Chair of Aurora College steps down, says gov't didn't provide enough support

The chairperson of Aurora College in the N.W.T. has stepped down, a year before his term was set to end. 

Joseph Handley says he often did not see eye-to-eye with the government on many issues, including the college's plans to become a polytechnic university, and its recent decision to close community learning centres.

The transition to polytechnic, originally slated for this year, is currently up in the air. Handley says to try and get the plan back on track, the college board looked for things to cut in order to free up money for the transition.

That led to the announcement in January that the college's 19 community learning centres across the N.W.T. would be closed by this summer. The decision came under fire from some MLAs and people in those communities.

Handley says disagreements with Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland about the community learning centres contributed to his decision to step down.

"The government wants to run it [the college]," said Handley.

In a news release on Wednesday announcing Handley's resignation, the territorial government said it "remains committed to strong, independent governance as Aurora College continues to evolve as an arm's-length institution."

Cleveland also thanked Handley in that release for his contributions to the college.

CBC News asked Cleveland for an interview about Handley's departure but she declined.

'Actions we felt we had to take'

Handley said cutting the community learning centres will save the college around $4 million. He said that money is needed to develop courses that are required for an institution to become a polytechnic.

"[The college board was] unanimous in the actions we felt we had to take in order to generate some revenue. The challenge now is to make sure that the college keeps that money, [and] it's not just grabbed by the Department of Education," said Handley.

Last month, MLAs voted on a motion to reduce funding to Aurora College because of the closure of the community learning centres but the motion was defeated.

Handley said when he took on the job as chairperson, he believed there would be more support from the government, including financial support. But he says the college's budget was significantly cut last year.

Handley estimates the cost to develop the programs for the college to be a polytechnic is at least $6 million or $7 million. 

He says a consultant told the board that another $400 million is needed to resolve problems with the quality and availability of student housing.

"To get student enrolment up, to get the right courses in place in each campus, is overwhelming — especially if the government is not going to support us," said Handley.

"They say, 'Well, there's no magic pot of money.' Well, I know there isn't any magic pot of money but we gotta work out a strategy here of how we're going to achieve what we need to do. And we did that as a board, but I don't think we got good department support."

The Department of Education has said that it will begin the process to replace Handley shortly.