2024 R57 – Increased Funding for Rural Colleges

Whereas colleges in rural British Columbia play a crucial role in providing accessible and high-quality education and training opportunities for students across the province, including a closer to home education for those who otherwise cannot access training or education to provide necessary skills for employability; 
 
And whereas rural colleges face increasing demands and challenges, including rising operating costs, growing student populations, and the need to adapt to changing industry needs; 
 
And whereas adequate funding is essential to ensure that rural colleges can continue to provide quality education, support student success, and meet the evolving needs of students and industries, while being challenged by distance and numbers when trying to meet the same requirements as colleges in more heavily populated areas:
 
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM appeal to the Province of British Columbia to increase funding for rural colleges in British Columbia to support their operations, programs, and services and develop a standard of college funding more closely reflecting the real costs of providing required training and education to the population of rural British Columbia.