The Chinese University of Hong Kong plans to establish new colleges to accommodate the increased undergraduate enrolment when the curriculum reverts to four years. The plan will enhance the college system through the provision of a congenial learning environment as well as quality non-formal education and pastoral care. At its meeting held this afternoon, the University Council deliberated on the Final Report of the Task Force on New Colleges and approved guidelines for the establishment of new colleges.
The Pressing Need to Establish New Colleges
CUHK takes pride in and is determined to preserve and enhance its unique college system, which provides general education, non-formal education and pastoral care to our undergraduate students. In 2012, when the undergraduate curriculum reverts to four years, the University's undergraduate population will increase by about 3,000 students. Without new colleges, the enrolment of the four existing colleges will increase from 2,500 students to over 3,200 each. The expanded size of the colleges will make it much more difficult to maintain close contact and interaction between teachers and students, and among students and to create genuine communities of scholars within the colleges. Moreover, not all of the four colleges are prepared to expand their student populations in the coming years. There is hence a pressing need to establish new colleges.
In line with the Strategic Plan adopted by the Council in January 2006, the University plans to establish one or more new colleges, and accordingly, a Task Force on New Colleges appointed by the Vice-Chancellor conducted an on-site study of college education in six universities/colleges in the U.S. and U.K. On February 16, 2006, the review report of the Task Force was widely disseminated to all members of the University, including teaching staff, students and alumni for consultation, and was also put on the University web at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/newcolleges/.
Since mid-February, the Task Force has organized 18 briefings, forums and consultation sessions, and the Chairman and members have met about 5,000 staff, students and alumni to listen to their views. They also held discussions with College Trustees and University Council Members. In addition, 19 written submissions were received. Members of the University agreed that new colleges would have to be established. Planning should start as soon as possible, given the long lead time required.
Guidelines for the Establishment of New Colleges
The Council at its meeting today deliberated on the Final Report of the Task Force, and agreed that small size, full residence and communal dining are essential ingredients in establishing and nurturing an intimate, interactive, congenial and caring community of students and teachers. Moreover, there is no land on campus for a large new college, and the government will not grant new tracts of land for this purpose. In the light of these considerations, the Council approved the following guidelines for the establishment of new colleges:
a) The University will establish new colleges with a small population, say, of 300-600 fully residential students. These new colleges will provide accommodation for all its students throughout their four years of undergraduate study. All students who live in these new colleges will enrol in college meal plans in the respective college dining halls.
b) The University is aware that not all students would wish to take up four-year residence in their colleges and to participate in communal dining. Therefore the University also plans to form medium-sized, partially-residential colleges, say of 1,200 students.
c) The optimum size of existing colleges will be determined by the colleges themselves. If any existing college wishes to enrol more students or reduce its intake, the University will be prepared to entertain its proposal. But in any event no existing college will be required to increase its student number. If an existing college wishes to increase its residential ratio without increasing its total enrolment, the University is prepared to assist in fund-raising to build additional hostels in the college, after it has taken care of the planned increase of over 3,000 students.
d) It is planned that a combination of one or two small, fully residential colleges and one or two medium-sized, partially residential colleges will be established to accommodate the additional students. The total number of new colleges to be established eventually will depend on a number of factors including the sizes of the new colleges as well as any change in the number of students of each of the existing colleges.
e) Each new college will primarily admit undergraduate students (including non-local and exchange students), but may also admit small numbers of postgraduate students. For efficient use of resources, students of the new colleges can use libraries and outdoor grounds provided centrally by the University. The new colleges will provide reading/study rooms, dining halls and limited indoor sports facilities.
f) The Council reaffirmed that the common ideals of all colleges are to foster an intimate and cordial community where students and teachers learn, share and grow intellectually; where teachers provide pastoral care and whole-person education for students; and where teachers and students together create an environment for learning and congenial college life. In addition, the educational ideals, mission and vision of each new college should be established from the outset, to guide its development. The mission and vision of the new colleges must conform with the University's overall educational mission, and must place the education and welfare of students as the prime consideration.
The University hopes to construct a framework with colleges in diverse modes from which students can choose and thereby enrich their college life experience. Even as the University's total student number increases, the formation of new colleges will enable the University to preserve small intimate communities of students and academic staff. This will also help to attract the best undergraduate students.
The University cherishes its college system and is keenly aware of the vital importance of its four existing colleges. With a view to strengthening the collaboration between the University and the colleges, and among the colleges, an Informal Advisory Group on University-College Cooperation and Collaboration has been appointed to advise on how the college system may be strengthened. The establishment of new colleges is an important milestone in the University's development and demonstrates the University's commitment to further promote and enhance its college system. The University will through suitable channels invite specific suggestions from students, staff and alumni on how to further strengthen the colleges and help CUHK to advance.
For details of the Final Report of the Task Force on New Colleges, please consult http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/newcolleges/finalreporte.pdf.