Outlook for the Faculties
Arts and Science
The Faculty of Arts and Science is the largest faculty accounting for 60% of instructional activity in terms of credit hours. It is growing at the same rate as the University at about 1 to 3% per annum.
Health Sciences
The Faculty of Health Sciences is experiencing rapid growth. There is not a significant amount of attrition in Health programs and a doubling of enrolment is expected within the next 10 years along with an increase in faculty complement of about 20. Although students, professors, and staff are still excited with the new facilities they occupy in Markin Hall, the Faculty is already experiencing space shortages. The design of new instructional spaces will need to consider delivery modalities as the Faculty is moving away from project-based learning and no longer requires suites of break-out rooms.
Management
Enrolment in the Dhillon School of Business is declining on the main campus in favour of growth in Calgary and also because of competition from Mount Royal University and Grant MacEwan University who are offering similar programs. New double degree programs are being proposed between the Dhillon School of Business and Faculty of Fine Arts and with the Faculty of Health Sciences. Research initiatives are focusing on socially responsible marketing; links with the farming community; and investigations into health care quality.
Education
Undergraduate enrolment growth in the Faculty of Education has largely been a function of placement opportunities in the traditional catchment area south of Calgary and AET funding of teacher education. Although the Faculty enjoys a 2:1 application to acceptance ratio, enrolment has been not grown in recent years. However, the Faculty is now beginning to place students in Calgary and this new practice as well as a new PhD in Education may result in about 10 to 12% enrolment growth in the next decade. New program plans involve collaboration with new media in the Faculty of Fine Arts, development of a career counselling option, and expansion of the Career and Technology Studies (CTS) program beyond the present management focus. Most research is conducted off campus or in faculty offices.
Fine Arts
The Faculty of Fine Arts is currently at capacity in relation to student access to quality studio instruction. Digital / electronic technologies are now the key determining factor for space as the use of these technologies at the interface between traditional arts and new forms represents the Faculty’s major areas of growth. The Faculty is exploring to what extent some of its programs and activities may be offered at the Penny Building, in downtown Lethbridge (a recent University acquisition). The University’s art collection is one of the country’s best university collections yet the Art Gallery is very small and ‘buried’ deep in the Fine Arts building, and as such, not easily accessible to members of the community.
Implications for the Master Plan
With enrolment growth, many faculties will need additional space over the next ten to 25 years, but at this time two issues stand out:
- The Faculty of Health Sciences will require more space in the short term and long term.
- The Art Gallery and its collections require more space and the wider University community would benefit from a new, larger, and more accessible location.
- Growth in graduate enrolment will require specialized space to accommodate this growth