MUN President Vianne Timmons’s inbox filled with fair criticism, not vile remarks

On September 2nd, 2021, Memorial University of Newfoundland President Vianne Timmons published an article titled Respect and civility in The Gazette. Timmons says that everyone at MUN needs to work together as “Team Memorial.”

Timmons stated regarding the decision to raise tuition, “I, and other members of my leadership team, received vile, hateful and unacceptable comments.”

A review of emails received by Timmons obtained through an ATIPP request reveals that none of the emails in her inbox are of a vile or hateful nature but fair criticism. It seems that Timmons is weaponizing respect and civility to stifle free speech and debate, which is not acceptable.

See below for some of the emails sent to Timmons:

“Dr. Timmons,

Your response (or your assistant’s response) to my email was extremely disappointing but not surprising. It clearly reflects your process or rather lack thereof: no discussion of either my concerns, possible solutions or the impact of your decision. Put on the blinders and keep going with the least creative or empathic position possible. The young people and families of this province never stood a chance given this approach.

Your belief that MUN is a prestigious university provides further illumination to your decisions. Being 23rd in the country may be difficult to swallow as President, but as the kids say, “it is what it is.” They will leave, and so they should. As I said, this is not a safe place. We are driving out our future leaders. An unfathomably short-sighted solution to fix the problems our generation has made.

Respectfully,

Alanna”

“Hi President Timmons,

What happened with “If tuition goes up, “[you] said, students currently enrolled will pay the same as what they are currently paying.”

You are backing out of a contract that you made yourself. Even then, you have the audacity to claim almost half a million dollars in salary and still expect international students to pay $6000 per semester that they cannot afford. I’m disappointed.

No thanks.

With regards”

“Hi,

If possible, could the tuition increases be reflected in the amount Memorial pays for employees who partake in the financial assistance for credit courses?

The increase of fees has made the tuition portion very relevant in the personal costs to employees taking part in this program. I love that Memorial offers this and only wish to make the program the best it can be as to incentivize more of us to partake.

I also suggested a few years ago that employees should be able to pay biweekly, onto their paycheque, monies that are placed directly to cover extra costs/fees associated with taking courses. This was denied but a short time later, offered to graduate students only. Is this something else that may be considered?

Thank you for your time. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Penny.”

“Is there no other solution? What about an incremental increase for all with a larger increase coming in three years when all current high school students will be enrolled, and people have time to prepare?

I truly implore you to reconsider. I do apologize for the visceral tone of this email, but I cannot overemphasize enough the impact of this decision on those who will not meet the criteria for funding and are not well off but worked agonizing hard to provide based on the belief that things like this don’t happen, not at this level, and not in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Respectfully yours,

P.S. Please do not respond with discussions about funding etc. We do not qualify. We are the group that was not considered. I would respectfully request to reply rather than platitudes that do not apply or help us.”

“Hello Board of Regents and Government Officials,

Before I get into the details, I have a question for all of you: did you vote for or against the tuition raise? If so, why?

I am an alumni of MUN.

However, my university education has provided me skills that are more valuable than an avenue to employment (good thing!). I learned to speak confidently in public, meet people from around the world, explore my queerness in a safe space and develop my world views that I would not have living in rural N.L.

Aside from the immorality of the decision to increase tuition significantly, it is also downright illogical. We will now have tuition which is closer to other universities but in a province where job opportunities are slim, and the cost of living is high. Their facilities are more modern, and they have a broader choice in studies. The beauty of this place is not enough to keep people here. We can see that from the stories on the regular of people who want to immigrate after going to MUNL but are left no choice but to leave.

