President's Newsletter – Issue 4 (March, 2009)
The Budget
The last month or so has been taken up with drafting the University’s 2009-2010 Budget. This has been a significant challenge, given that we have introduced a number of new steps in the budget process. Certainly we know that changes will need to be made for next year. We will commence the budget process earlier next year so that we are not so rushed. There will be an important role for the Academic Planning and Priorities Committee of Senate, which will be charged with determining the academic priorities that should assist in shaping the budget. Moreover, the Senate Budget Committee will next year have the advantage of one year’s experience.
In general I think we have done very well with what is a first time process. Our discussions with deans and units heads were excellent and a great deal of careful and thoughtful work was completed in developing budget submissions. It was, for us, an excellent way to gain insight into the challenges and opportunities confronting the institution.
We could not, of course, come anywhere close to funding the many departmental requests. We are, however, recommending to the Board of Governors approximately $2.28 million of new permanent funding and approximately $1.65 million of one-time funding specifically intended for transitional initiatives relating to university status. As well, we worked very hard to reallocate continuing funding into areas of new academic development, and to ensure that there were no unfunded gaps in the budget. Key features of the budget include special targeted money for academic programming on the Langley campus, funding for program and curriculum development relating to new degrees, and funding to improve student life. Once the budget is approved by the Board of Governors, we will post the budget allocations for next year on the Finance website.
I am certain most of you are aware of the broad strokes of the recent provincial budget. The major elements of the budget as it pertains to post-secondary include $165 million over three years for general increases in the post-secondary sector relating to accessibility, $40 million specifically designated for health education programs, specifically, expansion of the three-year Bachelor of Nursing, and $23 million to increase medical education. We will not know the details of Kwantlen’s allocation until the University receives its budget letter, likely sometime in the first half of March. Also, we are proposing a 2% tuition increase as part of the budget proposal. As I suspect everyone knows, the provincial budget included freezes on public-sector salaries, and this is something we shall have to monitor very carefully.
It is difficult to say whether these new government allocations will significantly impact the draft budget we are intending to send to the Board. What we can say, though, is that there will be no decreases for next year, and this will allow us to proceed as we have planned. As well, this infusion of new funding will, we hope, compensate for the 2.6% budget reduction imposed on B.C.’s universities and colleges last year.
We have no specific information concerning the federal infrastructure program, which is supposed to provide $2 billion for the universities and colleges, largely to address the critical area of deferred maintenance. As I am certain you are already aware, this is a shovel in the ground exercise, and to this end the British Columbia government has submitted a number of projects, including Kwantlen’s, to enable ready and speedy access to this funding.
One final point: no budget is etched in stone, and certainly we anticipate that institutional circumstances will change during the course of the year. We intend therefore to introduce a mid-year budget review in late October or November at which time we might, should resources be available, support initiatives that have not been accommodated in the original 2009-2010 budget. As well, it gives the institution a chance to respond to such things as the costs of unanticipated enrolment growth.
Institutional Planning and Development
We have established the President’s Task Force on Mission and Mandate, which will meet for the first time on March 5, 2009. Members of the Committee are as follows:
Bob Attfield, Kwantlen Board of Governors
Dr. Wade Deisman, Faculty, Criminology
Ross Laird, Faculty, Creative Writing
Rick Cuff, Faculty, Applied Design
Fergal Callaghan, Faculty, Physics
Ulreike Birner, Chair, School of Business
Nancy Graham, Faculty, RCA
Al Sumal, Faculty, Welding
Newton Wainman, Faculty, Academic & Career Prep
Suzanne Pearce, Kwantlen Faculty Association
Jim Murray, B.C.G.E.U.
Ashley Fehr, Kwantlen Student Association
Rob Adamoski, Dean, Social Sciences
Dana Gooedbloed, Dean, College of Trades and Technology
Zena Mitchell, Director, Registrar Services
Karen Hearn, Director, Facilities
Rob Fleming, Associate Vice President Academic
Judith McGillivray, Vice President Academic
David W. Atkinson, President & Vice Chancellor, (Chair)
Our intention is to have the Mission and Mandate exercise completed by early summer.
During this initial transition period we must work hard to ensure open communication and the free exchange of ideas; nothing, in fact, is more fundamental to a university. I am therefore very pleased that the Kwantlen Faculty Association and Kwantlen Polytechnic University have together invited Professor Penni Stewart, President of CAUT and Dr. James Turk, Executive Director of CAUT to meet with various groups about the challenges of transition.
This is intended as a follow-up to a similar visit from Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University, and Errol Aspervig, former Provost of Ryerson. We need to recognize the breadth of issues confronting the institution—academic programming, governance, resources, collective bargaining—and in this regard I believe that, while we might not always agree with one another, we must take the time to listen to all sides to ensure that whatever Kwantlen becomes, it is the best it can be for its faculty, staff, and students. Meetings have been scheduled for various groups, and there is a general town hall meeting scheduled for March 10th at 2:00 p.m. in the Surrey Conference Centre. I encourage everyone to attend.
