A4
COMMENT
» SEE MORE ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
Monday, July 8, 2013
Expanding RDC, by degrees BY DAVID BAUGH SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE The provincial government’s Letters of Expectations to colleges and universities, although often vague, define a path to more degree options for Central Alberta, and require changed thinking at Red Deer College. When faculty discuss RDC, we qualify our views as not necessarily those of the administration. Red Deer is Alberta’s third largest city, and mid-point to the CalgaryEdmonton corridor: one of Canada’s top four population concentrations. A study by RDC found Red Deer region to have the largest population in Canada without the normal range of publicly-funded, post-secondary degrees. Online delivery does not replace face-to-face classes or the importance of proximity. Online courses add accessibility for some, but are found to have much lower completion and pass rates for average and below-average students. A recent survey at RDC found online courses not preferred by 85 per cent of students. RDC delivers the first two years of university mostly on-campus, with some local completion options, but most students in university programs leave to graduate. When they leave, at
added financial cost to themselves and their parents, few return: Red Deer has half the Alberta average number of degree holders. For decades, Red Deer has elected representatives to the governing side of the legislature in Canada’s richest province, with the power and money to bring results. Responsibility for the shortage of degrees is partly RDC’s; however, there was also mixed messaging from the province, which now has ended. RDC must abandon its quest to grant “college” degrees, and instead collaborate with universities to offer their degrees here. University degrees are overseen academically by faculty majority governing councils; college degrees are not. University senior administrators tend to have teaching experience and advanced degrees; many college managers do not (RDC president Joe Ward is an exception). RDC twice sought permission to offer college degrees. It failed in 1992 due to low oil prices and empty government coffers; in 2008, it was denied during broader rejection of college degrees. In 1995, Premier Ralph Klein’s government allowed colleges to offer “applied” bachelor degrees. By 2007, Mount Royal was up to 14, and in 2004
Grant MacEwan became a full degreegranting college. It was found that college degrees have less credibility, putting graduates at a disadvantage when applying to law, medicine and dentistry programs, and to graduate schools for masters and PhD degrees. B.C. turned away from college degrees in 2007. Mount Royal applied to become a university, MacEwan followed, and both became universities in 2009. RDC had a predicament not shared by Mount Royal and MacEwan. Faculty supervision qualifies for university degree-granting only if a majority of the faculty teach university courses. Unlike NAIT and SAIT, trades education shares RDC. Add certificate and diploma programs and a faculty majority on the university side becomes unlikely, even with growth. The province’s 2008 Roles and Mandates paper called for degrees in comprehensive community institutions, such as RDC, only through university degree collaborations. RDC’s well-regarded nursing program has offered a U of A degree since 1990. Initially, RDC faculty taught the first two years and U of A faculty the upper levels; now RDC instructs all four years. Denied degree-granting in 2008, a previous RDC administration and
board lobbied the province to reconsider college degrees if RDC was unsuccessful at expanding collaborations. Since then, several universities were approached unsuccessfully. Although Mount Royal’s business administration degree has been added, RDC has not often appeared to make more collaborations a top priority either. RDC must not again seek permission to offer the region less-regarded college degrees. The province’s Letters of Expectations omit them, and mandate the universities as well as RDC to expand collaborations. Major funding cuts preclude implementation of such expansions, therefore hope for envelope-funding seems reasonable — especially after Premier Alison Redford’s election promise to the region to expand degree offerings. Multiple parties with tight finances now have new incentive to plan more degree completions. Incremental additions, if attained, will likely leave Red Deer underserved for quite some time, but even University of Calgary began by stages: with U of A degrees, before fielding credible ones of its own. David Baugh, PhD, is an instructor and head of Political Science in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Red Deer College.
Advocate letters policy The Advocate welcomes letters on public issues from readers. Letters must be signed with the writer’s first and last name, plus address and phone number. Pen names may not be used. Letters will be published with the writer’s name. Addresses and phone numbers won’t be published. Letters should be brief and deal with a single topic; try to keep them under 300 words. The Advocate will not interfere with the free expression of opinion on public issues submitted by readers, but reserves the right to refuse publication and to edit all letters for public interest, length, clarity, legality, personal abuse or good taste. The Advocate will not publish statements that indicate unlawful discrimination or intent to discriminate against a person or class of persons, or are likely to expose people to hatred or contempt because of race, colour, religious beliefs, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, source of income, marital status, family status or sexual orientation. To ensure that single issues and select authors do not dominate Letters to the Editor, no author will be published more than once a month except in extraordinary circumstances. Due to the volume of letters we receive, some submissions may not be published. Mail submissions or drop them off to Letters to the Editor, Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., T4R 1M9; fax us at 341-6560, or e-mail to editorial@reddeeradvocate.com
Working with nature can protect from floods News of the devastating floods in Alberta hit Canadians hard. We’ve all been moved by extraordinary stories of first responders and neighbours stepping in to help and give selflessly at a time of great need. As people begin to pick up their lives, and talk turns to what Calgary and other communities can do to rebuild, safeguarding our irreplaceable, most precious flood-protection assets should be given top priority. The severe floods in Alberta used to be referred to DAVID as “once in a generation” or SUZUKI “once in a century.” As recent floods in Europe and India are added to the list, that’s scaled up to “once in a decade.” Scientists and insurance executives alike predict extreme weather events will increase in intensity and frequency. Climate change is already having a dramatic impact on our planet. Communities around the world, like those in Alberta, are rallying to prepare. While calls are mounting for the need to rebuild and strengthen infrastructure such as dikes, stormwater management systems and stream-channel diversion projects, we’ve overlooked one of our best climate change–fighting tools: nature. By protecting nature, we protect ourselves, our communities and our families. The business case for maintaining and restoring nature’s ecosystems is stronger than ever. Wetlands, forests, flood plains and other natural systems absorb and store water and reduce the risk of floods and storms, usually more efficiently and cost-effec-
