SRUC statement on Elmwood
Over the past week, there has been a lot of coverage over the future of SRUC’s Elmwood Campus in Cupar.
I can understand the level of concern – I know how much Elmwood means to students, and to the community it serves. It means a great deal to SRUC too.
So, it is vital to confirm that Elmwood remains an integral part of SRUC, and of our future plans.
At the moment, in common with other educational institutions throughout the country, SRUC is facing significant financial pressures.
To be absolutely clear, SRUC is staying at Elmwood. However, we need to change the way we operate to ensure its survival – and I know that this is an ambition we all share.
That’s why we need to exit the main building at the end of this academic year. It was originally designed for 1500 students and we now have the equivalent of 310 full-time students at Elmwood. The building is costing us more than £1.2 million a year to keep open and is operating at a fraction of its capacity.
We will utilise Elmwood House and our horticultural facilities, to ensure that students on campus will continue to enjoy learning here. This is something we know is of huge importance to students, staff, and the wider community.
We are working with colleagues to accommodate animal care teaching at Elmwood and hope to be in a position to share plans with students shortly. We will ensure that those most closely affected – both students and staff – are kept fully up to date, and given the support they need.
Our approach at Elmwood is focused on securing a sustainable future, and maintaining its place at the heart of the community.
The present context means that we have to review ways of working, and that inevitably means doing things differently. But the outcome will be a stronger, more resilient SRUC that’s better aligned to the evolving needs of learners and the rural businesses that we serve. And Elmwood will remain integral to that.
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
Posted by Wayne Powell on 04/03/2024