Government officials:

Our government is putting more money into the dying industry of O&G. It is borderline exploitive to tell workers that jobs will continue to be there and that a transition to a green economy will be supported when the time comes. Your failed attempt to save a percentage of O&G jobs leads our province to sacrifice our public services. It’s clearly starting with MUNL. I fear what is to come of education and health care. There’s an opportunity for making MUNL a focus on green research and retraining to immediately start transitioning the O&G workforce. That will not happen without investment from you. Your priorities are becoming more clear. Governments should not have a goal to be in a surplus. Seeing that as a benchmark for a successful government while in office is dangerous and inhumane. I’ve never been so angry and disappointed.

To all of you:

You are elected. The voter turnout in the Board of Regents election and, more significantly, the provincial election shows how little faith NLers have in the democracy in this province.

I look forward to hearing from you.

“While I understand the massive tuition increase and its subsequent above-inflation indexation wasn’t the Board’s first choice, I just wished you looked for wats to increase the barely inflation-indexed productivity-underachieving exit starting salaries of many youth like me, many of whom don’t even manage to find work in their field of study debt.

It would have made the proposition you try to sell (by telling us it’s still a bargain compared to today’s tuition standards) a little more obvious. A good marketing trick.

Newfoundland and Labrador is already geared up for a population decline. You guys are not good. Alienation towards universities are at an all-time high. Show us stronger, more innovative leadership before we do.

Have a good day.”

“Ms. Timmons,

Education should not only be a privilege for the wealthy. Our youth should not have to pay off their student debt for years afterwards. At least our lower tuition costs provided some compensation for the challenges of living in Newfoundland and Labrador and the lack of present and future opportunities within our province compared to other locations. Most importantly, our youth could be educated at home. There’s no arguing that once our youth leave our province to be educated elsewhere, very few return.

Maybe an increase of a couple hundred dollars a semester and a small increase over the next 5 to 10 years would have been acceptable. Shouldering the previous tuition freeze on our future students is irresponsible and infuriating.”

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

Government’s review process of MUN Act is behind closed doors, says faculty association

The Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA) Executive Committee has come forward with significant concerns regarding the process for the revisions to the Memorial University Act, which is the piece of legislation that governs Memorial University. According to MUNFA, the provincial government is rushing ahead with the legislative review.

Upon meeting with MUN President Vianne Timmons on September 2nd, 2021, the MUNFA Executive discovered that the provincial government has plans to finalize revisions to the MUN Act in the Fall sitting of the House of Assembly. They noted that there seem to be no intentions to hold consultations with parties other than Memorial University’s Board of Regents. After this meeting, MUNFA penned a letter to the Minister of Education Tom Osborne to make their concerns clear regarding the lack short timeline, the lack of consultation, and the lack of transparency around the process.

In their September 15th, 2021, letter, MUNFA brought up MUN’s special obligation to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and that it is the only public university in the province. MUNFA states, “We urge the Government to open this process for further consultation to ensure all stakeholders are heard.”

MUNFA then states that revisions to a piece of legislation as important as the MUN Act “should not be unduly rushed, nor should discussions on it happen behind closed doors. As members of the University community, we hold openness, collegiality, and shared decision-making as core values of the academy. Considering the Memorial University Act has a direct impact on Memorial’s highest governance bodies, the Board of Regents and Senate, these key principles should be reflected in any legislative revision process.”

MUNFA asked the Minister to give their request for broader and meaningful consultation due consideration. MUNFA argues that getting it right is more important than doing it quickly. MUNFA states, “The stakes of getting this process right, and being seen and trusted to get it right, cannot be overstated.”

President Vianne Timmons sent a letter to the Minister of Education on September 16th, 2021. She states that officials from MUN and the Department of Education have been working together to provide input on behalf of Memorial’s Board of Regents. She says, “The responsibility is clearly with the authority of the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents, and … the most appropriate channel for any group internal to Memorial to share concerns or feedback is through the Office of the Board.”

