Cuts to MUN spending will be offset by higher student debt, leaders say

Signage for Memorial University in St. John’s is shown on Monday, January 30, 2023. (Paul Daly/The Canadian Press)

A new cut to to the tuition offset grant to Memorial University will be a tougher burden for people enrolled in courses, student leaders say.

The Newfoundland and Labrador budget included $298 million to be allocated to MUN for its core operating grant, $70 million for the Faculty of Medicine, and the continuation of three satellite sites from the Faculty of Nursing.

Memorial University said the decrease to the tuition offset grant "aligns with the planned $68.4-million reduction over five years announced in 2021."

However, student unions responded with frustration.

"I think it is an extremely disappointing budget for students," said John Harris, Memorial University Student Union's director of external affairs.

"What we're looking at is an almost $14-million cut to the tuition offset grant, continuing the Liberal's plan to defund the only public university and pass on the debt of this province to students."

Mary Feltham, the chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Newfoundland and Labrador, said that the budget was disheartening.

"We see that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is continuing to commit to the destruction of post-secondary education by taking money away from students with the tuition offset grant, and putting it into the hands of Memorial administration," she said.

Mary Feltham chairs the Canadian Federation of Students-Newfoundland and Labrador. (Submitted by Mary Feltham)

In July 2021, after the provincial government announced it would phase out just over $68 million allocated for tuition, the university announced it would end its 22-year-long tuition freeze. During the freeze, full-time tuition for students in Newfoundland and Labrador was $2,550 per year, which was among the lowest amounts in Canada.

Now, yearly tuition for domestic undergraduates is $6,240.

MUN says 'no surprises'

In a statement, Memorial president Neil Bose said the new budget "did not include any surprises" for the university. "There is no intention to change the current tuition structure for students," he said.

John Harris is Memorial University Student Union’s director of external affairs. (Submitted by John Harris)

Chad Pelley, Memorial's manager of communications and media relations, said the fees are "designed to build up and replace the planned cuts to the university's operating budget."

To deal with the shortfall, the university is now asking its leaders to "find additional savings" in their budgets.

"As part of that work, we've asked units to model what a 3 per cent decrease would mean in their unit for the upcoming year."

Harris said Bose and other university leaders "should be honest with the situation the provincial government is putting them in," and recognize the burden that students will need to carry.

"I think the president should be advocating for his students," he said. "Presidents of Memorial in the past have advocated for more funding and a more student-positive approach."

Feltham said MUN's response is infuriating. "We've already seen a drop in enrollment at Memorial University."

After the tuition hike in 2022, MUN saw a 19 per cent decrease in new students.

Feltham also thinks that the university might impose more fees even though it has stated it won't be raising tuition any further.

Furey promised re-evaluation

In April 2023, Premier Andrew Furey promised to re-evaluate tuition freeze funding.

Feltham said that this promise did not come to fruition.

"They are remaining to their commitment to defund," she said. "They have continued this trend of saying they will work with us and re-evaluate and listen to our concerns, but then they don't come through on their promises or commitments."

Harris said post-secondary education is becoming "something that only a few can afford," and that society is becoming less equal.

Harris said, "I think that if the revaluation has happened, it has not been thought through well enough.… Andrew Furey needs to imagine what the legacy of his government is. The government doubled tuition for young people, and made it harder for people to get an education."

MUNSU is planning a town hall with the president and the leaders of all political parties to discuss issues related to funding.

Feltham also said that the government can expect that CFS-NL will continue to hold it accountable.

"We will ensure that decision-makers know that they have no option but to fund education," Feltham said.

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