BC had recently elected a new government, which is undertaking a budget cutting program. Hence: "The provincial government today announced that BC's newest university, TechBC, will become part of Simon Fraser University." Read more at: http://www.techbc.ca/b-ne-current.phtml
Gee, another not-for-profit school closes. Whaddaya know. At least the students will be able to continue their studies at Simon Fraser. DL is a business. Getting in and staying successfully requires a business acumen and a plan. When are these schools going to figure that out? It almost sunk National University, the second largest private university in California. Of course, Walden, Capella, Phoenix, et al already have it figured out. Fancy that. Rich Douglas
A tie-in to SFU certainly won't hurt things one bit. British Columbia is currently going through an incredible amount of budget slashing and economic revision, so they're lucky there weren't disappeared altogether.
All that I know is that Gordo in Victoria is making Ralphie in Edmonton look like a Liberal! I've heard that a lot of the post secondary education system (amongst many other things, obviously) is coming under close scrutiny, with a view to "rationalising" certain services. Some reports that I've seen even have mentioned the OLA as being on the "under close examination" list, but I've not yet been able to confirm this. Whatever happens, I hope that it is all to the benefit of the good people of Beautiful British Columbia. Darren.
I cannot remember a BC legislative assembly in my adult life that hasn't fallen in disgrace. We have had castle-builders, bingo gaters, casino scammers, porch building gambling license seekers... and now we have the "Liberals" who are really more conservative than any Torry I've ever seen. I have never voted in a BC election in my adult life, either, as a matter of principle. If I were a gambling man, I would say odds are that this current administration is forced out in some scandal as well. Maybe one of the head axe men got his economics degree at F-U. (I wouldn't doubt it, the way they're hacking and slashing.) F-U's synchronized swimming team, the Flip the Birds, haven't been having a very good year either.
I have to agree - DL is a business. And a business that for profits have to be sharp at given their 20+% cost disadvantage compared to non-profits. What disadvantage? Fewer sources of revenue (no endowment, gifts, etc.) and higher costs (taxes and the need to make a profit). I've talked about this ad nausem. My biggest concern is what this means for academic quality. The fact that for profits don't employ very many full-time faculty is a real concern - shared by AAUP (of course!) and accreditors. As for non-profits folding, it certainly does happen. But the number of failures is pretty small, especially given the fact that the vast majority of 3500+ colleges/universities in the US are non-profit. What about examples of sharply run non-profits? Take a good look at Nova Southeastern and Baker college for two. Regards - Andy