MUNFA’s reaction to Timmons’s letter was to pen another letter to the Minister of Education, which they sent on September 21st, 2021. MUNFA challenged Timmons’s assertion that the Board of Regents is the proper channel for input on revisions to the MUN ACT. They also corrected the notion that MUNFA is an internal MUN group and that they are independent and are the bargaining agent for full-time academic staff members. MUNFA does not report to Timmons or the Board of Regents. MUNFA made it clear that they should be recognized as a distinct voice to the Board of regents along with the other labour unions and student unions at MUN.

MUNFA then points out that Timmons inaccurately reflected their interpretation of their meeting with her about the MUN Act review. Timmons states that the high-level policy direction shared with MUNFA was “well-received in [our] meeting.”

In an interview with NTV News on September 27th, 2021, MUNFA President Josh Lepawsky states, “we’re quite disappointed to see that the discussions on the MUN Act being opened up and proposed revisions to it largely being, you know, rushed through without our consultation until only very recently and largely taking place behind closed doors.”

Lepawsky then says that government should hold public hearings for the considered changes to the MUN Act. He states, “it’s a public institution with many, many stakeholders and it has impacts on you know peoples everyday real lives throughout the province and over very long periods of time so it seems that it would be prudent to open up the legislative process in a way that is as public as the university itself.”

MUNFA plans to send the government their own submission on October 15th, 2021. Minister Osborne states that he looks forward to reading MUNFA’s submission. The university sent a statement to the media saying that the Board of Regents executive committee is the most appropriate channel to discuss revisions to the MUN Act.

See below MUNFA’s letters to the Minister of Education and memo sent to membership:

MUN’s energy costs

A recently obtained ATIPP request reveals Memorial University of Newfoundland’s energy usage costs by month from 2015 to present. See documents below:

MUNL Energy Costs 2015-2022

Grenfell Campus Energy Costs

MUN President Vianne Timmons’s media prep

A recently obtained ATIPP reveals Q&A of possible questions from media at the tuition framework news conference for Memorial University of Newfoundland President Vianne Timmons prepared by the university’s Manager of Communications Dave Sorensen.

See document below:

Q&A re tuition framework news conference

Friday, July 9, 2021

Why are you increasing fees so significantly?

This tuition framework adjustment is necessary given the provincial government’s planned cut of $68.4 million from its annual operating grants to the university over the next five years, ending government support for the tuition freeze in place for the past 20 years.

Why would students come to Memorial with such high fees?

Even with this adjustment, Memorial’s domestic undergraduate tuition fees will remain the most affordable in Atlantic Canada. Fees for international undergraduates will be below the Canadian university average. Memorial still has high-quality programs and will still provide good value for students. With our new Core Science Facility set to open in the fall, we are creating world-leading space for our students, as well.

What benefits will students see from paying so much more?

These tuition changes are intended to offset the reduction in government funding. They are not designed to provide additional resources to the university.

Memorial is an excellent university. We have more than 300 program options, research and experiential learning opportunities for students. Our new strategic plan, Transforming Our Horizons, calls us to renew our focus on the student experience and continually put students at the centre of our decision making.

Also plan to focus on fundraising efforts to support access for NL students in need as well as to recognize student excellence.

Students and others have complained about lavish spending and administrative bloat. Shouldn’t the university cut costs before raising costs for students?

Increasing tuition fees is just one of Memorial’s plan to balance its operating budget; other measures include reducing costs and finding efficiencies. Since 2016 Memorial has implemented $42 million in efficiencies and cost reductions in order to balance its budget. This work to find efficiencies will continue.

There has been a 10.6 per cent reduction in the number of employees since 2015, with 421 fewer employees.

Will the tuition increase offset the reduction in the provincial grant?

The proposed increase in the undergraduate tuition rate is forecasted to provide $54.3 million to the university budget from 2022-23 to 2026-27, in addition to $3.09 million to the Marine Institute. In Budget 2021, the province said it would reduce Memorial’s operating grant byy $68.4 million over the next five years. Memorial will continue to work to reduce costs.

Will you cut high salaries to help balance the budget?

