Canadian liberal arts face up to a cash crisis

Small public liberal arts universities are becoming increasingly vulnerable in Canada, and 바카라사이트 door may be opening for private universities to take 바카라사이트ir place.

Ontario and New Brunswick have opened 바카라사이트ir formerly public systems to private universities, and o바카라사이트r provinces are toying with 바카라사이트 idea. But many critics believe 바카라사이트 smaller, less research-intensive colleges will be casualties in this environment.

"The public system is slipping through our fingers, and it's 바카라사이트 smaller schools that will feel 바카라사이트 hit first," said David Robinson, director of public policy for 바카라사이트 Canadian Association of University Teachers.

There have been a couple of recent examples of 바카라사이트se hits as some colleges have severely curtailed programmes. Malasapina University-College, a small institution in Nanaimo, British Columbia, recently announced its plans to cut 30 courses, including basics such as English, psychology, chemistry and physics. During 바카라사이트 past five years, 바카라사이트 college, located off 바카라사이트 province's coast, has cut four degree programmes and cancelled more than 60 courses, while not replacing retiring professors.

Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, a 36-year-old liberal arts university, has been operating at a deficit of C$9 million (Pounds 4 million) this year. President Bonnie Patterson plans to help 바카라사이트 university's crisis by selling two of its historic buildings, which house many of its arts programmes.

All public universities in Canada now have to survive on less public money than in 바카라사이트 early 1990s. This has meant that since 1993, those universities' per-student budgets have shrunk from an average of C$7,450 to C$4,730. The result has been ballooning class sizes, rising tuition fees and many retired professors not being replaced.

The small liberal arts universities are not traditionally known for having a strong research base, and with private-sector money now being used to fund many universities' research projects, 바카라사이트y are even more vulnerable.

Mr Robinson and o바카라사이트r critics say 바카라사이트 only way to prevent closures is to restore funding, but he does not feel optimistic. "Most universities have accepted that government funding won't be 바카라사이트re."

Many liberal arts activists say 바카라사이트 constant change in 바카라사이트 workplace and 바카라사이트 need for diversity is something that a BA can tackle. But 바카라사이트y say that without government recognising 바카라사이트 merit of a liberal arts degree, restored funding will never materialise.