It’s Just Past the GAP and Right Across From the Orange Julius by Sean Clancy "B.C. Tech? No, I’m sorry I don’t know what you are talking about, the lady who would isn’t in the office right now, but I can get her to call you back. What’s your number?" This was the response I got from the receptionist when I called the B.C. Government Information Line. Nobody did end up calling me back, and I was getting frustrated. I wanted to find out about B.C.’s newest University and whether or not it was worth the hundreds of millions of dollars spent. I wanted to know if the same money would be better spent on improving programs of the same genre at established institutes and universities around the province. I felt that ifmoney was going to be spent on a new university, it would affect the amount of money coming to ECIAD. The sirens went off in my head, and along with finding out if other people felt that Vancouver benefited from having an art school [see the story in this issue," Our Survey Says..." page 8], I wanted to find out what kind of competition ECIAD faced in the new millennium from the new kid on the block, Tech BC. I needed to talk to somebody about The Technical University of British Columbia (hereafter referred to as TechBC). There were rumours, everybody had some sort of opinion, but nobody had the facts. I tried to look up the new school on the internet, but there was no info on a "TechBC" when I tried using YAHOO!, so I went back to a reliable source I knew how to use; the telephone. This time around, I got a different operator, some- body who knew the phone number for TechBC. I called the num- ber, and sure enough, I had reached TechBC. I queried the recep- tionist as to their e-mail address (www.tu.bc.ca), and set to work jotting down notes off the screen. I wanted to visit the site before talking to anybody from the school , so that I had some back- ground info. Sure enough, there was a well laid out web page where I finally found out about the school. I was astonished; I couldn’t understand how I had never heard about an undertaking of this magnitude (funny enough, nobody I’ve talked to since has heard about TechBC). I hadn’t read any literature on TechBC, but the web page brought me up to speed. First of all, the whole TechBC venture started in the eighties when concerned citizens in Surrey lobbied for a post-sec- ondary institution. They were interested in the establishment of a cutting-edge school offering classes that would prepare graduates for the technological world. All this, and they wanted the school to be accessible. Hence, fifteen-odd years down the road, the school is now situated in Surrey Place Mall, around 102nd Ave. The school offers three undergraduate degrees; Information Technology, Management and Technology, and Interactive Arts. There was a listing of possible employment/career opportunities listed after each program. The first year of classes is non-denom- inational, it is called "TechOne", and is the same idea as "Foundation Year" at ECIAD. Basically, you will hopefully find the program that suits you best in your first year, and follow it through for your second, third, and fourth years. On top of all these degrees, there are masters degrees available in Applied Science, and Science. There is also a doctorate degree available in Applied Science. Approximately 50% of classes will be "virtual", i.e. on-line classes. I felt that I had at least some background information now, and I decided that I needed to talk to a live person to answer the questions that I had. I contacted Jennifer Wolfe, a communi- ty representative for TechBC, and queried her for a few minutes regarding the existence of TechBC and what it had to offer the cit- izens of B.C. To begin with, I asked her why. Why did B.C. need another University that from the looks of it, was an amalgamation of classes offered both at ECIAD and BCIT? Jennifer explained to me that there were positions that needed to be filled in this province’s job market that couldn’t be filled with graduates from two year programs at BCIT. TechBC would be offering 4 year degree programs aimed at more than just the technical level, but the professional level as well. I asked her if TechBC had consult- ed with other schools before designing their programs, so as not to "step on any toes", or have repetitive classes. She told me that yes, they had consulted with other institutions when designing their programs. From looking at the three undergraduate pro- grams, the program most likely to affect ECIAD is the Interactive Arts program. The 5 areas of concentration are as follows: 1.-Local Media focuses on the principles of interactive media directed towards disk-based interactive productions. 2.-Network Media directed toward network-based interactive productions delivered on the internet, etc. 3.-Linear Media principles of interactive media direct- ed toward broadcast media productions such as T.V., etc. 4.-Mechanical Media- this concentration focuses on the principles of interactive media directed towards mechanical electronics like robots, interactive sculpture, etc. 5.