THE CORD • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 • 13
PROVINCIAL BUDGET
Recognition for research —Gain 2 pts.
Province chips in for new arts building —Gain 4 pts.
University evicts Ezra residents —Lose 8 pts.
Sta —L ff str ose ike 6p ts
.
a-
Te — rrac Lo e se flo 2 p od ts. s
Re-envisioning
SB up E g G pu rad pt oog rch sta s. le— as rt Ga ed b in y 4
ormer Laurier perf y— wins Gramm Gain 6 pts.
PROVINCIAL BUDGET
Province fully funds each student —Gain 4 pts. Earthquake destroys Wilf statue —Lose 2 pts.
averages — especially in the faculty of arts. “We really are in a bind and that bind is that we need more students to pay our bills,” he said. “Unless there’s something unique about Laurier to attract better students, the only other students to get are the weaker ones. That’s a key issue for our future. If we keeping bringing in lower quality students, the quality of classes will suffer and the university as a whole will suffer.” He commended the faculty of arts for recent increases in minimum admissions averages, “[It’s] a good step — it puts us in a difficult position — but I think it’s a position worth dealing with.”
L IA NC T VI E O DG PR BU
ble deal after factiations pts.
LOSE A TURN
AL I NC T VI GE O D PR BU
PR BU OV DGINC ET IAL
renamed for million ain 4 pts.
Overall admissions average increases —Gain 4 pts.
Blouw next Governor General —Gain 10 pts.
decade? We get ng at home (dice not included)
R pr ated M ehe #1 8 p acle nsiv co ts. ans e b m— y Ga in
LOSE A TURN
andefuse s s r e sin mics te— u o B on era ec coop pts. to se 2 Lo
Arts ates graduemp have hig — G loyment h ain 6 pts.
B es ran — 7 tfo G ,00 rd ai 0 r n s e 2 tu ac pt d h s. en ts
Tuition spikes — Lose 4 pts.
PROVINCIAL BUDGET
esiar r t ye t Firs ce no d den rantee pts. gua ose 4 —L
ilton increass Laurier’s rofile — Gain 2 pts.
Visiting scholars — Gain 2 pts.
Pe co nsion pts vers— pla . Ga n rein 4
Student on Broadway — Gain 4 pts.
c ra e ov m s do . n r e ts ce fre 8 p n c i Co em ose d L —
Prof’s book becomes bestseller —Gain 4 pts.
Recession further threatens pension plan —Lose 6 pts.
Stephen Hawking visits —Gain 4 pts.
UW business school poaches students — Lose 4 pts.
t tes us o r p p m a . jor Ma ses c 2 pts o cl ose —L
EPTH
The identity of Laurier is a crucial component of the equation according to Brockett. “Ten or 15 years ago, Laurier had a pretty clear identity as a pretty distinct, smaller university,” he said. “Now we’ve lost that identity, some students still think we have it, but we’re really now no different than a lot of universities out there. I think the challenge we face is how we capture a unique identity for a university that has 17,000 students and all the same sorts of departments that every other university has.” President Blouw said that the groundwork has been laid in order to proceed with whatever cards the university is dealt in coming years. “Growth and change go hand in hand. Change is always challenging, it’s always difficult, there are always different views about what’s important, but I think the university has done a fabulous job of coming together around the main issues.” The multi-campus model is a big part of this as well, with the possibility of another campus in Milton depending on how government decides to proceed, Blouw said. “I think it’s important to reflect that the university needs to look at Milton as an opportunity. If it turns out it’s not a positive opportunity, I don’t see why we’d do it.” Fraser said that Laurier Brantford’s smaller size and the fact that it has often been developing things from scratch have led to a situation where the programs speak for themselves in drawing students to the campus — especially as it develops a distinct yet connected identity to that of Laurier Waterloo. “What I can see out my window has changed dramatically in the last four years. We went from being three or four buildings
on this street and a couple of repurposed old houses to actually having a campus centre.” He continued, “We’re uniquely positioned as a campus to have some work-oriented learning opportunities for all of our students and I think that’s sort of the next major push in what we’re going to be doing.” “We tend to be a little bit smaller and more able to roll out new initiatives, which has been one of the most exciting things about working at Laurier Brantford.” On the all-important academic front, Brockett explained that he anticipates challenges as Laurier reconfigures itself to adapt to new realities in coming years, but he provided reason to be optimistic. “The challenges that universities face in terms of explaining our role in society are going to force a shakeup in the traditional approach to universities,” he said, noting that he anticipates changes especially in how the faculty of arts sets itself apart from other universities and distinguishes itself within Laurier as well. “The university in 20 years when I retire is going to look quite different than it does today.” He said that with financial uncertainty apparent, the university will likely be forced to do more with less, but this also presents opportunities. “Although financial limitations and challenges coming from the government make things difficult, on the other hand that means opportunities for positive change.” “It’s up to us as a faculty and a university to decide how to respond to that and what we’re going to do — we can resist that change or actually be creative and work toward the future.” He also said Laurier, which among a field of ever-similar Ontario universities may struggle to set itself apart as it grows, may be able to really capitalize on internationalization, not only with relationships abroad but with increased diversity of its student body. “We’re seeing more students on campus representing greater diversity and background in terms of what country they come from, that’s going to change the campus and that’s good,” he said. “We are going to have to reach out and build international connections and most of all find ways for our students to go abroad and facilitate their study abroad. If we can do that, then I think we will succeed in part of our mission — which is preparing students for the future.”