Along similar lines, we have formed a Department Chairs/Coordinators Council, which will meet regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern. This was a recommendation that grew out of the meetings with our Ryerson colleagues. The first meeting was held earlier this week. Finally, there is a Town Hall Meeting for all out-of-scope employees (at Kwantlen called “excluded” employees”), also to allow an exchange of views concerning institutional direction. It is scheduled for March 11, beginning at 12:30 pm.
Government Relations
We are continuing our discussions with the government concerning a general mandate for the new universities, and are making considerable progress. We are keen to conclude this exercise as soon as possible, in anticipation of beginning the task of determining Kwantlen’s own mission and mandate. I have in this regard been impressed by the willingness of the new universities to work together, and I anticipate that there will be a new formal group of universities and institutes joining together shortly in a way similar to the B.C. Research Universities. The need for a general advocacy group is an obvious and necessary one. This does not mean, of course, that we forgo our independence or that all institutions will agree on all occasions. Indeed the need to recognize diversity is a critical feature of any formal organization.
Over the next month, Board Chair, Scott Nicoll and I, along with other Board members and university personnel, will be meeting with our various city councils. Our purpose is to communicate the good news story of Kwantlen, and to get a sense from our various constituencies about their expectations of Kwantlen. It is important that Kwantlen continue to position itself as a university for the community, and that we work with our communities on projects and initiatives of common interest. This is not an insubstantial challenge for Kwantlen, given the wide geographical region we serve.
More than this, though, it is important that we keep stressing that the Kwantlen of today is a “new” Kwantlen, and that the institution to which people have perhaps become too familiar is in the midst of unprecedented change. That Kwantlen has grown incrementally over the last twenty-eight years is both a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because our roots are deep in this region, and we have many people who appreciate what it is we do. The challenge is that sometimes people think they know us too well, and don’t fully appreciate the new and exciting things we are doing.
Events and Celebrations
Let me begin by thanking all those who worked so hard to make Kwantlen’s Open House such an extraordinary success, Faculty, staff, and students, all came together to represent Kwantlen at its best, and we should be very proud of what was accomplished. Most certainly it was a singular event in defining Kwantlen as a new university, and sent a very strong signal about our new status. I want especially to thank the steering committee, which put in countless hours to ensure that our “really big” Open House was the success it was.
As well, I want to thank those who made our first regular Convocation such a success. The recent Convocation, while not usually scheduled for February, was the first one at which we conferred credentials. We introduced a new degree of formality into Convocation, which underscored the importance of the occasion. While we had a good representation of faculty, especially at the morning ceremony, we could always do with more. So I encourage both faculty and staff to make the effort to attend at least one ceremony in June.
Also important about Convocation was the dedication of the University’s mace, which was created by Kwantlen artist Drew Atkins. Mr. Atkins was at Convocation to talk about the mace and the inspiration that lies behind it. Words really do not adequately convey Mr. Atkins’ work. Anyone who saw the mace, which will now be used at every Convocation, can attest to the finesse and craftsmanship that it exhibits. Most important, though, is how the mace manages to connect Kwantlen’s own unique thirty-year history with the larger history and traditions of the Kwantlen First Nation. The presentation of Kwantlen’s mace was yet another special moment for Kwantlen, and I know everyone at Convocation will long remember the moment when it was unveiled. You may view the video presentation of the Mace at this link: http://kwantlen.ca/news/2009/021309.html.
Congratulations are also in order for the Foundation Office which hosted an outstanding awards night at the River Rock Casino. Over three hundred people attended, as donors had the opportunity to meet the many Kwantlen students who received awards. I need also to recognize the very successful School of Business Awards Evening, held just this week. Both these events were very successful in celebrating the achievements of some of our best students.
Among other events I have attended which have showcased Kwantlen are the two Career Days events, both of which grow each year. And I should also thank Mr. Claude Tchao, Vice-Chair of the Kwantlen Foundation, who hosted an excellent event showcasing Kwantlen to the Chinese community.
Fundraising
I want to recognize Coast Capital Finance once more for its recent $1 million gift to Kwantlen, the largest gift ever to the University, and the largest donation ever made by Coast Capital. As well, I want to thank Jeff Norris and the Foundation Office staff for their excellent work in this regard. In recognition of this gift, we have named our libraries as the Coast Capital Libraries for a period of ten years. Coast Capital has placed no limitations on how we use their gift, so we have determined a part of it will be used for the Library with the remainder being placed in endowment for financial aid for students. While the Coast Capital gift is important for the assistance it will provide Kwantlen and its students, it is also important for how it sets a standard for other potential gifts. While we should be pleased about increased government funding, this does not mitigate the need to enhance Kwantlen’s fundraising capacity and increase its endowments.
