UNBC Aims for Enrolment Growth in 2006-07 Budget
April 1, 2006
New initiatives aimed at increasing the student
population at the University
of Northern British Columbia
have been the top priority in establishing UNBC’s 2006-07 budget, which was approved
by the UNBC Board of Governors today. Among the newly funded programs include additional
staff in student recruitment, the Registrar’s Office, Continuing Studies, and the
popular Environmental Engineering program, as well as a new scholarship program
recognizing top students transferring to UNBC from a community college.
The Board has approved a balanced budget of $54.4 million for 2006-07, an increase of $2 million
over last year. Tuition fees will increase 2% annually, to $4192 for a typical, full-time student.
“This
is a budget characterized by modest cutbacks, considerable restraint, and a few
carefully selected strategic investments,” says UNBC President Charles Jago. “To
make new investments, we had to achieve cuts in current operations across the
University. At the same time, UNBC continues to face considerable cost
pressures. For example, inflationary costs for energy and software licensing
are rising at an annual rate of about 8%. Enrolment growth is key to increasing
our revenues so we’re investing in new initiatives such as the new scholarship
program for college transfer students. Students transferring with an A- average
after the equivalent of one-year of full-time studies at a college will receive
$750 if they register at UNBC.”
In
the past year, UNBC has experienced a 2.7% drop in enrolment compared to
2004-05, resulting in a shortfall of approximately $500,000. As a result of
budget re-allocation, the University will lay off two staff and a small number
of vacant faculty and staff positions will not be filled at the present time.
An increase in federal and provincial research funding, however, has allowed
UNBC to attract four externally appointed Canada Research Chairs and a BC
Leadership Chair over the past year, all of whom teach classes in addition to
their research activity.
“In
short, we have faced difficult challenges in developing the 2006-07 budget,” says
Dr. Jago, “but these challenges should not obscure the fact that UNBC has
continued to grow, added faculty and research strength, and will further
develop in 2006-07. With a new sport centre on the horizon, new regional
campuses in Terrace, Quesnel, and Prince
Rupert, and the development of exciting new programs
in the health sciences and the arts, we will add further strength in 2006-07.”
Contact:Office of Communications, UNBC - 250.960.5620