A deep cut in provincial funds earmarked for upgrading and maintaining UBC’s
buildings will have a major and lasting impact on the campus infrastructure,
said UBC President David Strangway.
The cut, which slashes the 1996/97 minor capital program budget by more than
half — from $15.1 million to $7 million — affects four areas: minor capital,
cyclical maintenance, the Safer Campus program and access for the disabled.
“These cuts mean yet further deferred maintenance on our buildings and that our
classrooms cannot receive much-needed upgrading. Less maintenance is equivalent
to an increased deficit,” Strangway said.
It is anticipated that the cut will result in approximately 20 to 25 staff
layoffs.
Cyclical maintenance funds have been reduced from $6 million to $2.6 million,
while the minor capital program budget has been reduced from $7.9 to $4.4
million.
Among the projects affected are overhauling heating and ventilation systems and
upgrading of classrooms.
Funds designated to expand the Safer Campus program and an access program for
people with disabilities have been completely cut. The province had committed
$500,000 to the Safer Campus program, while $650,000 was destined for the
access program.
The Safer Campus program includes a safety telephone service and upgrades to
exterior lighting on campus paths. The access program includes systematic
upgrading of buildings, including access ramps, curb cuts, and audible signals
for the visually impaired.
“UBC has a major space deficit despite a decade of intensive capital
development, which has included a significant provincial contribution,”
Strangway said.
“The university has only 90 per cent of its entitlement and when we take into
consideration buildings that should be removed such as old huts and trailers,
we really only have 78 per cent of the space we are entitled to,” he said,
adding that many other buildings do not conform to occupational health and
safety standards and need upgrading.
Strangway said UBC has increased its efficiency and productivity in many areas
over the past few years.
Graduates of UBC have increased by 36 per cent since 1984/85. This 36 per cent
increase in output has been accompanied by an eight per cent increase in
provincial grant support in constant dollars. For the past 10 years, UBC has
averaged a reduction of 2.3 per cent every year in provincial grants per
degrees granted, Strangway added.
“We are doing more with less, but cuts such as this recent one to the minor
capital programs remove our flexibility to operate,” he said.
