On behalf of the Memorial University Students’ Union (MUNSU), I feel it necessary to communicate directly to decision-makers and the general public on our shared priorities arising from the recent tuition freeze announcement.
To make MUNSU’s stance clear, A tuition freeze has been a key priority in our organization’s work since the initial hike in Fall 2022. Such a move today would undeniably offset the cost of living for thousands of students during an affordability crisis, something felt heavily by a large portion of our 11,000 undergraduate members. There are nonetheless concerns regarding additional and necessary commitments to make this effective.
The financial sustainability of Memorial University is something we all have paid utmost attention to in our work. The deficit the University finds itself in is an indisputable reality, so the question that remains is how exactly a tuition freeze will be offset.
It is our fear that Government forcing the hand of the Board of Regents to enact a freeze without additional funding will have unintended consequences regarding further contractions to student programming, faculty/job security, infrastructure, etc. As an important partner in the Coalition of Campus Unions, MUNSU recognizes all of these parameters as integral to student success.
The goal is to not just freeze tuition, but also to increase the operating grant of the University to avoid negative repercussions. In a previous discussion I had with Premier Wakeham, he had stated he is “not afraid to increase funding”, so at this time we now require a clear commitment to do so.
It has been said on Government side that they will not allow students to brunt the cost of MUN’s financial shortcomings. While we agree with this sentiment, I cannot stress enough how I view no increase to operational funding in light of this announcement as only exacerbating such financial constraints.
I would like to also bring your attention to the 14 January VOCM Question of the Day that asked “Do you support government’s decision to freeze tuition at MUN?” where 65% of respondents voted yes.
This clearly shows that taxpayers view students as valuable investments to the future of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Freezing tuition is an economically necessary decision, a smart decision, and a popular decision.
With careful consideration, MUNSU urges collaboration between all decision-makers to advance a shared and sustainable vision for the future of Memorial University which puts student success first.
A tuition freeze is now a Government promise to students and the general public, now is the time for effective delivery.
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