Memorial University is welcoming what they call “enhanced investment” from the provincial government in the budget.

MUN is getting $400-million from the province this year. That includes $312-million for its core operating grant, and $70-million over the next eight years to address deferred maintenance.

President and vice-chancellor Dr. Jennifer Lokash says they are “very pleased” with the budget, and university leadership will be studying the details of the document to inform their own budgetary process.

Meanwhile, organizations that represent students are cautiously optimistic about the budget – but they do wish more was included.

Mary Feltham, chair of the NL chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students, says they are pleased to see increased funding to both MUN and the College of the North Atlantic.She believes that is insufficient to address concerns that have been raised, especially in regard to deferred maintenance. That said, she is happy that it is “not going to be on the backs of students,” with the campus renewal fee still in place and the tuition offset grant unchanged.

MUNSU director of external affairs, Nicholas Keough, agrees that the measures don’t go far enough.

While they are “happier than we have been in a few years,” he says government needs to do a lot more listening to student leaders.