Photo: File photo

Okanagan College passed a new budget Tuesday that will see an additional 13 new instructors hired, along with a new counsellor and increases in mental health and other health care services.

The college says the $112-million operating budget for next school year will help address pressures that have resulted from recent growth.

In addition to new staff, the College will also be adding a new two-year diploma in collision repair, and will increase the intake for sustainable construction management technology and animation programs.

“We’ve seen significant growth in recent years,” said Chris Derickson, Okanagan College board of governors chair. “This budget maps out our plans to address some of the pressures that have come with that growth, to invest in student services, and to move forward on continued growth in programs and with some of our strategic initiatives.”

Tuition accounts for about 33.8 per cent of the College's revenues, while grants from the province and other sources make up about 53.4 per cent.

This year, the school has 8,660 full-time equivalent students, up from 8,430 last year.