The Portage College board of governors have cut $1.68 million from the college’s operating budget, partly through eliminating 19.92 full time equivalent positions. The cuts are a result of the college not receiving an increase in their government funding over last year, combined with tuition freezes and increasing costs which resulted in a budget shortfall.
“We had an operational deficit that had to be accommodated,” said Portage president Trent Keough, who explained the tough decision in a written statement that carried his somber feelings for the actions.
“It is a sad day for our college. Today, we are announcing cuts to management, faculty, and staff positions. We are formally acknowledging the impending loss of the companionship and professionalism of valued colleagues. This is a difficult and emotional time within our organization. These are tremendously difficult decisions."
In what Keough said was an effort to ease the impact of the cuts on staff and students, 6.25 of the cut positions were vacancies that won’t be filled. But the remaining positions are currently staffed, and while some people have been given notice that their jobs will end in June, other positions were cut last Thursday, the day of the budget announcement.
“We’ve been giving employees notice that their jobs are no longer there,” said Keough, adding that although the cuts were necessary to keep the college out of the red, it wasn’t an easy decision to make.
“When someone leaves us, we lose a family member,” he said.
All departments and all campuses were affected by the cuts, as the budget committee strove to find savings anywhere they could, including halting sales of supplies in the bookstore, although the college will continue selling textbooks.
In looking for savings, the committee went through the budget line by line, to find essential costs of providing the core business of the college.
It got to the point where even the number of times the lawn was mowed in a week was questioned, said college spokesperson Leona Geller.
But the budget examination wasn’t all cuts. In fact, one department will receive an increase to their funding, said Keough, adding the committee was guided by the college’s vision statement, which is to be “a model for rural education in northern Alberta.”
The committee also made an effort to minimize the impact on students, although those looking for recreational opportunities in Lac La Biche may feel some of the cuts.
The golf, curling and volleyball programs have been cut from the budget this year, resulting in the elimination of two staff positions, said Keough. The money saved by not running the sport programs in LLB will be transferred to the Cold Lake campus, which is the Portage’s second largest campus, and is in need of extracurricular recreation.
The Portage Voyageurs hockey program, which Keough called “a strong and vibrant” program will remain in Lac La Biche.
College staff are currently working on the final details of two new college programs, which are referred to as centres of excellence. The first is a water resource technology program that will make use of Lac La Biche County’s new water treatment plant, along with partnerships from industry. The other program is a heavy equipment repair and operation program that will build on the pilot program currently being run in Boyle.
Keough said the final details are being worked out with government and industry officials to secure funding, adding a formal announcement with more details is expected soon.