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LASALLE College of The Arts' president, 2 VPs quit
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 05 September 2007 2202 hrs
SINGAPORE: The top level management of LASALLE College of The Arts has quit.
The school says its president & CEO Professor Robert Ely as well as vice-presidents Professor Richard Berry and Professor Alan Lourens have handed in their resignations.
According to the school, they resigned to pursue other interests and did not elaborate further.
Prof Ely has indicated he will stay on to ensure a smooth handover to his successor.
Similarly, Prof Berry and Prof Lourens have extended their resignation notice period from three months to six months. - CNA/ir
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Dear LASALLE Students
Since we moved to our wonderful new city campus, we have been the talk of the town! Some good, some less positive. We would like to address one of them.
A recent Straits Times article, 15 Sep 07, presented an unfair and unbalanced representation of your College and your education. It omitted important facts that both the Ministry of Education and LASALLE had provided and this is unfortunately causing unnecessary anxiety and misunderstanding among some of you and your parents. We would like to correct the errors and clarify some of issues that you may have.
Before that, let me share with you a statement issued by the Ministry of Education to The Straits Times on Friday 14 Sep 2007 about the recent changes in leadership:
1. MOE would like to express our appreciation to Professor Robert Ely, Professor Alan Lourens and Professor Richard Berry for their contributions to LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE). Over the last five years, LASALLE has grown and been transformed as a Singapore arts institution and gained significantly in international recognition.
2. Under Professor Ely’s leadership, LASALLE has significantly expanded its range of programmes in visual arts and performing arts, and secured Open University UK validation for LASALLE’s degree programmes.
3. The Government has extended funding support to LASALLE since 1999 to boost its role in the development of Singapore’s creative and artistic manpower. MOE has invested substantial resources in LASALLE, including funding for the development of its new city campus.
4. MOE appreciates the vision of LASALLE College to become a university of the arts in the long term. LASALLE College has been delivering good programmes over the years and we are confident that it will build on its growing reputation and the excellent facilities in its new city campus. MOE is committed to work with LASALLE College to build it into a globally reputed Singapore arts institution of excellence. The Ministry is assured that the College will fulfil its potential and contribute to the growth of a diverse higher education landscape in Singapore.
Error in The Straits Times article
Years of Education: The Straits Times article stated that “LASALLE markets its programmes as four-year degree courses”. This is an ERROR. Our degree programmes are three-year degree programmes (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3).
Students who don’t have the pre-requisites to enter the degree programme can apply to enter at Foundation level (Level 0) to help them prepare to enter the BA (Hons) programme. Foundation studies (Level 0) is not part of the degree programme.
So when the articles states that “...if they choose to exit at the end of the third year, they are given diplomas instead.” - the article is in fact referring to Level 2 as the third year for students who start at Level 0.
Awards: Please be assured that there are no changes to our programmes or the awards.
* Upon successful completion of Level 2, you will receive a Diploma.
(Please note that this Diploma exit is only applicable to programmes that have this exit.)
* Upon successful completion of Level 3 you will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours.
* Upon successful completion of Level M you will graduate with a Master of Arts.
All LASALLE degree programmes have been externally validated by the Open University Validation Services providing an independent stamp of approval of academic standards. There is also a rigorous quality assurance process with an independent panel of external examiners appointed by the Open University Validation Services who ensures LASALLE’s academic standards across all levels and programmes are equivalent to that of some of the best universities in the UK.
Upon your Level 3 or Masters completion, you will receive a parchment bearing the seal of LASALLE and the Open University.
All our diploma and degree programmes are registered with the Ministry of Education.
MOE Funding
The Ministry currently provides LASALLE with funding for Diploma-level studies. If you are a Singaporean or Permanent Resident, you may be eligible for tuition grant from the Ministry for Level 0, Level 1 and Level 2. This means that the fee you pay is subsidised by this grant.
However, the Ministry has opted not to fund Level 3 and Level M studies and hence students are charged at full economic fees.
MOE recognition of education programmes in Singapore
MOE leaves the responsibility of maintaining good quality and standard of education programmes with the respective academic institutions. You will find this information on the MOE website.
LASALLE in achieving Accredited Institution status and having all degree programmes validated through the Open University Validation Services ensures international recognition of all our degree programmes.
As mentioned above under “Awards”, all our diploma and degree programmes are registered with the Ministry of Education.
We hope this clarifies any doubts or questions you may have about the article. If there is anything else we can clarify for you, please feel free to contact your respective Deans who are copied in this email.
We are proud of LASALLE, and of LASALLE students and alumni. We wish you the best in your studies.
PS: We have a series of VIPs coming to visit our new campus in the next couple of months. Some are ministers while others are heads of large organisations. Last Friday, our Patron, Minister George Yeo, visited and had a wonderful time walking through the campus. Please join us in welcoming our visitors as they walk through the campus in the coming months.
Best regards
Avfo
Pro Vice President – Marketing & Operations
18/9/2007 11:11AM
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Dear LASALLE Students,
We would like to share with you an announcement made to all full-time
LASALLE staff on Wed 5 Sep that our President & CEO, Professor Robert Ely;
Vice-Presidents Professors Richard Berry & Alan Lourens have handed in their
resignations.
Over the last 5 years, they have worked tirelessly to build LASALLE into one
of Asia-Pacific¹s leading arts institutions, including the development of
the iconic New City Campus which we have settled into.
The 3 executives have achieved what they had set out to build for LASALLE in
their respective areas including institutional accreditation, the validation
of LASALLE¹s 51 degrees and degree streams and the successful completion of
the New City Campus, and now welcome the opportunity to pursue their
professional interests.
Professor Ely has indicated that he will stay on to ensure a smooth handover
to his successor, while Professor Berry and Lourens have extended their
notice period from 3 months to 6 months for similar reasons.
The Institution is grateful for their significant contributions to LASALLE
over the last 5 years. Plans are in place to recruit their successors.
All teaching and learning activities continue as before. Should you have
anything you wish to clarify, please feel free to contact your respective
Programme Leader or Dean
Regards,
Avfo
Pro Vice President Marketing & Operations
9/10/2007 5:11PM
