Message from President Neil Fassina
To the 69Ƶ:
It is hard to believe we’re in the last few weeks of August already. Today, as you know, is the first day of our annual Connections conference, a two-day event planned and run by employees for the 69Ƶ. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the sessions and during the social at the end of the day, and I especially want to extend thanks to the organizing committee and everyone who is contributing to this year’s Connections. Your efforts are appreciated!
At this time of year, I know many OC team members value updates on what is happening at the College, as all of us are preparing for the return of students and the start of the fall semester. Here is an overview of some key areas.
Enrolment
It is still too early to speak with certainty about our Fall enrolment, as there continues to be lots of activity in the Registrar’s Office, recruitment and program areas, as students move through various stages of the application and registration processes.
However, application trends through the summer have provided some early indicators. As expected, there has been a significant drop in the number of international applications. We anticipate this will contribute to a drop of between 600 to 700 international students at OC this September as compared to last year.
Looking at applications from domestic students is more encouraging. In many programs, the number of applications received was consistent with previous years, and in some cases, there was an increase in interest – which is great to see.
Over the course of the next six weeks as students complete their registration, make tuition payments and finalize their course selections, we will have a better understanding of our overall Fall enrolment numbers. In the meantime, our teams are monitoring numbers closely and making every effort to communicate clearly and in timely ways with students over the next few weeks.
Workforce reduction and operational planning changes
Earlier this year, OC launched a voluntary early retirement incentive program (ERIP) as a way to mitigate potential layoffs in portfolios and departments impacted by the decline in international student enrolment.
Through ERIP and other strategies, the number of potential layoffs to instructional employees has been reduced significantly. As of this week, four faculty/instructors have received layoff notices. This is not a final number. There are still difficult decisions to be made, and we know that there will continue to be changes in the coming weeks and months.
As part of the portfolio reviews, the decision was made and approved by the OC Board of Governors this summer to close the Department of Modern Languages in Arts. This small and mighty department has offered language electives to students for several years, and it will be missed.
Additionally, there has been restructuring and changes as well in student support services, as well as to exempt (non-union) roles. These have included changes in several portfolios and departments across the college and have had direct impacts on approximately 20 positions.
For everyone involved in these decisions and processes, the changes are not easy. We appreciate your commitment, patience and compassion as we continue to navigate a difficult time for post-secondary institutions.
Capital projects and campus construction
The Penticton campus housing project, which broke ground earlier this year, is taking shape quickly – and remains on track to welcome students in September 2026. The new building will have capacity to accommodate 101 individuals, in 89 units – most of which are single bedrooms, as well as some double and quad suites. Like the new housing facilities in Salmon Arm, Vernon and Kelowna, each unit will include a kitchen and private bedroom(s). To see the construction webcam:
Meanwhile, in Kelowna it is hard to miss the work underway on our new Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism. A construction crane is on-site, and progress is being made each day on the foundation and structure of the building. At the same time, crews are making changes to the BC Transit bus loop on K.L.O. Road, to make the bus pick up and drop off easier and safer as construction activity is underway on campus.
Construction of OC’s new gymnasium on the Kelowna campus is also in progress. While much of the outer shell of the gym is being constructed off-site, the preparations beside the Centre for Learning are on schedule. The new gym is expected to open in just over a year from now.
Justice Institute of British Columbia – Welcome to OC
OC is pleased to welcome to our Vernon campus this fall, as our two institutions have launched a five-year partnership that will see JIBC offer its paramedic and emergency medical responder training from our facilities.
JIBC is this province’s post-secondary institution for justice and public safety programs, including police, corrections, court services, sheriffs, firefighters and paramedics. Unique in B.C., JIBC shares OC’s commitment to students and to the communities we serve.
Specifically, JIBC and OC both support the education and preparation of professionals who work in our health and emergency response systems, and it will be exciting to work more closely together in the next few years.
New Dean, Associate Deans
Following the retirement of Dean Stephen Speers last June, OC is pleased to welcome Caitlin Hartigan to our ranks this fall, as our new Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship. Originally from Vancouver Island, Caitlin joins us from Women Building Futures in Edmonton, where she was Director of Programming and Client operations. She was also previously the Dean of Skilled Trades at Northwestern Polytechnic and the Dean of Trades & Heavy Industrial at Keyano College.
69Ƶ has also added two new Associate Deans to its program areas this summer. Steven Crema has joined the Science and Technology department as an Associate Dean while the OC School of Business has added Dr. Agnes Weighill as a new Associate Dean.
In summary...
Lastly – I want to congratulate everyone involved in CampOC this summer: what a success! It is energizing to see so many children and youth having fun on our campuses and experiencing what their future could hold if (and when!) they return.
That concludes my “short” summary of updates – I hope it has been helpful. Once again, to everyone who is attending Connections this week, I look forward to catching up in person.
To those unable to participate, and as always, to all OC team members, please reach out if you have other questions. You can contact your Dean or Director, another member of the Executive or Leadership Teams, or me directly. We are happy to connect. As a final note, our next Campus Conversation meetings at each campus are scheduled for Oct. 2 (Salmon Arm, Vernon) and Oct. 3 (Penticton, Kelowna). Watch OC This Week for details.
Enjoy the last days of August and the warm weather!
Thank you,
Neil
