The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Budget constraints a r e f o r c i n g U n i v e r s i t y College of the North to suspend programs in The Pas and Thompson. UCN announced this week that it will be suspending six programs in Thompson and four in The Pas. Five of the 10 programs being suspended are one-year certificate programs and the other half two-year programs. Programs no longer e i n g o f f e r e d i n Thompson beginning this fall include civil / CAD technology, computerized business applications and preparation for technology, which are all one-year courses; as well as two-year programs in office administration, computer systems technology and electrical / electronic technology. Suspended programs in The Pas include health transition and computerized office skills, which are both two-year courses; as well as one-year certificate computer programmer / analyst and gaming development programs. Students enrolled in the two-year programs will be able to continue and complete their studies, but no new students will be enrolled in the fall 2013 semester. The one-year programs are effectively shuttered immediately as no new students will be enrolled. 'The programs listed above were identified through a careful review of enrollments and cost factors that were in need of review and analysis,' UCN Department of Communications director Jim Scott told the Thompson Citizen. 'Operational funding will always play a key role in the day-to-day functionality of any postsecondary institution and must achieve a balanced budget as mandated by the province. It is essential that UCN respond to the needs of community stakeholders and we are committed to undertaking a program renewal proces s to ensure that programming delivered through UCN is aligned with communi ty and indus t ry needs.' For the 2010, 2011 and 2012 academic years, the preparation for technology, computerized office skills and office administration had the lowest enrollments of the suspended programs. They had just five students each, far below their full capacity of 72 for preparation for technology and office administration and 90 for computerized office skills. The health transition program had the highest enrollment, with 85 students and a capacity of 120 students. Only nine of 90 computer systems technology spaces were filled, and 12 of 45 in civil / CAD t e c h n o l o g y. Electric / electronic technology had 20 students and a capacity for 45, while computerized business applications and computer programmer analyst, both with a capacity of 90 students, had enrollments of 21 and 24, respectively. _ I a n G r a h a m , Thompson Citizen
