The provincial government will not be stepping in to assist Memorial University with its current financial governance.

The university has placed a freeze on hiring, except in certain circumstances, and taken other belt-tightening measures as it deals with a $9.5 million deficit due to a drop in international enrolment.

The provincial government provides the university with $400 million in core funding, which is greater than the amount the province spends annually on road work and maintenance, according to Premier Andrew Furey.

Both MUN’s Faculty Association and its Students Union have called on the government to provide additional funding to the university, but the premier says as an autonomous institution, MUN needs to handle its own financial situation internally.

Furey told VOCM News that the minister plans to follow up with both the faculty and student associations.