college

A former senior administrator at Rainy River Community College in International Falls has been named the next president of Minnesota North College.

Jessalyn Sabin will take over from Michael Raich, who is retiring in June after serving in the position for the past five years.

Sabin was formerly interim Dean of Academics at what is now Minnesota North’s Rainy River campus between 2020 and 2021.

She currently serves as an academic dean for Minnesota North and campus director in Eveleth.

“Dr. Sabin is a proven leader in higher education,” states Scott Olson, chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, in a release.

“As a member of Minnesota North’s leadership team, she has built strong, supportive connections with the campuses of Minnesota North, as well as with employers and the communities of the Iron Range. She exhibits through her work great leadership traits and has the experience and expertise to assume the presidency of Minnesota North College.”

Minnesota North College operates five campuses, including the one in International Falls.

Ontario’s colleges say over $1.5 billion is needed to keep them sustainable.

The funding request is contained in a pre-budget submission to the provincial government

The ask includes a need for $1.1 billion to close the funding gap caused by a continued freeze in tuition and the federal cap on international students.

Colleges Ontario says operating grants from the province remain about $7,700 per student below the national average, while tuition fees are about $1,100 lower than in other provinces.

Colleges say they are also losing nearly $4.2 billion in revenue because of the federal immigration policy change.

Steps were taken last year to reduce costs by cancelling more than 600 programs and cutting over 8,000 positions.

They warn of further cuts, especially in smaller and rural colleges, where the enrolment of domestic students has been shrinking for several years.

“Ontario’s economic and workforce needs depend on colleges,” states Maureen Adamson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Colleges Ontario.

“Colleges supply more than half the workers in sectors facing the most acute shortages that directly affect our local and provincial economies. Without sustainable, predictable funding, training capacity will continue to shrink just as demand is growing and workers leave the workforce.”

The provincial government has been reviewing the funding formula for colleges and universities.

Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, Nolan Quinn, says his ministry is looking to ensure that all post-secondary institutions are sustainable for the future.

“In the next couple of months, we’ll have an announcement to make,” says Quinn.

“We are focusing with our stakeholders, and we’re just wrapping up the consultations at this point and looking forward to announcing further funding for the sector in the coming months.”

College Ontario is also seeking $200 million to expand high-priority programs in skilled trades, health care, technology and advanced manufacturing, another $200 million in annual funding that is indexed to inflation for small, northern, rural and French-language colleges and $100 million over three years to support collaboration, shared services, cybersecurity and system modernization.