| Q1. |
The Task Force recommends the
new colleges to charge a college fee. If the college
fee is set on a high side, only wealthy students can
apply. The creation of "elite colleges" will result
in division. It violates the principle of equal
education opportunities and limits the choice of students. |
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- The
University encourages students to actively participate
in college activities so as to broaden their education
experience. The purpose of the proposed college
fee is to help defray part of the cost
of student activities. The amount will be small. Collection
of college fee is just one of the recommendations
of the Task Force. The Task Force will consider
the views of all members of the University. For
students with financial needs, bursaries will be
provided to ensure that students who wish to apply
to the new colleges will not be discouraged because
of financial reasons.
- The level of hostel fee charged
by the new colleges will be similar to that of the
existing Colleges. However, since the new colleges
expect all students to be
in residence throughout their entire programme of
studies, students have to spend more on room and
board. The new colleges will provide bursaries
for students with financial needs to defray these
costs. All students, regardless of their financial
circumstances, will therefore have an equal opportunity
to apply to the new colleges.
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| Q2. |
Will the proposed features of
the new colleges result in the creation of an "elite
collegiate system"? Does it mean that only elite
students can apply to the new colleges? |
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The
small, fully residential nature is only a suggestion
of the Task Force for the consideration of the University. The
aim is to offer more choices to students. Students
can choose different colleges according to their different
preferences and needs. It demonstrates the University's
valuable strength of diversity. The Task Force
believes that not all students will identify with the
smallness, the fully residential character and the dining
arrangements of the new colleges. Only those students
who see these concepts as strengths and benefits will
choose to apply. There is no connotation whether
these students are elite or not because of their choice. All
students, regardless of their financial circumstances,
will have an equal opportunity to apply to the new colleges. The
Task Force recommends that new colleges should provide
bursaries for students with financial needs. |
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| Q3. |
According to the report of the
Task Force, the University appears to focus on the establishment
of small colleges and has made no recommendation on
the mission and characteristics of new colleges. Does
it mean that the Task Force considers college size is
more important than the mission of a college? What
are the mission and vision of the new colleges? |
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The Task Force agrees that each college
should have its own mission and vision as
a guide for development and a focus of identity. The
education goal of the colleges should be consistent
with the core values and mission of the University. Likewise,
each new college should have its own mission, vision
and special characteristics when it is established. However,
the spirit and character of a new college will take
time to evolve as the college grows and flourishes,
and will be shaped by its members. |
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| Q4. |
The Task Force proposes that
the new colleges should have 300 to 600 students. In
the long run, how many new colleges will have to be
established to accommodate the increase in student number
following the conversion of the undergraduate curriculum
to four years? |
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Upon the launch of the four-year
undergraduate curriculum, the number of undergraduate
students enrolled at CUHK will increase by approximately
3,000. The Task Force considers it undesirable
to further increase the size of the existing Colleges
so as to maintain the intimate community for college
life and education. The University may therefore
have to establish more than one college. The
number of new colleges will depend on their size and
resources. The Task Force is open to all suggestions. The
crucial point is that the education goal and culture
of the new colleges should be consistent with that
of the University and bring benefits to students and
staff. |
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| Q5. |
Will diversity in the size and
features of new and existing Colleges lead to unequal
distribution of University resources and hence result
in division? The establishment of new colleges
requires huge investment in manpower and financial resources. Will
University resources be tilted towards the new colleges? |
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The collegiate system of CUHK is
an effective system. Each college has its distinctive
character, tradition and spirit. They grow and
flourish on this solid foundation, providing their
students with a rich college experience. All
resources for the formation of new colleges will be
raised through private donations. The University
funding allocation to the existing Colleges will not
be affected. The Task Force considers that the
University, in conjunction with the existing Colleges,
should continue to step up their effort to raise funds
to enable the Colleges to continue to grow from strength
to strength. |
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| Q6. |
The proposal to establish new
colleges has been put forward hurriedly without due
consultation. |
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After consultation and deliberation,
the University has decided in its ten-year Strategic
Plan to form new colleges. The Strategic Plan
has been endorsed by the Senate and approved by the
University Council. The Vice-Chancellor has
appointed a Task Force on New Colleges to conduct
an on-site review of the successful college systems
of leading overseas universities/colleges. The
report of the Task Force was forwarded to all staff
and students as well as alumni of the University
on February 16, 2006. The consultation process
will last until March 31, 2006. All members of
the University are welcome to forward their views
and suggestions to the Task Force. Professor
Liu Pak-wai, Chairman of the Task Force and other
Task Force Members have started the consultation process,
explaining their findings and recommendations at College
Assemblies and Alumni Gatherings. The Task Force
will organize an open forum to facilitate the expression
of opinions of all students. To date, Task Force
members have attended the College Assembly of United
College, the United College Annual Workshop and the
Shaw College Assembly of Fellows meeting. The
Task Force will also participate in the Shaw College
Student Union Forum. After the close of
the consultation period, the Task Force will consider
all the views and suggestions received, and submit
a report to the University for consideration. |
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| Q7. |
The proposed site(s) of new
colleges. |
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The government will not grant additional
land for the establishment of new colleges. New
colleges will be erected within the existing campus
of the University and located at a convenient site
with a suitable size. The Task Force considers
that the choice of site should be contingent upon
several factors, including the long term master plan
of the University, construction and engineering constraints,
availability of funding, environmental protection
etc. |
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| Q8. |
Does the University have a timetable
for the establishment of new colleges? |
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The Task Force recommends that the
University establishes new colleges before the conversion
of the undergraduate curriculum to four years in
2012. The planning and construction of a new
college takes several years. The Task Force believes
this is the right time to start the planning process. |
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| Q9. |
The student member of the Task
Force was not elected from the students, and hence cannot
represent the views of all students of the University. |
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The composition of the Task Force
comprises a Chairman (a Pro-Vice-Chancellor), four
members (a College Head, a teacher, an alumna and
a student) and a Secretary. Miss Carol Chan,
the student member of the Task Force, is a Year 3
student of the Faculty of Business Administration,
a hostel resident and former Vice-Chairman (External
Affairs) of the Student Union of Chung Chi College,
and former member of the Representative Council of
the Chinese University Students Union. Miss Chan
has a clear understanding of the collegiate system,
the need of students and the education environment
of the University. The four Members, each a member
of one of the four constituent Colleges, serve on
the Task Force on an ad personum basis. The
findings and recommendations contained in the Report
represent the personal views of the Task Force members. The
consultation process has just begun. All students
are welcome to forward their personal views to the
Task Force for consideration. |
