Students looking to attend Northwest Community College in the 2015-2016 school year can expect to see almost no changes in service despite a $1.4 million cost-cutting strategy.
The Board of Governors for NWCC approved the upcoming budget June 19 which reflected the anticipated $1.4 million in recovered costs meant to address a shortfall in government funding and a decline in enrolment.
But what's important is students are still able to access University credit courses and complete their Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in Prince Rupert, Sarah Zimmerman said, NWCC communications.
“Primarily we worked with our unions to offer their members early retirement and early severance packages and that was able to mitigate much of the budget impact. We did have a small number of layoffs which are the last resort when balancing the budget and also looked at reducing some of the university credit sections where there were low enrolment classes. Courses with very low enrolment may not be happening this year but courses students need to work towards for their Associate degree would still be available,” Zimmerman said.
No layoffs were given in Prince Rupert however two facility personnel did retire and two staff persons took voluntary severance, Zimmerman said, adding Prince Rupert students will have continued access to University credit courses, trades, business administration and career and college preparation courses, dual credit, workforce training and continuing studies, applied coastal ecology programs and more.
The one area where tuition is increasing is the Career and College Preparation course stemming from a government decision in December 2014 that funding for the adult-based education would be cut moving forward.
NWCC could have instituted tuition in January of 2015 but opted instead to allow students some time to complete their course now underway before fees go up in September 2015.
While charging tuition for these courses is new, Zimmerman reminds students there is financial aid available for those enrolled in the college or career prep courses.