In an official statement released on Monday, MUNSU has demanded that Memorial puts an end to the cuts affecting both jobs and programs immediately.
This comes after Memorial slashed 107 jobs, including professors and instructors, as well as six diploma and certificate programs, including Newfoundland and Labrador Studies.
This also comes alongside reductions to course offerings this fall semester, and follows Memorial’s divestment of several properties, including the Harlow and Signal Hill campuses.
MUNSU states that these cuts have an overall negative impact on the student experience at Memorial through enlarging class sizes, weakening student support services, and degrading the quality of education for students.
Taqi Yeasir, MUNSU’s Director of External Affairs, calls for change, stating that “Memorial University students are experiencing a combination of higher financial pressure, eliminated positions, discontinued programs, full-to-capacity courses, very large classes, and courses that are not consistently available. Is this the legacy for which our University wishes to be remembered?”
MUNSU has demanded that Memorial: freezes all cuts to staff and faculty, reverses the cuts to various academic programs, and commits to budget transparency through “meaningful, open consultations” with both the student body and local unions on campus.
The Muse received an official statement from Memorial on Tuesday in response to MUNSU’s statement.
They stated that no academic programs have been closed due to budget constraints or cost-saving measures in recent announcements.
“Ultimately, enrolment drives the size and scale of a university, and Memorial must align its workforce with its current and projected enrolment. However, students’ ability to progress through their programs and complete their degrees is not at risk.”
Memorial states that it is “equally committed to ensuring students continue to have access to the support and resources they need to graduate in a timely manner. Vital student and/or academic support services remain available, and more new ones are being created.”
Memorial has “no further broad, university-wide workforce reductions planned this fiscal year. Commitments beyond that timeframe aren’t possible until the university is advised of government funding for 2027-2028 and beyond.”
Memorial is currently negotiating new collective bargaining agreements with five of the unions on campus; MUNFA, TAUMUN, LUMUN, CUPE, and NAPE.