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Prince George, B.C. – The College of New Caledonia’s Board of Governors unanimously approved a balanced budget this afternoon.

The document covers the 2017/2018 fiscal year and totaled just over $62,000,000. The Board considers it a “growth budget” – taking into account it’s the second consecutive budget where the College has been able to reinvest ($2.1 million worth) in programming, employees and infrastructure.

The Board says the budget is also reflective of anticipated increases in student enrolment and continued growth. The 2016/2017 two per cent growth in tuition revenues is also reflected in the budget.

Increases in program offerings and services includes:

• The return of the Dental Hygiene program this fall
• Additional lab support for Health Science Programs
• Increased counselling services for students at all campuses
• Positions in facilities and finance to meet service level needs for all campuses
• Academic advisor position added to allow advising team to support increased international student demand in addition to domestic students

The budget also takes into account “unavoidable cost increases” to maintain programs and services including inflation, utility cost increases, technology license and maintenance feels, curriculum program changes and collective agreement increases.

“It’s really exciting for us after so many years of cuts to be growing. There are 13.1 new FTE’s (full-time equivalent staff),” said president Henry Reiser. “It’s feels good to be in this position.”

He attributed the budget growth to “good fiscal management.”

“I’m very pleased to see no cuts in faculty,” added faculty representative Mark Wendling.

“I do know we’d like to have seen more counselling staff added because we’re not back to where we are before. But I’m still pleased to support this budget.”