As I indicated in a previous Newsletter, we were giving consideration to a Founder’s Campaign of approximately $5 – 7 million in association with the naming of Kwantlen as a university, and to that end used the consulting firm of Compton Fundraising Consultants to conduct a feasibility study for us. Regrettably, we have decided to postpone any campaign for the time being. The economic down turn makes fundraising of any sort difficult, and it is clear that we need to spend some time developing our fundraising capacity. In this regard, the Kwantlen Foundation has embarked on a self-review as an important first step in the process, and over the next few months we shall be looking at how best to move ahead with Kwantlen’s fundraising initiatives in the absence of a major campaign.
Langley Campus
We continue to make the Langley campus a priority for Kwantlen, and it is good to have focused leadership in place for the campus. The move of Finance and Human Resources to Langley is now scheduled, and will take place on time, and we have begun work on the next part of the move, which will take senior administration to the Langley campus. The sooner we can make the move the better, as the administrative offices at Langley are eerily empty after the move of the School of Business to Surrey. As well, I am keen to move forward in providing designated space to academic departments on the Surrey campus, and for this we need access to the space being vacated by our administrative offices.
We have asked the Deans to give special attention to program offerings at Langley for 2009-2010, and in this regard have earmarked $328,000 for Langley revitalization, a substantial portion of which is committed to stabilizing new program offerings. Our concern is to ensure that students know with certainty that they can get the courses they want at the Langley campus. It is critical, too, that we offer additional kinds of programming consistent with a student body other than the 18-23 year old group, given the reduction of student numbers in the K-12 sector in Langley.
There is a great deal happening in Horticulture. In addition to planning for an array of new programs, the research facility for the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture is nearing completion. Of more general interest perhaps is the School of Horticulture’s intention to host a Farmer’s Market on the Langley Campus during the summer months. The School has been working closely with local farmers and agricultural suppliers on this project, which is an excellent way for Kwantlen to solidify its relationship with the Langley community. Kwantlen has long enjoyed the fresh produce produced in the School’s greenhouses. The Farmers’ Market will only enhance this obvious benefit of being part of the Kwantlen community.
Degree Quality Assessment Board
I have mentioned previously that exemption from DQAB is a critical step in confirming our new status as a university. Currently, all new degree programs and significant changes in current programs must go through DQAB for review. While the process is an appropriate one for ensuring that degrees offered in British Columbia meet the highest standards, it becomes largely redundant now that Kwantlen has in place a governance and review structure that duplicates the DQAB process. It goes without saying that exemption from the DQAB process would considerably expedite approval of new degree programs. Our proposal for exemption is currently posted on the DQAB website, and arrangements are now being made for the reviewers to visit campus later this month. We remain optimistic about a positive outcome, which will likely occur in early summer.
Reviews
Reviews of International Education, Marketing and Communications, and Counseling Services are moving ahead, and we hope to have them completed by early summer. We are very aware of the critical importance these units play in Kwantlen’s short and medium term development as a university.
While university and college enrolment is countercyclical to the economy, so that we might expect an increase in regular domestic students this fall, we cannot turn away from the need to increase our international student numbers, not only because of what international students add to the general learning environment of Kwantlen, but also because of the financial advantages they bring.
With our transition into a university, it is only natural to begin thinking about changing how the institution is represented; in other words, how the institution is branded. Several things must precede this exercise. Most significant is the positioning of the university (mission and mandate) and the development of new programs. This must be our priority. As well, though, we need to position Marketing and Communications to take a lead role in representing the University.
Thus the need for an initial service review of Marketing and Communications, in anticipation of developing a new internal and external communications strategy for Kwantlen and, ultimately, a potential new brand for the University. I realize a number of individual units are interested in rebranding themselves, and in this regard I am asking for their indulgence until the institutional exercise is complete.
Finally, Counseling, as it relates to retention, is central to any plan Kwantlen develops around enrolment management planning. We are also aware of the growing demand on Counseling Services in this institution, and thus need to know how best we can support this important function.
Miscellaneous Administrative Matters
The search process for the positions in Finance, Enrolment Management Planning, and Research Services are well underway. Advertisements have been placed in national publications, and the short-listing process is underway. We have also begun the search process for the Director of Continuing Education.
The Task Force struck to assist with naming our buildings is now at work, and has solicited input from the broader community. I encourage everyone to give us your ideas. Consistent with this initiative, we recognize the need to give attention to way finding (signage) on our campuses, and have allocated a modest amount of money in the 2009-2010 budget for this exercise. We are especially aware of the need for signage on the Cloverdale campus.
Spring is here—amazing!!!!
I was amazed recently when I noticed the garden stores stocking up for spring planting and even more amazed yesterday when I noticed my neighbor putting plants into his garden—February, I mused, surely this is too early. As someone who has typically waited until May to see any form of new greenery, this is a departure from anything I have previously experienced. But spring, no matter how early, is always a signal of newness and possibility—and for Kwantlen this year nothing could be more a sign of the optimism we all feel about Kwantlen. I wish everyone well for the remainder of the semester.
David W. Atkinson
President & Vice-Chancellor
