DURHAM -- Durham College's board of governors has axed a vice-president position created just last year as part of a process to disentangle the two institutions.
The vice-president of integrated service position was created in March of 2007. It was never filled, so rescinding it amounted to deleting it from the college's organizational structure.
But before it was rescinded, Governor Garry Cubitt recalled when the position was first created, the board was arguing about splitting the Durham College and UOIT board up as well as some of the other governance positions. They decided to do so, but with the creation of the vice-president position.
"The opinion was that what was holding all of that together was the vice-president of integrated services," said Mr. Cubitt.
He said he didn't have an issue with rescinding the position, but he didn't understand how the goals that led to the creation of the position were met.
Acting Durham College president Don Lovisa said after consultation with his counterpart, UOIT president Ron Bordessa, it was decided the position wouldn't be effective.
"It (would have been) a person between the two presidents in a position of power . . . it caused more problems than it resolved," said Mr. Lovisa.
As well, the two institutions are now working on disentangling several integrated services, rendering the vice-president position unnecessary. The process began with the finance and human resources departments.
For example, previously staff processing financial transactions from UOIT students were college employees.
"They'll continue to do that, but they'll bill the university based on the agreed upon metrics," Mr. Lovisa said.
On the other hand, finance staff that dealt solely with university funds, like those conducting research accounting, were moved to the university's payroll.
Each institution now has its own finance vice-president in addition to previously separated vice-presidential positions such as those responsible for academic portfolios.
"There's an expectation the two (vice-presidents) academic are working together and we see they have been," said board chairwoman Aileen Fletcher. She expects vice-presidents in other areas to do so as well.
As to why the two institutions need to be disentangled, Mr. Lovisa said when the university first opened, everything was under the umbrella of Durham College. But since then the university has grown and it's time for the separation of services, he said.
As it stands, the two organizations are working under sharing principles that Mr. Lovisa hopes will become service agreements by the end of the budget year. This means that if the university has an agreement for the college to deliver services, they would have to give one year's notice if they want to look at other service providers.
Many of the administrative workers for shared services are employed by the college and the president said one of the main principles was to protect the employees.
"This isn't an unraveling. Actually, in my view we're repackaging something that makes sense," he said.
Mr. Lovisa said the links between the college and the university will ultimately remain strong.
"We share a campus; doesn't matter who cuts the grass."
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