KELOWNA – The Board of Governors at Okanagan College has balanced the books for the upcoming fiscal year passing a $94.95 million operating budget. While the budget included provision for increased tuition revenue, some courses currently offered at no charge may be subject to tuition fees in the future.
“We have passed a balanced operating budget that allows us to continue to provide programs and services throughout the region, without any service reductions or layoffs,” says Okanagan College Board of Governors Chair Tom Styffe. “When we first reviewed our budget for the coming year, we were facing a seven-digit issue, created by a number of pressures. Administration and staff have found ways to increase revenue through growth in some areas, and means to pare expenditures that allow us to balance the budget.”
Balancing the budget was facilitated by increased revenue from a two per cent hike in tuition fees. The only programs not subject to tuition fees are Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language for domestic students. That too, however, could be changing. The Province has recently reduced funding for those programs allowing institutions to implement fees to make up the difference. Okanagan College will develop a plan over the next few months to determine which courses the institution may start charging tuition for. The Board will review the plan before any new fees are implemented.
“We believe it is important to do the research about how Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language fees may affect our students,” says Styffe. “At a time when so many jobs require higher education, there is a great deal of interest in preserving access to these program areas.”
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