Memorial aims to keep executive salaries at the 50th percentile of comparator markets. Two years ago, we implemented a new salary scale for senior administrators, in most cases significantly reducing salaries for those positions.

Will Memorial still be able to support immigration to this province with tuition so high?

With these changes, tuition at Memorial is still at the low end of Canadian universities. We have an excellent university with committed faculty and staff and we expect international, Canadian, and Newfoundland and Labrador students will still come to Memorial.

How will this increase impact the state of buildings and other infrastructure on campus?

These tuition changes are intended to offset the reduction in government funding. They are not designed to provide additional resources to the university.

Campus infrastructure is an issue at virtually every Canadian university. Through our Campus Master Plan project and the creation of the new Core Science Facility (with $100 million from the Government of Canada and $25 million from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador), we are improving our infrastructure.

We instituted an infrastructure fee a few years ago and that money goes into deferred maintenance and other critical infrastructure needs on all our campuses.

Are you still proceeding with law school plan, despite the precarious state of your finances?

The law school will proceed if it can be demonstrated to be financially self-sufficient. No resources from other units or programs will go towards a school of law.

Dr. Timmons, how can you collect a nearly half-million-dollar salary and ask the province’s most vulnerable and marginalized people more than double their cost to get a university education?

We are protecting vulnerable students by offering bursaries and grants to those in need – and we will be adding more.

Our understanding is that Minister Osborne has a media availability scheduled this afternoon to provide an update on student financial supports.

Important to remember that our domestic tuition is still the most affordable in Atlantic Canada and that our international tuition is below the Canadian university average.

MUN student challenges president on tuition increases and free speech

MUN student Matt Barter and President Vianne Timmons.

Below is a transcript of an exchange between MUN student Matt Barter (Me) and President Vianne Timmons that took place on September 15th, 2021, at a conference on the economic and fiscal trajectory of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Matt Barter: Hello, my name is Matt, and I’d like to start off by saying that I’m a student at MUN in Political Science and Sociology, and I absolutely love Memorial. For me, MUN has always been a school for everyone no matter who you are, and Dr. Timmons talked about Team Memorial; well, you know I can’t be on that team due to the university making the decision to double tuition fees on some of the most vulnerable members in our society and regardless of the increased student aid there are still going to be students who are not going to enter the doors at Memorial. The founding purpose of Memorial was to educate the people of the province. And Dr. Timmons, you talked about your experience and where you come from, your family, and being from a mining family and all that, that experience cannot be denied, that experience is real absolutely, but I think where it’s lost is for the last number of decades you have been apart of the higher classes so to be able to know the struggles of the common people I find it difficult of someone from an upper class to understand the experiences that they are not currently experiencing. And finally, so many students at MUN are upset at the tuition doubling, some students have even gone as far as to ask for your resignation, and there were posters put up on campus, but the university had the staff go around and take down every single one of them, so I was wondering is freedom of speech still a value of Memorial?

Vianne Timmons: Thank you, Matt, for those questions. First of all, I’ll talk about the posters that were around, and we did take them down because we are a campus that honours respectful workplace. If there were posters with our professors on it with the word resign, I would take them down; if there was one with our students on it so that they walk around campus and are uncomfortable and feel not valued and supported, I would take them down. So, they were taken down because they do not honour our respectful workplace policy. I’ve taken a stand that that is; hopefully, we want to make sure that everyone who works at Memorial University or studies there or comes to visit our campus. In terms of the tuition increase, we did have to increase tuition due to the budget challenges that Memorial is facing, but we have kept it the most affordable university in Atlantic Canada, and we also got a major program to look at supports, scholarships, and bursaries for our students and I would say that $6,000 for a term now at a university is the best financial investment anyone can make. And it’s not a big financial investment for many families, and the ones who it is a big investment, we are going to wrap around supports and do our best. Maybe there’s a student who cannot access university cause of finances, but we are going to do everything we can to make sure that we build safety net around all of our students.

