Governors vote to decrease 2009, 2010 funding

By Emma Marshall

mars0203@algonquincollege.com

Reducing the college’s overall base budget in the advent of unforeseen costs got a brief mention at the Board of Governors meeting on Jan. 12.

Drawing on the fact that the upcoming budget is surrounded by many unknown factors – such as undecided building grants and maintenance needs – the members announced that they are considering making cuts to expenditures. These savings would then go towards covering any unpredicted costs.

Gathering in the D-building’s staff dining lounge at 5 p.m., the 17-person Board was on hand to discuss the school’s 2009/2010 Fees Schedule. Due to the fact that program acceptances can be offered as early as February, and because our fees are included in these packages, the cementation of the college’s budget is an extremely pressing matter.

“Everyone has been busy putting them together,” said President Bob Gillett.

Catherine Moore, registrar, was in attendance to further break down the presentation of fees. Explaining to the board that the ITS fee will see a slight increase when the service begins charging for enhancements, but that this will be compensated by a sizeable decrease in health services costs, Moore was pleased to announce that “Algonquin’s fees schedule is in complete accordance with Ministry standards.” 

Moore also touched upon the fact that the school’s overall increases are well-within the designated 5 per cent “increase cap,” but that the Registrar’s office chose not to apply the maximum allowable increase to the fees of our high-demand programs. “There is a need to maintain enrollment rates that has to be remembered,” said Moore.