commitment to being a small institution relative to the size of others in Ontario. This is important for financial solvency and to meet the demands for access to Trent. Our needs are clear if we are to provide modern teaching and research space and "smart," accessible facilities, if we are to attract and retain the highest quality faculty, and if we are to provide office accommodation required for staff and faculty alike. We must deliver outstanding academic programs that successfully attract qualified and motivated students if we are to be competitive. Creating the flexibility to invest in our academic programs remains a fundamental objective in our plans for recovery and renewal. The solutions are neither simple nor straightforward. They involve difficult decisions and change. It is absolutely vital to go ahead with consultation. We need to involve our students, our faculty, staff, alumni, our partners and the community at large. We will continue to work with our alumni association leaders as one of several reference groups to ensure your perspective is provided in our planning processes. Given the critical need for a major investment in our university, I will continue to devote the majority of my time to presenting our case for funding. The increased spaces necessary for balanced growth at Trent and the expeditious renovation and expansion of the science complex is an immediate focus. Much is at stake in this latter regard. We remain hopeful that the government appreciates that investments in Trent are important investments for many reasons. In addition to our strong applicant pool, there are several quite exciting developments at Trent. Our fund raising campaign continues to make great progress, especially in the alumni division, and I want to say a very sincere thank you to all of you who have contributed to the success. We have now surpassed $11 million of our $17 million goal and we have topped our objective for the alumni division. Funds raised through this campaign that will go directly to benefit our students, with more than half for scholarships and bursaries, one-third for learning technology and equipment and the balance to be spent on campus renewal. We have just received word of another successful application to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) with chemistry professor Stephen Rafferty awarded $61,000 for his important research into purification and analysis of proteins from microorganisms. We await word on three additional submissions. We have made good progress in retiring our operating deficit. This first year of a three-year Plan for Recovery has been successfully implemented and, while there is still much to do, we have met our targets to begin Trent's economic recovery. Late in April the new budget will go to the board and it will show how we will continue this trend. Last month the provincial government announced its post-secondary education operating grants and tuition policy for the 2000-2001 academic year. Ontario colleges and universities were told that, for the first time, 50 per cent of grant increases will be tied to our performance as judged by graduation rates and graduate employment rates after six months and two years. The remaining 50 per cent will be tied to our relative growth in student numbers in the system, beginning in 2000/2001. The government also announced that, beginning in the 2000-01 academic year, universities will be allowed to raise tuition fees a maximum of two per cent per year for five years. While the latter is good news for students and their families, combined these new funding envelopes and the methodologies used to calculate our share places us at a considerable disadvantage as a liberal arts and sciences university. We will need to work to change these policy-based decisions to reflect our realities and rid ourselves of the absurd outcomes. As an example, on the performance fund, Trent will receive just over $87,000 of a $16.5 million increase in the system. There will be more challenges ahead. This is a journey of some length for us as a young university, and we understand that others can reach deeper and wider than we can. But accommodating growth is central to Trent's future, as is financial stability. Economies of scale will make us more viable and ensure we continue to attract and keep top-notch faculty, students and staff in today's competitive environment. | |
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