-Performance Media- this concentration focuses on the principles of interactive media directed toward event based productions such as architec- ture, dance, theatre etc. From this synopsis, one can gather that the courses offered at TechBC are all com- puter based, electronic applica- tions. The only programs at ECIAD similar to the afore- mentioned, are courses offered 2 in the Intermedia portion of the = school of Media Arts. The & course descriptions in the ECIAD catalogue are similar to those in the TechBC catalogue. This raises the question of why money is being spent on a new program at TechBC, when they could be improving what looks like a similar program offered at ECIAD. This is the same question that my informant at ECIAD is puzzled by. Let’s call this person "Pat". Pat would like to know why a predetermined amount of money devoted to post-sec- ondary education is being divided among a greater and greater number of schools in the province every year, instead of being used towards the improvement of existing structures. This means that every time a new school is created, existing schools get a smaller share of the funding pie. Pat likened it to a well that con- tinues to be tapped, until every unit feeding off the main is receiv- ing only a trickle. Pat argued that there was no discussion with anybody representing ECIAD concerning similar programs being offered at both schools. What I discerned out of the interview was that there was a lot less bitterness towards TechBC than I had originally assumed. The real problem, according to Pat, was that the system set up by the government to fund post-secondary insti- tutes was flawed, not the institutes themselves. I originally set out to "expose" the atrocities that had been committed by the B.C. government in their funding of TechBC. After investigating I found what seemed to be an innov- ative new school that looks as if it could fill a niche that is other- wise unaddressed in this province. In regards to their program in the Interactive Arts, the similarities to programs offered at ECIAD are somewhat disturbing. One area that puzzles me is the fact that there is a finite source of funding and staff that will have to be fought over tooth and nail. I can see one of two things happening. There may be some benefits to this situation in the fact that competition bene- fits the consumer, who in this case happens to be the student, and in the long run benefits the future of the province. This might not be the case if there isn’t more money put into the system to increase the flow from a trickle to a healthy gush, and the only place that the money can come from is students, or more govern- ment funding. The political and economic situation in this province right now dictates that no more money will be spent by Carlos Mendes gra <= Q They were interested in the establishment of a cutting edge school offering classes that would prepare graduates for the technological world. All this, and they wanted the school to be accessible. the government on education. And because of the fact that a stu- dent’s tuition only covers about 20% of their education, even a doubling of tuitions across the province wouldn’t do much more than make the system one for the rich. So, as it stands, a game of musical chairs is being played, with the chairs representing fund- ing, and either one institute will be left out in the cold, or each will have to share a seat at the expense of both. In the worst case scenario, (which looks to be quite possible), funds will be taken away from programs offered at ECIAD that are being offered at TechBC. What will be the justification for the cutting of funds to ECIAD? The KPI indicators, of course. [To find out more, read "Survey Says..." on page 7]. I believe that they are a flawed system of evaluating a school such as ECIAD because some of our grad- uates (especially studio graduates) are not going to be employed in their area of study. Job placement upon graduation from TechBC should be excellent, hence more funding for TechBC, less for ECIAD. I would like to know where along the line the gov- ernment felt that job placement was the bottom line; certainly nobody I talked to felt that way [again, see "Our Survey Says...”]. influx? Magazine February 1999 9 The New School on the Block It’s Just Past the GAP and Right Across From the Orange Julius by Sean Claney "BC. Teck? No, 'm sorry I don’t know what you are talking about, the lady who would isn't inthe fie right now, but Tan get her to cll you back What's your number?” "This was the response Ig rom the receptionist when Tealled the B.C. Government Information Line. Nobody did end ‘up calling me back and I was getting frustrated. I wanted to find ‘out about BC's newest Univesity and whether or not i was ‘worth the hundreds of milion of dollars spent wanted to know ifthe same money would be bette spent on improving programs ‘ofthe same genre at established institutes and universes around ‘the province. I felt that if money was going tobe spent on a new ‘univers, would affect the amount of money coming. 10 ECIAD. The sirens went off in my head, and along with nding ‘ut ifoxher people fet that Vancouver benefited from having an ft school [sce the ory inthis sue," Our Survey Says." page 85}, I wanted to find out what kind of competition ECIAD faced In the new millenium fom the new bd on the Block, Tech BC. needed to tak to somebody about The Technical Univesity of British Columbia (hereafter referred to asTechBC). ‘There were rumour, everybody had some sort of opinion, but nobody had the facts. 1 tied to look up the new school on the Internet, bu there was no info on &“TeehBC" when I tried sing ‘YAHOO!, 50 I went back to a reliable source I knew how tw the telephone. This time around, I gota diferent operator, some- body wo knew the phone number forTeehBC. I aed the num- ber and sure enough, had reached TechBC. I queried the recep tions sto thir email address (wew.ube.c), and set to work Joting down nots off the sreen. Twanted to vst the st Before talking to anybody from the school , so that I had some back round info. Sure enough, there was a well nid out web page ‘where I finaly found out about the schol. I was astonished; I Coulda’ understand how [had never heard about an undertaking ofthis magnitude (unny enough, nobody Ive talked to since has heard about TechBC). hada’ ead any Iterture on TechBC, but the webpage brought me up 10 speed Fist ofall the whole TechBC venture started in the clghtes when concemed citizens in Surrey lobbied fora ports fndary institution. They were interested in the exablishment of uting-edge school fering classes that would prepare graduates for the technological world, All this, and they wanted the school to be accessible. Hence, fiieen-odd years down the road, the school snow situated in Surrey Place Mall, around 102nd Ave ‘The school offers three undergraduate degrees; Information ‘Technology, Management and Technology, and Ineratve Arts ‘There was a listing of posible employmenicarcet opportunities liste afer each program. The frst year of clasts is non-denom- inatonal, itis called “TechOne", and is the same idea at “Foundation Year" at ECIAD. Basically, you wll hopeful find the program that suits you bestia your fst year, and follow it ‘through for your second, third and fourth years. On top ofall these depres, there are mastens degrees available in Applied ‘Science, and Science. Theres also a doctorate degree avaable in Applied Science. Approximately 50% of clases wil be "itu", ice online clases. 