Notice of termination served to MUN President Vianne Timmons

Students cannot continue to be left behind, says St. John’s East candidate Mary Shortall

NDP candidate for St. John’s East Mary Shortall sent out a press release on the NDP’s plan to help post-secondary students.

Shortall states that students in Newfoundland and Labrador have been among those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. She points out that post-secondary students were initially left behind when the Liberal government began COVID-19 supports and that it was the NDP who fought to include them. “Students cannot continue to be left behind,” she says.

Shortall then states that “Students are struggling when they graduate, so we want to go beyond just eliminating entirely interest. We want to also forgive student debt to make sure that they’re not being crushed under the weight of that debt.” Shortall says that students are experiencing a record level of debt that is far more debt than many of those around her age group when they went to university.

Shortall states, “we want to encourage our graduating students to stay in the province. We need them to stay in the province – not put them in the position where they are forced to leave.”

Further, Shortall points to the five points of the NDP Plan for young people:

Eliminating interest on federal student loans
Introducing a debt forgiveness program that in the first year alone will wipe out 20% of all student debt
Permanently doubling Canada Student Grants
Building affordable and accessible housing, addressing cell phone and internet costs, introducing pharmacare and investing in childcare
Tackling climate change while creating a green recovery to lift up the next generation

MUN President shouldn’t tell students how to protest, says federal election candidate

NDP Federal election candidate Ray Critch for St. John’s South—Mount Pearl shares his views on post-secondary education.

When asked about the importance of free speech on university campuses, Critch states, “universities work best when they are the sites of rigorous and thoughtful debate and discussion, so generally yes, though certain exceptions for harassment or hate speech should nonetheless be observed on campus as they are elsewhere.”

Concerning the recent event on MUN Campus when President Vianne Timmons had posters asking her to resign torn down, Critch states, “I don’t tell students how to protest, and neither should the President unless those protests are interfering with the functioning of the institution. Posters don’t do that.”

When asked about what role the federal government should play in post-secondary education, Critch states that the federal government is involved through funding of research and student loan programs. However, he says that the federal government could instead provide grants and eliminate loans. According to Critch, this approach would ensure that students do not have to bear the financial burden of their education. He also says that research funding that properly accounts for the cost of graduate work could be done.

Critch states that the federal government could also support students through other programs: “I’m of the view that a basic income should include students, as should pharmacare and dental care, so those would all help students with their other non-education costs.”

MUN’s Communications Plan for Tuition framework changes

A recently obtained ATIPP reveals Memorial University of Newfoundland administration’s communications plan for tuition framework changes.

See below:

CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT

Communications Plan — Tuition framework changes

Version 7 Updated: July 5, 2021

Background

After months of consideration of the university’s financial situation, at the May 12, 2021, meeting of the Board of Regents, the board approved a tuition increase effective fall 2022 with an inflationary factor implemented annually, subject to its approval of the university budget. On May 31, the provincial government brought in its budget and announced the end of government support for the tuition freeze and that the $68.4-million tuition fee revenue offset will be phased out over the next five years. This was a clear signal that Memorial must look at all sources of revenue and develop a new tuition framework to help cover the cost of providing university education.

Following receipt of the budget estimates from the province, the university administration revised the schedule of tuition increases, including a 4 per cent inflationary factor, to exactly offset the reduction in government funding. Note that this tuition framework proposal is not designed to provide additional financial support for students, or additional resources for programming.

On July 8, Memorial’s Board of Regents will vote on this revised proposal from university administration to adjust the current tuition framework for undergraduate courses and for MI certificate/diploma programs. Further, notice will be given of the university’s intention to adjust tuition for some graduate programs.

This plan outlines the communications activities that will happen after the board meeting.

It is anticipated that changes to Memorial’s tuition fee structure will receive widespread local, regional and national media attention and generate significant social media discussion, both positive and negative.

