EDMONTON- It was moving day at the University of Alberta campus Sunday. But after hearing of historic budget cuts Friday, some students were a bit wary of the future of the institution.
“It’s really unfortunate. Because in this day in age, you know, without a University education there’s just not a whole lot of job opportunities out there. Especially for something like sciences, where so many people apply. It’s really unfortunate they can’t find more spots for us,” said 18-year-old Madison Holland, a first year nursing student.
“I got offered a scholarship here, and the biological sciences program is pretty good I hear. So that interests me because that’s what I’m going into,” added Lauren Grombacher, who arrived on campus Sunday from Saskatchewan.
But, she admits budgets cuts make her “nervous that I won’t get the opportunities for my classes… or they’ll be bigger which is a little bit overwhelming.”
On Friday, University President Indira Samarasekera announced the institution will be cutting $56 million from its budget over the next two years, in hopes of balancing its budget by April 2015.
“We have to reduce our core academic expenses by seven per cent in 2014-2015, our core support for the academy… by eight per cent in ’14-’15, and we will then take two more years to ensure that we have balance beyond that,” she revealed.
“There has never been a one-year cut of this magnitude perhaps ever in the history of the University of Alberta.”
- Uncertain future for Banff pedestrian zone after vehicle-friendly petition validated
- Proposed Renter’s Bill of Rights a good first step, but not enough for Alberta: advocate
- Fire crews contain wildfire northeast of Jasper
- Pro-Palestine protesters escorted out of downtown Calgary mall after allegedly vandalizing bookstore
The announcement came on the heels of cuts to both the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts. The Faculty of Science is dropping enrollment numbers by 300 students, while the Faculty of Arts is moving to suspend admissions to 20 programs.
“They’re obviously cutting instructors, they’re going to be cutting classes for sure,” Madison expressed. “We already have 400 kids in some classes. There’s going to be maybe 600, maybe 700 kids in a class, it’s huge. And it’s a hard environment when there’s that many kids.”
And it’s not just students who are worried.
“Budget cuts are never good. The best thing you can do is invest in higher education and they should never cut that,” said Alan Grombacher, Lauren’s father. “They should look at upper level administrators; that’s one place to start.”
Madison’s father, Brian Holland, is a high school principal in Red Deer. He says he’s not only worried about his own children, he’s worried about students across the province who will be applying for university in the coming years.
“You want those students who have the skills and the aptitudes to have the opportunity to continue their skills. And as the numbers of spots shrink and the expectations get higher, I’m just worried that some people won’t have those opportunities going forward,” said Brian.
“The idea that you can go to one institution and it’ll have a whole gamut of opportunities, likely will be less frequent going forward.”
But while they may be a bit nervous about what’s to come, these students remain optimistic about their futures.
“(It’s) very exciting. I’m really excited to go to the U of A,” Lauren said with a smile.
With files from Jenna Bridges, Global News.
Comments