各位同事、同學、校友:

 

書院制是香港中文大學珍貴的傳統,對實踐中大創校理念非常重要。然而隨著大學的發展,現有的四所書院,每所平均已有2,500人。大學於2012年回復四年學制後,本科生人數將會再增加3,000人。如果把新增的學生人數平均分配予四所書院,將對現時的書院帶來壓力,對維繫親切的書院生活環境亦有一定影響。

 

大學因此決定成立新書院,並委任新書院研究小組。小組於一月中訪問六間成功推行書院制的大學,經過交流討論及研究,把這些書院的成功經驗、共同特色歸納起來,作出建議。小組報告(英文版本)亦已於二月十六日透過電郵發放給每位同事、同學及校友,目的是讓大家就新書院作一些思考,並提供意見。小組已設立電郵信箱secretary@cuhk.edu.hk,收集各位的意見,諮詢期至三月三十一日。

 

為了增強溝通,我和小組成員已安排在各書院週會、雙週會、月會、書院院務委員會、校友聚會等,與同事、同學及校友分享小組的觀察和建議(附件一)。小組亦將舉辦校內公開論壇,讓全體同學表達意見。日前我們已出席聯合書院星期五聚會、聯合書院週年研討會和逸夫書院院務委員會,小組亦將於下星期五出席逸夫書院學生論壇。未來數星期我們會繼續到訪其他書院,與各位同學見面,盡量爭取機會與大家溝通,聽取多方面的意見,歸納整理後,再提交予大學仔細研究。

 

我感謝各位中大人對報告提出不少寶貴意見和建議,藉此機會,讓我重申以下幾點,澄清一些對報告書的誤解:

 

1.                 成立新書院的經費來自捐贈,大學不會減少對現有書院的撥款,也會繼續與各書院一起積極籌募捐助,讓各書院都可得到長足的發展

 

2.                 無論新書院實行那一種模式,目的都是締造親切的學習和生活環境,提供優質全人教育,這與現時四所書院的目標是一致的。新書院為同學提供另一種選擇,增加校園的多元化。我們明白同學對書院生活有不同需求,也尊重同學的選擇。為使所有同學都有同等機會作出選擇,我們建議新書院為有經濟需要的同學提供助學金,以確保每位有意加入新書院的同學,不會因經濟問題而卻步

 

3.                 小組報告還在諮詢階段,待諮詢期結束後,小組將歸納各方面意見,供大學詳細考慮和研究

 

研究小組就所收到的一些常見問題的回應(附件二),經整理後連同研究小組報告的中文版本(附件三),隨函附上。

 

新書院的成立是中文大學長遠發展一個重要的里程碑,是大學對發揚書院制的承擔,我期望大家集思廣益,踴躍提出意見。在此謹祝各位生活愉快。

 

 

廖柏偉

新書院研究小組主席

二零零六年二月二十六日

 

 

附 件

附件一     新書院研究小組與教職員、學生及校友的溝通聚會一覽表

附件二     常見問題

附件三     新書院研究小組報告(中文版本)



Dear Colleagues, Students, and Alumni:

 

The college system is a precious tradition of CUHK, which underpins the founding vision of the University.  However, as the University enrolment grows through the years, the size of the four existing Colleges continues to expand.  At present, each College has an average enrolment of 2,500 students.  When the University reverts to a four-year undergraduate curriculum in 2012, there will be a further increase of 3,000 students.  If these additional students are distributed to the four Colleges, it will certainly bring pressure on the Colleges, making it difficult for them to maintain an intimate college environment.

 

For this reason, the University decided to form new colleges and appointed a Task Force on New Colleges to conduct an on-site review of the successful college systems of six leading universities/colleges in mid-January.  After discussion and deliberation, the Task Force has compiled its findings on the successful experiences and common features of these colleges together with its recommendations in a report to the University.  The Task Force report (English version) was forwarded to colleagues, students and alumni of the University via e-mail on 16 February with the aim to stimulate discussion.  Please let us have your views by sending them to the designated email address of the Task Force (secretary@cuhk.edu.hk) during the consultation period which will last until March 31, 2006.

 

To facilitate communication, Task Force members and I have scheduled presentations and sessions at the College bi-weekly and monthly Assemblies, Assembly of Fellows meetings and alumni gatherings, to share our observations and recommendations (Appendix 1).  An open forum will also be organized to enable sharing of views with all students.  So far, we have attended the United College Assembly, United College Annual Workshop and meeting of the Assembly of Fellows of Shaw College.  Next Friday, we will attend the Student Union Forum of Shaw College.  In the coming weeks, we will have the opportunity to meet more students to listen to their views by attending gatherings of other Colleges.  Collated views and suggestions will then be submitted to the University for further study.

 

We have received many valuable opinions and suggestions for which we are thankful.  I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the following points to clarify some misunderstandings that may have arisen:

 

a)                 Funding for the establishment the new colleges will be raised through donations.  The resources allocated by the University to the existing Colleges will not be affected.  Meanwhile, the University will continue to work together with the existing Colleges to raise funds to ensure their further development.

 

b)                 Regardless of the model adopted for the new colleges, the ultimate goal is to promote an intimate learning and living environment, and to provide quality whole-person education for our students.  This is in line with the goal of our existing Colleges.  New colleges will offer students a choice and add diversity to the campus.  We understand students may have different expectations about their college experience, and we respect their choices.  In order that all students may have equal opportunity in making choices, the Task Force recommends that the new colleges should provide bursaries for students with financial needs to ensure that no student who intends to join the new colleges will be discouraged because of financial reasons.

 

c)                  The Report submitted by the Task Force is now under consultation.  Upon completion of the consultation period, the Task Force will collate views and suggestions received for the University’s further consideration.

 

The Task Force has responded to some of the questions commonly raised on the Report.  The Q&A has been consolidated and attached (Appendix 2).  The Chinese version of the Report is also enclosed (Appendix 3).

 

The establishment of new colleges is an important milestone in the development of CUHK.  It represents the University’s commitment to further promote the collegiate system.  We look forward to receiving your valuable opinions.

 

Wish best wishes,

 

 

Liu Pak-wai

Chairman

Task Force on New Colleges

 

February 26, 2006

 

 

Enclosures:

Appendix 1    Schedule of Meetings with Staff, Students and Alumni

Appendix 2    Q&A

Appendix 3    Report of the Task Force on New Colleges (Chinese Version)