So he made it happen.
The Advanced Education and Skills minister had heard from several students of a plan for a contingent from the school to show up at his Corner Brook office today, but with the House of Assembly in session, he wouldn’t have been there. He quickly organized a town hall meeting at the university, which was attended by over 60 students who were looking to voice concerns about the cuts to education in the recent provincial budget.
Byrne said the main concerns seemed to be the $14-million cut to the budget of MUN; the change from $140 a week in eligible grants to a system of $100 a week in grants and $40 in loans; and a desire for a continued emphasis on subsidizing the educations of foreign students.
He said he felt the exchange went very well and said he was told afterwards by several students that he provided information they were not aware of before.
In regard to the $14-million cut to MUN’s budget and how it might affect the long-running tuition freeze, Byrne said it is still only a three per cent cut to the university’s $400 million annual budget. Students at the meeting raised the notion of the recently-released “sunshine list” of salaries greater than $100,000 at the university, which Byrne said they referred to as “exorbitant salaries” of some key officials and administrators. He said students requested he step in to ensure the university maintains the tuition freeze with the $4 million that was provided in the budget for tuition freeze funding.
But Byrne said that is out of his hands, as MUN, like all universities in North America, is an autonomous higher education institution that does not take orders from government. He did tell the students it was important for them, as stakeholders, to engage the university to make sure that, instead of cutting academic programs or raising tuition, they might find it fair to say the three per cent budget cut could be absorbed by administration or by creating greater efficiencies.
Byrne also addressed the issue of grant reductions and the reintroduction of a loan system, saying that with MUN’s current tuition totalling $2,250 for an entire academic year, $100 in weekly grants for a full academic year of 33 weeks is still $3,330. He also explained that the $40 loans would be “wiped out” if the student is enrolled in a full-time studies program, take a full course load, pass those courses and graduate.
“That’s an incentive to perform well,” Byrne said.
He also reassured students the tuition freeze money included in the budget was meant to subsidize the education of foreign students as well.
“With all that said, can I tell you Memorial University will freeze tuitions? That will be a decision of Memorial University,” he said.
He added that every government department has been expected to trim expenses, eliminate waste and create efficiencies in the face of a $1.8-billion provincial deficit and very few got off with just a three per cent cut.
“That’s why government feels very strongly that, instead of raising tuitions, it is very reasonable to conclude Memorial University can create some efficiencies, take the $4 million and maintain the tuition freeze,” he said.
One student in attendance was Mary Feltham, 19, of Gander, who is in her second year of a psychology degree.
While she acknowledged she and other students appreciated the opportunity to voice their opinions on the cuts, they are all still disappointed with what she called “resistance to their words” about the negative effects of these issues. She said she’s already seen them firsthand, with intelligent, capable people being forced to leave university because it’s no longer affordable.
“It does upset me to see their opportunities to help change and improve Newfoundland’s future being removed because of these cuts,” she said.
Feltham promised students will not stop speaking out to let people know the cuts are making students concerned for their future and the future of the province itself.
“This was us showing that we are taking action and will continue to take action to make sure that these cuts are restored,” she said.
So he made it happen.
The Advanced Education and Skills minister had heard from several students of a plan for a contingent from the school to show up at his Corner Brook office today, but with the House of Assembly in session, he wouldn’t have been there. He quickly organized a town hall meeting at the university, which was attended by over 60 students who were looking to voice concerns about the cuts to education in the recent provincial budget.
Byrne said the main concerns seemed to be the $14-million cut to the budget of MUN; the change from $140 a week in eligible grants to a system of $100 a week in grants and $40 in loans; and a desire for a continued emphasis on subsidizing the educations of foreign students.
He said he felt the exchange went very well and said he was told afterwards by several students that he provided information they were not aware of before.
In regard to the $14-million cut to MUN’s budget and how it might affect the long-running tuition freeze, Byrne said it is still only a three per cent cut to the university’s $400 million annual budget. Students at the meeting raised the notion of the recently-released “sunshine list” of salaries greater than $100,000 at the university, which Byrne said they referred to as “exorbitant salaries” of some key officials and administrators. He said students requested he step in to ensure the university maintains the tuition freeze with the $4 million that was provided in the budget for tuition freeze funding.
But Byrne said that is out of his hands, as MUN, like all universities in North America, is an autonomous higher education institution that does not take orders from government. He did tell the students it was important for them, as stakeholders, to engage the university to make sure that, instead of cutting academic programs or raising tuition, they might find it fair to say the three per cent budget cut could be absorbed by administration or by creating greater efficiencies.
Byrne also addressed the issue of grant reductions and the reintroduction of a loan system, saying that with MUN’s current tuition totalling $2,250 for an entire academic year, $100 in weekly grants for a full academic year of 33 weeks is still $3,330. He also explained that the $40 loans would be “wiped out” if the student is enrolled in a full-time studies program, take a full course load, pass those courses and graduate.
“That’s an incentive to perform well,” Byrne said.
He also reassured students the tuition freeze money included in the budget was meant to subsidize the education of foreign students as well.
“With all that said, can I tell you Memorial University will freeze tuitions? That will be a decision of Memorial University,” he said.
He added that every government department has been expected to trim expenses, eliminate waste and create efficiencies in the face of a $1.8-billion provincial deficit and very few got off with just a three per cent cut.
“That’s why government feels very strongly that, instead of raising tuitions, it is very reasonable to conclude Memorial University can create some efficiencies, take the $4 million and maintain the tuition freeze,” he said.
One student in attendance was Mary Feltham, 19, of Gander, who is in her second year of a psychology degree.
While she acknowledged she and other students appreciated the opportunity to voice their opinions on the cuts, they are all still disappointed with what she called “resistance to their words” about the negative effects of these issues. She said she’s already seen them firsthand, with intelligent, capable people being forced to leave university because it’s no longer affordable.
“It does upset me to see their opportunities to help change and improve Newfoundland’s future being removed because of these cuts,” she said.
Feltham promised students will not stop speaking out to let people know the cuts are making students concerned for their future and the future of the province itself.
“This was us showing that we are taking action and will continue to take action to make sure that these cuts are restored,” she said.