SCIENCE
CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER Published at 2950 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 1M9 by The Red Deer Advocate Ltd. Canadian Publications Agreement #336602 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Fred Gorman Publisher John Stewart Managing editor Richard Smalley Advertising director
tively than built infrastructure. Wetlands help control floods by storing large amounts of water during heavy rains — something paved city surfaces just don’t do. A study of the Upper Mississippi and Missouri Basins showed wetland restoration would have provided enough flood water storage to accommodate excess river flows associated with flooding in the U.S. Midwest in 1993. Research done for the City of Calgary more than 30 years ago made similar suggestions about the value of protecting flood plains from overdevelopment. When wetlands are destroyed, the probability of a heavy rainfall causing flooding increases significantly. Yet we’re losing wetlands around the world at a rate estimated at between one and three per cent a year. By failing to work with nature in building our cities, we’ve disrupted hydrological cycles and the valuable services they provide. The readily available benefits of intact ecosystems must be replaced by man-made infrastructure that can fail and is costly to build, maintain and replace. Protecting and restoring rich forests, flood plains and wetlands near our urban areas is critical to reduce carbon emissions and protect against the effects of climate change. Nature effectively sequesters and stores carbon, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also regulates water. Forested basins, for example, have greater capacity to absorb water than clear-cut areas where higher peak stream flows, flooding, erosion and landslides are common. How can we protect ecosystems rather than seeing conservation as an impediment to economic growth? The answer is to recognize their real value. The David Suzuki Foundation has evaluated some of Canada’s natural assets. This approach calculates the economic contribution of natural services, such as flood protection and climate regulation, and adds that to our balance sheets. Because traditional economic calculations ignore these benefits and services, decisions often lead to the destruction of the very ecosystems upon which we rely. Unfortunately, we often appreciate the value of an ecosystem only when it’s not there to do its job. Cities around North America are discovering that maintaining ecosystems can save money, protect the
Scott Williamson Pre-press supervisor
403-314-4337 Website: www.reddeeradvocate.com
Main switchboard 403-343-2400 Delivery/Circulation 403-314-4300
Advertising Main number: 403-314-4343 Fax: 403-342-4051 E-mail: advertising@reddeeradvocate.com Classified ads: 403-309-3300 Classified e-mail: classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com
News News tips 403-314-4333 Sports line 403-343-2244 News fax 403-341-6560 E-mail: editorial@reddeeradvocate.com John Stewart, managing editor 403-314-4328 Carolyn Martindale, City editor 403-314-4326 Greg Meachem, Sports editor 403-314-4363 Harley Richards, Business editor
Alberta Press Council member The Red Deer Advocate is a sponsoring member of the Alberta Press Council, an independent body that promotes and protects the established freedoms of the press and advocates freedom of information. The Alberta Press Council upholds
environment and create healthier communities. A study of the Bowker Creek watershed on southern Vancouver Island showed that by incorporating rain gardens, green roofs and other green infrastructure, peak flows projected for 2080 from increased precipitation due to climate change could be reduced by 95 per cent. Opting to protect and restore watersheds in the 1990s rather than building costly filtration systems has saved New York City billions of dollars. Intact ecosystems are vital in facing the climate change challenges ahead. They also give us health and quality-of-life benefits. Responsible decisionmaking needs to consider incentives for protecting and restoring nature, and disincentives for degrading it. As Alberta rebuilds and people begin to heal from the flood’s devastation, it’s time to have a discussion about adding natural capital to the equation. Online: ● “Once in a century floods” more common: http:// www.ipolitics.ca/2013/06/24/floods-spur-call-for-climate-change-action-2/ ● Extreme weather events will increase in intensity and frequency: http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_972_en.html ● Study of Upper Mississippi and Missouri Basins: http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/what-we-do/ reducing-flood-damage-study.html ● City of Calgary: 30 Years of Calgary Flood Warnings Fell on Deaf Ears: http://www.desmog. ca/2013/06/25/30-years-calgary-flood-warnings-felldeaf-ears ● Losing wetlands around the world at a rate estimated at between one and three per cent per year: https://www.estuaries.org/vcs-approves-qcoastalblue-carbonq-as-new-international-carbon-tradingcategory.html ● DSF Natural Capital Studies: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/wildlife-habitat/projects/naturalcapital/what-is-natural-capital/ ● Bowker Creek: http://www.crd.bc.ca/watersheds/ protection/bowker/ ● New York City watersheds: http://water.epa.gov/ type/watersheds/nycityfi.cfm Scientist, author and broadcaster David Suzuki wrote this column with Theresa Beer. Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.
the public’s right to full, fair and accurate news reporting by considering complaints, within 60 days of publication, regarding the publication of news and the accuracy of facts used to support opinion. The council is comprised of public members and representatives of member newspapers. The Alberta Press Council’s address: PO Box 2576, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 8G8. Phone 403-580-4104. Email: abpress@telus.net. Website: www.albertapresscouncil.ca. Publisher’s notice The Publisher reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy; to omit or discontinue any advertisement. The advertiser agrees that the Publisher shall not be
liable for damages arising out of error in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurs. Circulation Circulation 403-314-4300 Single copy prices (Monday to Thursday, and Saturday): $1.05 (GST included). Single copy (Friday): $1.31 (GST included). Home delivery (one month auto renew): $14.50 (GST included). Six months: $88 (GST included). One year: $165 (GST included). Prices outside of Red Deer may vary. For further information, please call 403314-4300.