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2007-09-18, 07:06 PM
EDUCATION: REFORMS
N.B. stands by plan to alter universities
Protesters rally against creation of polytechnic institutes
ELIZABETH CHURCH
EDUCATION REPORTER
September 18, 2007
New Brunswick's provincial government signalled yesterday that reforms to higher education are a necessary part of its economic plans, just days after a controversial report called for the creation of polytechnic institutes on the regional campuses of the province's largest universities.
"The status quo is simply not acceptable," Ed Doherty, the province's Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, said in an interview. He added that strengthening higher education is a key component of the Liberal government's plans to revitalize the economy.
"We certainly want to develop a marriage between business and government to develop the best institutions that are possible," he said.
Dr. Doherty made his remarks as protesters gathered outside his riding office in Saint John at a lunchtime rally to voice their opposition to the polytechnic plan.
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The proposal, one of several in a sweeping report on the system released last week, has ignited a huge outcry, especially in Saint John, which has long had ties to the University of New Brunswick through a satellite campus. UNB, one of the country's smallest comprehensive universities, is based in Fredericton, but has a campus in Saint John.
The report recommends severing ties between the university and the Saint John campus and merging the campus with the local community college to create a new polytechnic. The campus would then cease to be designated as a university. The report makes similar proposals for the two regional campuses of the francophone Université de Moncton.
"We feel that a full-service ... comprehensive university education in Saint John is worth fighting for and it's worth saving," said Eric Savoie, a student representative at the Saint John campus.
Mr. Savoie, a fourth-year student in human resources management and accounting, and the first in his family to go to university, said his organization supports changes that would strengthen the college system, such as shared programs and a common campus.
But he said that if the economy is to flourish, it needs university graduates as well as those with applied degrees. "Sharing resources - that's where the innovation is. Getting rid of a university is a step backwards."
Many faculty have expressed suspicions that the push for an institution focused on applied degrees is part of a business agenda linked to Saint John's role as an eastern energy hub.
Student leaders are scheduled to meet with the minister, as are the presidents of New Brunswick's four universities.
Dr. Doherty said the report has generated a flood of e-mail to his office. "The fact that the recommendations are transformational, that is going to encourage a great deal of discussion and debate. We welcome that," he said. "But at the end of the day, the decision will have to be made by government."
He said the proposed polytechnics would offer a combination of practical and theoretical knowledge and, depending on the model, could offer a combination of certificates, diplomas, undergraduate and some graduate degrees.
Other proposals in the report include the deregulation of tuition with provisions for increased financial aid, a cap on the annual debt load of students at $7,000, and the elimination of the recently adopted $2,000 grant for first-year students.
Postsecondary proposals
New Brunwick's Commission on Post-Secondary Education has recommended that satellite campuses of the University of New Brunswick and the francophone Université de Moncton be merged with local community colleges to develop a system of polytechnic institutions that would occupy the middle ground between universities and community colleges. Here is the new structure proposed by the commission:
Two comprehensive universities
1. Université de Moncton
2. University of New Brunswick (Fredericton)
Two liberal arts universities
1. St. Thomas University (Fredericton)
2. Mount Allison University (Sackville)
Three polytechnics
1. Saint John Polytechnic (Saint John with campus in St. Andrews)
2. Northeastern Polytechnic (Shippagan, Bathurst and Campbellton)
3. Northwestern Polytechnic in Edmundston
One community college on four campuses
1. CCNB Campus de Dieppe
2. NBCC Fredericton Campus with a sub-campus in Woodstook
3. NBCC Miramichi Campus
4. NBCC Moncton Campus
SOURCE: N.B. POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070918.UNIVERSITY18/TPStory/National
N.B. stands by plan to alter universities
Protesters rally against creation of polytechnic institutes
ELIZABETH CHURCH
EDUCATION REPORTER
September 18, 2007
New Brunswick's provincial government signalled yesterday that reforms to higher education are a necessary part of its economic plans, just days after a controversial report called for the creation of polytechnic institutes on the regional campuses of the province's largest universities.
"The status quo is simply not acceptable," Ed Doherty, the province's Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, said in an interview. He added that strengthening higher education is a key component of the Liberal government's plans to revitalize the economy.
"We certainly want to develop a marriage between business and government to develop the best institutions that are possible," he said.
Dr. Doherty made his remarks as protesters gathered outside his riding office in Saint John at a lunchtime rally to voice their opposition to the polytechnic plan.
Print Edition - Section Front
Enlarge Image
More National Stories
Tories steal seat form Bloc as Liberals lose Outremont
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Miller's critics say books show community centres don't have to shut down
Voters reject faith-based education as McGuinty on course for minority, poll finds
Uptown survivor recounts her harrowing tale
Tory stands firm on religious-school funding
Go to the National section
The proposal, one of several in a sweeping report on the system released last week, has ignited a huge outcry, especially in Saint John, which has long had ties to the University of New Brunswick through a satellite campus. UNB, one of the country's smallest comprehensive universities, is based in Fredericton, but has a campus in Saint John.
The report recommends severing ties between the university and the Saint John campus and merging the campus with the local community college to create a new polytechnic. The campus would then cease to be designated as a university. The report makes similar proposals for the two regional campuses of the francophone Université de Moncton.
"We feel that a full-service ... comprehensive university education in Saint John is worth fighting for and it's worth saving," said Eric Savoie, a student representative at the Saint John campus.
Mr. Savoie, a fourth-year student in human resources management and accounting, and the first in his family to go to university, said his organization supports changes that would strengthen the college system, such as shared programs and a common campus.
But he said that if the economy is to flourish, it needs university graduates as well as those with applied degrees. "Sharing resources - that's where the innovation is. Getting rid of a university is a step backwards."
Many faculty have expressed suspicions that the push for an institution focused on applied degrees is part of a business agenda linked to Saint John's role as an eastern energy hub.
Student leaders are scheduled to meet with the minister, as are the presidents of New Brunswick's four universities.
Dr. Doherty said the report has generated a flood of e-mail to his office. "The fact that the recommendations are transformational, that is going to encourage a great deal of discussion and debate. We welcome that," he said. "But at the end of the day, the decision will have to be made by government."
He said the proposed polytechnics would offer a combination of practical and theoretical knowledge and, depending on the model, could offer a combination of certificates, diplomas, undergraduate and some graduate degrees.
Other proposals in the report include the deregulation of tuition with provisions for increased financial aid, a cap on the annual debt load of students at $7,000, and the elimination of the recently adopted $2,000 grant for first-year students.
Postsecondary proposals
New Brunwick's Commission on Post-Secondary Education has recommended that satellite campuses of the University of New Brunswick and the francophone Université de Moncton be merged with local community colleges to develop a system of polytechnic institutions that would occupy the middle ground between universities and community colleges. Here is the new structure proposed by the commission:
Two comprehensive universities
1. Université de Moncton
2. University of New Brunswick (Fredericton)
Two liberal arts universities
1. St. Thomas University (Fredericton)
2. Mount Allison University (Sackville)
Three polytechnics
1. Saint John Polytechnic (Saint John with campus in St. Andrews)
2. Northeastern Polytechnic (Shippagan, Bathurst and Campbellton)
3. Northwestern Polytechnic in Edmundston
One community college on four campuses
1. CCNB Campus de Dieppe
2. NBCC Fredericton Campus with a sub-campus in Woodstook
3. NBCC Miramichi Campus
4. NBCC Moncton Campus
SOURCE: N.B. POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070918.UNIVERSITY18/TPStory/National