The Auditor General has released a damning report into the way Memorial University manages its infrastructure.

The report indicates that MUN has deferred maintenance liabilities of $481-million as of March 2024, and that it “does not effectively or efficiently manage its capital portfolio” and highlights a lack of oversight throughout the entire organization.

The report says that as of last March, the university’s facilities condition index was rated as poor and nearing critical, but the audit also found that the rating “may be inaccurate and (facilities may be) in worse condition than Memorial has stated.”

The Auditor General report says the only funding source to address deferred maintenance at the University is the campus renewal fee – paid for by students, at a cost of $50 to $250 per student per semester.

However, several instances of that money being used for other purposes were found, such as 174 Dell computers for staff at the Grenfell Campus at a cost of $249,300, 22 Macbooks for staff at the same campus at a cost of $72,0000, $29,000 for chairs in the medical school lobby, and $369,000 for routine maintenance.

Moreover, the report found that the $7.8-million MUN gets annually from campus renewal fees is woefully inadequate – noting that the university would need $65-million per year for 15 years just to return to poor condition overall.

The report has made nine recommendations to MUN, all of which have been accepted.

MUN accepts recommendations, says work is already underway

Memorial University says it accepts all nine recommendations detailed in the AG report and welcomes the audit findings as an “opportunity for continual improvement.”

President and vice-chancellor pro tempore, Dr. Neil Bose says the report shows the complexity of infrastructure across Memorial’s campuses and says the recommendations made by Hanrahan’s office are consistent with work “that has already started.”

He says changes made since the audit include the development of a plan to address deferred maintenance and renew technology infrastructure.

The university has also developed a multi-year Department of Facilities Management Strategic Plan.

On December 5th, the Board of Regents also approved an updated Physical and Digital Infrastructure Committee’s Terms of Reference that will provide the committee with the oversight, stewardship and strategic direction on the university’s physical and digital infrastructure.

MUNSU Responds

Meanwhile, Memorial University’s Students Union, which has long raised concerns about deferred maintenance at Memorial says the AG’s report confirms what they have been saying for years…that the walls are crumbling around them.

MUNSU says university leadership has been displaying a disregard for student wellbeing through what it calls “egregious misspending” and “negligent management” of resources.