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$112M Budget Accounts For Growth

Mar 27, 2018 | 5:14 PM

Okanagan College is looking to add new programs, new student support, and help address pressures tied to growth, with its new budget.

The college’s board has passed a 112 million dollar budget, that will add 13 new instructional positions in a variety of programs.

There’s also funding for a new two-year diploma course in collision repair, and for additional students in the sustainable construction management technology and animation programs.

“There will also be an additional health and safety co-ordinator hired and new information security officer for the college’s information technology department. Two more custodial positions will be added to keep pace with the growth of the College’s physical plant including the new trades building in Vernon, which is expected to open toward the end of the summer,” says a college media release.

Enrolment is estimated at 8,660 full time students, up about 200 from the year before.

“We’ve seen significant growth in recent years,” says College Board Chair Chris Derickson. “This budget maps out our plans to address some of the pressures that have come with that growth, to invest in student services, and to move forward on continued growth in programs and with some of our strategic initiatives.”

The largest part of the financial plan – $78 million – will be spent on salaries and personnel costs.

Domestic and international tuition accounts for about 33.8 per cent of the College’s overall revenues, while grants from the province and other sources provide 53.4 per cent of the budgeted income.

OC has campuses in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton, and nine other learning locations, covering communities from Revelstoke to Oliver.