2/x The cuts at our university are happening despite the university repeatedly showing that for every $1 of public money put into it, $2 - 4 come out into the broader economy. This tells us that the arguments for cuts are based on 'something' other than evidence.
#munfa #MUN #newfoundland #labrador #postsecondary #university #canada
We knew enrolments would drop if tuition were raised. Data were released today during an employee townhall.
Guess what? We were right (shocker).
See here (2021): https://www.caut.ca/bulletin/news-munfa-fighting-a-doubling-of-tuition-fees-and-pse-cuts-in-newfoundland-and-labrador/
And here for today's data: https://mun.ca/evolve/media/production/memorial/administrative/evolve/Employee-Town-Hall-March-2026-(002).pdf
#munfa #MUN #newfoundland #labrador #postsecondary #university #canada
@jlepawsky For at least double that time, MUN has pursued growth and payouts at the expense of students, and at great cost. Most of the campus is dilapidated, didn't get that way for lack of basic funding.
Meanwhile, should one get the invite, there are fancy dinners where one might learn Campus Enforcement has fancy dress uniforms.
All for education, but MUN management has needed to shape up since the 90s ~ it's tossing good money after bad if they can't even keep the clock tower ticking.
@CowMan We're on the same page, I think.
Good money after bad doesn't square with what the data show though: every $1 dollar into MUN = $2 - 4 dollars out into the economy.
Uni's governance is bad and that's why it would be great if faculty were able to sit on Board of Regents (who make / approve all financial decisions), but that's was barred by law until December 2023.
@jlepawsky The KPMG report does show benefits, but without any reference to opportunity cost. I.e., CONA funding has a higher and faster ROI ... so if it's just dollar in for dollar out, MUN is valuable - but not #1.
The AG report (2025) is scathing; and to walk on campus.. rings true. That is a problem. That is *the* problem.
The 2023 AG report on compensation and admin fee is not as bad, but is also really bad.
MUN needs dollars, yes, concur ~ but they are not well spent.
@jlepawsky my kids are just now getting there, it'd be really great for me if tuition was as low as I had it, or perhaps even as free as my parents had it;
And the MUN academic units and grads remain high quality by my measure;
Would not want to see education meaning going to the mainland, as when MUN started;
So I am sure we probably agree on where things should be.
It's a admin problem, not a dollar problem. Perhaps recent changes will fix this. I hope I am just too cynical. :)
@CowMan We concur 😎
It's the power over those spending decisions that needs to be changed. That's about senior admin and BOR power --- we have to change how those works.
Josh Lepawsky
🇨🇦 CowMan 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 🇲🇽