1 fel that [ha atleast some background information now and I decided that I needed to tlk toa lve person to answer the questions that had. I contacted Jennifer Wolfe, a communi- 'y representative for TechBC, and queried her for afew minutes regarding the existence of TechBC and what had to offer the ct- inane of BC. “To begin with, I asked her why. Why did B.C. need smother University that fom the looks of twas an amalgamation ‘of clasts offered both at ECIAD and BCIT? Jennifer explained to me that there were positions that needed to be fled in this province's job market that couldn't be fled with graduates from two year programs at BCIT. TechBC would be oflering 4 year degree programs aimed at more than just the technical level, but ‘the professional level as well T asked her i TechBC had consult ed with other schools before designing their programs, so as not to "step on any tes, or have repetine classes. She told me that yes they had consulted with other inssiutons when designing their programs. Prom looking at the three undergraduate pro ‘rams the program mot likly to affect ECIAD is the Interactive ‘Ars program. The 5 areas of concentration area follow {Local Media focuses on the principles of interactive productions such as arcitee- tre, danee, theatre et. rom. this synopsis, fone can gather tha the courses offered at TechBC. ae all com puter based electronic applic tions. The ‘only programs st ECIAD similar ro the afore-&§ mentioned, are coures offered 2 In the Intermedia pordon ofthe school of Media Art. The course descriptions in. the ECIAD catalogue are similar to those in the TechBC catalogue. This rises the question of why ‘money is being spent on a new program at TechBC, when they ould be improving what looks Ike a similar program oflered st ECIAD. ‘This is the same question that my informant at ECIAD is puzaled by. Let’ call this person "Pa. Pat would like to know why predetermined amount of money devoted to possec- ‘ondary education is being divided among a greater and greater ‘number of schools in the province every year instead of being ‘sed towards the improvement of existing structures, This means that every time a new school is created, existing schools get @ smaller share ofthe funding pie. Pa likened ico a well tht coo tinues tobe tapped until every unit feeding of the main is eceiv- ing only a wilde. Pat argued that there was no discussion with anybody representing ECIAD concerning simular programs being fered a both schools. What I dicerned ou ofthe interview was that there was alot less bitemess towards TechBC than T had tiginaly assumed. The real problem, according to Pst, was that the system setup by the government ro fund post-secondary isti= ‘utes was awed, not the institutes themsche, 1 originally st out to “expose” the atrocities that had ‘been commited by the B.C. government in their fonding of "TeehBC. After investigating I fond what seemed to be an innov~ ative new schoo! that looks as iit could il niche thats other- ‘wise unaddressed in tis province In regards to thie program in the Interactive Ars, the similarities to. programs offered. at ECIAD are somewhat disturbing. One area that puzzles me isthe fact that there i a ite soure of funding and staff that wil have to be fought over tooth and mal Lean sce one of two things happening. There may be some benefits to this station inthe fact that competition bene- fits th consumer, who in this case happens toe the student, and in the Jong run benefits the tare of the province. This might not bbe the ease if there isnt more money put into the system to increase the flow fom a wicke to a healthy gus, andthe only place thatthe money can come from is student, of more gover ‘meat funding. The political and economic situation in this Drovine right now dictates that no more money wil be spent by They were interested in the establishment of a cutting edge school offering classes that would prepare graduates for the technological world. All this, and they wanted the school to be accessible. the government on education. And because ofthe fact that a tu ent’ tution only covers about 20% oftheir education, even & Aoublng of tuitions across the province woulda’t do much more than make the system one for the rich, So, a it stands, a game of, ‘musical chairs s being played, withthe chairs representing fund- fing, and either one iste wil be left out inthe cold, ot each will have to share a seat atthe expense ofboth. In the worst case Scenario, (which looks to be quite possible), funds wil be taken sway from programs offered at ECIAD that ae being oflered at ‘TechBC. What wl be the justiScation forthe cuting of funds to ECIAD? The KPI indicators, of course. [To find out more ead "Survey Says." on page 7) believe that they are a awed sytem of evaluating school such as ECIAD becaute some of our grad- tates (especialy studio graduates) ae not going to be employed in ther area of study. Job placement upon graduation from “TeehBC should be excellent, hence more funding for TechBC, less for ECIAD. woud like to know where along the line th gov- emment fel that job placement was the botom line; certainly ‘nobody I talked to fet that way (again, see "Our Survey Says”). influx: Magazine February 1999 9