Students at the university do not believe the administration’s assurances that it will not raise tuition in the wake of a sudden cash crunch. But MUNSU puts most of the blame on the provincial government, saying operating funds to the university have been cut by 52 per cent over the past 11 years.
MUN is facing a nearly $10-million shortfall due largely, it says, to a 5.4 per cent drop in enrolment of international students. Tuition fees paid by those from abroad are much higher than those paid by domestic students.
The Director of External Affairs with MUNSU, Nicholas Keough, says enrolment is at its lowest in 40 years, something the university should have seen coming as the numbers have been declining ever since tuition started increasing in 2022.
Nicholas Keough (VOCM News)
He urges people to go to www.fundmun.ca, and to email their MHA, particularly if he or she is a Liberal member, to express their concern about the decrease in provincial government funding.
Vice-President Internal with the faculty association says his members are worried they may soon be out of a job.
Russell Williams says shortcomings in enrolment need to be addressed by the provincial government.
He told VOCM News the situation is only made worse by a decline in the school’s poor physical condition.
“Friday’s rainstorm, we had more buildings leaking on this campus than we had that weren’t leaking. And we need to have a more serious conversation with government about just how bad the situation is. We’ve talked to the opposition parties about it. We’ve tried to talk to the government about it. They won’t even take our calls.”
The crunch also comes at a time when the university is searching for a new president.
Dr. Neil Bose, the acting president, does not think the current situation MUN is facing will discourage anybody from applying.
He thinks there will be a very strong field of candidates as MUN is an amazing university.
