New initiatives aimed at increasing the student population at the University of Northern British Columbia have been the top priority in establishing UNBC’s 2006-07 budget, which was approved by the UNBC Board of Governors today. Among the newly funded programs include additional staff in student recruitment, the Registrar’s Office, Continuing Studies, and the popular Environmental Engineering program, as well as a new scholarship program recognizing top students transferring to UNBC from a community college.

The Board has approved a balanced budget of $54.4 million for 2006-07, an increase of $2 million over last year. Tuition fees will increase 2% annually, to $4192 for a typical, full-time student.

“This is a budget characterized by modest cutbacks, considerable restraint, and a few carefully selected strategic investments,” says UNBC President Charles Jago. “To make new investments, we had to achieve cuts in current operations across the University. At the same time, UNBC continues to face considerable cost pressures. For example, inflationary costs for energy and software licensing are rising at an annual rate of about 8%. Enrolment growth is key to increasing our revenues so we’re investing in new initiatives such as the new scholarship program for college transfer students. Students transferring with an A- average after the equivalent of one-year of full-time studies at a college will receive $750 if they register at UNBC.”

In the past year, UNBC has experienced a 2.7% drop in enrolment compared to 2004-05, resulting in a shortfall of approximately $500,000. As a result of budget re-allocation, the University will lay off two staff and a small number of vacant faculty and staff positions will not be filled at the present time. An increase in federal and provincial research funding, however, has allowed UNBC to attract four externally appointed Canada Research Chairs and a BC Leadership Chair over the past year, all of whom teach classes in addition to their research activity.

“In short, we have faced difficult challenges in developing the 2006-07 budget,” says Dr. Jago, “but these challenges should not obscure the fact that UNBC has continued to grow, added faculty and research strength, and will further develop in 2006-07. With a new sport centre on the horizon, new regional campuses in Terrace, Quesnel, and Prince Rupert, and the development of exciting new programs in the health sciences and the arts, we will add further strength in 2006-07.”