Closing Alfred and Kemptville campuses a bad idea
As many of you may know, the University of Guelph has announced that it is closing its beloved Kemptville and Alfred campuses, apparently due to “financial reasons.” Though no one can dispute that money is relatively tight these days, the surprise closure of these schools has brought shock, sadness, and even outrage to many people, and not just those directly tied to the Kemptville and Alfred campuses. There are a lot of issues to be had with this announcement, and they all speak for public dissatisfaction with problem solving, management, and most importantly, priorities. Below, I would like to outline some major concerns with the closing of these wonderful schools, as well as the way in which the closings were handled.
Guelph is an agricultural school by nature. While we pride ourselves on our academic diversity (of course, this is a major argument against the PPP, though that’s a different issue altogether), it is impossible to deny Guelph’s rich background in agriculture and its related sciences. The joining of the three original colleges – Macdonald Institute, Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), and the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) speaks to our powerful agricultural roots. While the Kemptville and Alfred campuses may not be one of those original institutes, they are an extension of the founding principles and priorities of this university, and to lose them is to lose a piece of the heart of U of G.
The programs offered at these campuses are also not available elsewhere. A major pride of Kemptville and Alfred is the uniqueness of their programs, which involve education and hands-on experience of a high caliber. Ontario does not have a plentiful offering of agricultural educational institutions, and it would be wise to think twice before allowing the termination of such a scarce resource.
There are also many students for whom there are no alternatives. The reasons that Kemptville or Alfred may be the only feasible options for many of their students are plentiful – the most obvious being that as agricultural students, many of them are needed at home on the farm during weekends and cannot afford the time or money for travelling to Guelph. Some of these students are deliberately seeking a diploma, and may not have the marks or desire necessary to get into a full-fledged university program. For others, Alfred is the only French-speaking school with an agricultural program.
The job loss is also substantial for the faculty and staff involved. The degrees and expertise acquired by the faculty of these institutions are reflective of years of hard work, comparable to none. Their knowledge is invaluable, and like the school itself, cannot be sought elsewhere. Most of these people have spent a large chunk of their lives devoted to their field, where they spend their days contributing not only to their research, but also to their students, the school, and to society as a whole. To rip away from these folks their livelihood is to deprive Ontario of important research and future students of a high-quality career – and will likely break a lot of hearts.
The effects on the economies of the small host towns will be detrimental. This point doesn’t need a whole lot of explaining. As anyone here in Guelph can see, “student towns” thrive on the presence of young academia who pump millions of dollars into the coffers of local businesses and government. Though the Alfred and Kemptville campuses may have lower numbers than here, those students are no less important to the citizens of their respective towns who rely on them for dollars to keep their own families sustained.
The secrecy and surprise factors were callous, cowardly, and extremely inconsiderate. Difficult decisions are necessary – that we know. But I feel as though it is these components of undercover decision making that have appalled people the most, myself included. Many feel rightly blindsided and hurt by the secret manner in which this was done. There is no justification for the invisibility of the conversation in regards to the closure, including how 100th anniversary preparations were made, even as the elites were fully intending to bring a sudden halt to the schools.
If financial reasons are the true source of this “solution,” perhaps we should better reflect on how the university manages its money. I have a feeling that, much like the government, a proper allocation of funds isn’t always made. I may not know all the goings-on of U of G’s treasury, but one need only take a look around to see that sometimes, money is spent where it doesn’t belong.
Ultimately, it breaks my heart to be criticizing a part of U of G while mourning another. If these closures are allowed to occur, I truly believe it will be a decision they will come to regret.