On September 16th, an information session regarding MUN’s faculty structure was hosted by the Faculty and School Structure Review Working Group. The group, chaired by Memorial provost and academic vice-president Dr. Jennifer Lokash, is currently developing suggestions for the future of MUN’s faculty organization.
In a quote featured in the information session’s slideshow, the Board of Regents claim an intention to, “Review the faculty and school structure at Memorial University with an aim to identify opportunities for consolidation and expense reduction, while preserving and enhancing academic and research excellence and delivering on Memorial’s obligation to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Documents and details regarding the matter were shared in the MUN Faculty and School Structure Review Brightspace portal; This includes both the slideshow and speaking notes from the information session.
Illustrative Models
The slideshow provides a general overview of the project and its intentions, including the processes used and future discussion plans. Notably, it also features four graphics which depict potential restructuring models.
Lokash clarifies in the speaker notes how these “are not recommendations, and no decisions have been made.” Instead, she explains that the “models are intended to stimulate discussion, not narrow it.”
The illustrative models featured are named in relation to their respective goals. This includes:
- The Blended model
- The Integrated model
- The Pan-Memorial model
- The Nesting model
The slideshow notes each illustrative model considers a “move away from departments and divisions”. Though each model differs, they all suggest reducing the number of independent units found within Memorial.
The Blended Model
Key changes noted in the blended model suggest integrating Pharmacy under Medicine, as well as combining Education, Music, HKR, and Social Work into a single unit.
The creation of a single unit for the latter grouping would feature “leadership coordination through a rotating Dean or coordinating leader rather than a permanent super-Dean.”
The Integrated Model
This model displays the integration of existing faculties into new units. These “New Integrated Units” feature the following combinations:
- Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Social Work
- HSS and Music
- Science and HKR
This suggestion intends to create schools which handle similarly aligned study areas while still preserving some standalone faculties.
The Pan-Memorial Model
This model would assign each existing faculty to one of three related groupings:
- Health and Allied Science
- Science, Technology, Enterprise and Engineering
- Arts, Education, Society and Culture
The slideshow explains the model intends to further concentrate authority, with sub-units (existing faculties) control becoming more limited.
The Nesting Model
With a slightly different approach than the other illustrative models, this model proposes having host units oversee the needs of nested units. It suggests Business hosting Music, Medicine hosting Pharmacy, Education hosting HKR, and HSS hosting Social Work.
Future of the Project
All proposals are currently in a collaborative discussion phase, with the Working Group hoping to gauge public opinion and suggestions on the matter. They are currently encouraging faculty, staff, students, and other interested parties to read through the Brightspace page and share any feedback until October. 6th, 2026.
Discussions are scheduled to continue throughout the Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 semesters, with all findings to eventually be presented for board consideration.