Questions were raised in the Senate yesterday about the Bermuda College's budget, which has increased almost a million dollars from 2006.

In her opening remarks, Senator Kim Wilson mentioned the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) diploma, now offered at the College and the only place outside of the United Kingdom where students can achieve it.

Other accomplishments listed by Sen. Wilson included the 156 students who graduated from the College last year, 1,014 students enrolled for the spring session and the election of the first female president of the college, Duranda Green.

The campus also received upgrades, such as an elevator in one of the campus buildings for the physically handicapped, beautifying of the lawns and a new sign for the college, which included gold lettering.

Over $700,000 was spent on a new computer system which will help accounting and a scheduling programme, which will enable the college to know which classrooms are free and which are not.

Also included in the budget for the College is $544,000 for insurance for the College and Coco Reefs' property, of which $88,877 was for the Coco Reefs budget.

Sen. Wilson revealed that the College received $11,000 from Coco Reefs every month for their electricity bill, which was included in the College's electricity.

Opposition Senator Bob Richards said he had a strong affinity to Bermuda College, but was concerned about the recent controversy, which revealed personal expenses for the President were paid by the College.

Sen. Richards hoped lessons had been learned and the College would be able to recuperate from the problems.

Sen. Richards did ask why the electricity bills had not been separated for the College and Coco Reefs as wells as why the insurance for Coco Reefs was being funded in the Bermuda College budget.

Opposition Senator Gina Spence-Farmer praised the election of Duranda Green saying: "It speaks a lot for us women and she's Bermudian which is very important for the students to see someone leading who is Bermudian."

Sen. Spence-Farmer was concerned, however, about the co-curricular activities provided by the College as well as how the relationship between the student and staff and staff and management was progressing.

Other concerns raised by Senator Alfred Oughton were the enrolment numbers, because he felt the 1,014 students listed by Sen. Wilson could be full-time and part-time students and he was concerned about the hospitality training offered by the College.

Opposition Senator Kim Swan was asked to finish his comments so Sen. Wilson could respond. He managed to express concern over the closing of the Stonington Campus and the increasing numbers of staff, but decreasing numbers of students.

In reply, Sen. Wilson mentioned the PAC report recommendations would be implemented by the Board of Governors and in doing so would have a financial controller for the college on April 1.

It would take $500,000 to separate the Coco Reefs hotel electricity bill from the College's, so a study of other hotels of a similar size found $11,000 would be adequate to cover the expense.

The insurance, however, is covered by the Bermuda Government who are the landlords.

Sen. Wilson said of the 1,014 students, 327 were full-time, 364 were part-time and 323 were in the continuing education programme and the ratio of student to staff was one of 11 to 1 with classes averaging 14 students.

The Senate debate on the College was adjourned.