Note: No detailed information about the proposal will be shared by Memorial in advance of the Board of Regents meeting.

Communications approach

Building understanding and support through clear and consistent communications
Remaining empathetic to students concerns while sharing specific information to mitigate issues
Seek endorsements/support from engaged third parties.

Key stakeholders

Current students – This group needs information on how the change will impact them and reassurance that the university is taking steps to mitigate negative impacts, with specific details on the grace period and inflationary increase. In recent years the majority of the student body has not participated in tuition-fee-related activism; for example, petitions to reduce tuition fees in light of online delivery during COVID-19 had limited engagement.

Prospective students and their influencers – This group is most impacted by the change and will require a targeted communications strategy to address their concerns. While this plan includes elements of that strategy, a comprehensive approach is under development by the Registrar’s Office. Prospective students need detailed information about tuition fees for 2022 and beyond; information about bursaries, scholarships and student aid; and information on Memorial’s services and benefits. Influencers include parents/guardians, supporters, loved ones, teachers and guidance counsellors.

Student leaders – The student unions [Memorial University of Newfoundland Students’ Union (MUNSU), the Graduates Students’ Union (GSU); Grenfell Campus Students’ Union (GCSU) and the Marine Institute Students’ Union (MISU)], as well as the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS-NL), are generally opposed to any increases in tuition and other fees. These groups regularly lead student protests against tuition increases. In 2017 some of these students interrupted a Board of Regents meeting to protest. However, student turnout for these protests is typically relatively low (less than 500). It is anticipated the national CFS organization will bring their resources to bear to support CFS-NL and seek national media coverage. A CFS-NL-organized rally in St. John’s on June 26 attracted approximately 150 attendees and generated some media coverage (CBC-NL: Anti-austerity rally-calls on N.L. government to keep tuition freeze; NTV: Students protest end of post-secondary tuition freeze; VOCM: International students feel discriminated against with substantially higher tuition fees). MISU has traditionally been less vocal about tuition issues.

Employees (faculty and staff) – In general, faculty and staff are aware of the impact of the long-standing tuition freeze has had on the institution. Staff are typically not vocal on issues related to tuition and other fees for students. While some will support student leaders, there is an opportunity for employees to address misinformation and be advocates for Memorial.

Unions (faculty and employee) – Typically, MUNFA/TAUMUN/LUMUN stand in solidarity with student unions and would support their activism through commentary and media efforts. NAPE and CUPE typically do not take a stand in such matters.

Alumni and donors – This group likes to be engaged about what is happening at Memorial. They will expect targeted communications outlining the rationale for this approach. On social media, some have spoken out on both sides of the issues and can be expected to continue this conversation, particularly if given the information they need to do so.

Provincial government – Both opposition parties will make this a political issue. The Progressive Conservative Party has focused on Memorial in recent weeks, suggesting that budget cuts, not fee increases, should be the focus. It is reasonable to assume that MHAs from all parties will be contacted by their constituents – including students/parents who do not support this change and would like the tuition freeze to remain in place.

Indigenous governments – Memorial has good relationships with Indigenous groups in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the Inuit of Nunatsiavut, the Innu Nation of Nitassinan, the Southern Inuit of NunauKavut, the Miaqpukek Mi’kmaq First Nation and the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. Many Indigenous students receive band/nation financial support for their studies so it is important to ensure Indigenous governments have information about upcoming changes.

Media: Expect significant media interest, especially among local outlets. Higher education publications University Affairs, Academica, HESA blog, Ken Steele) are likely to cover this as well.

Strategic considerations

Memorial is seen as the vanguard for affordable university education in Canada, particularly among activists who focus on student issues. It can be expected that the decision to increase fees will be met with opposition from these groups. At the same time, there has been growing public commentary about the need for the university to increase fees. Expect extensive public commentary.
Spending at Memorial will be closely scrutinized, with a particular focus on senior salaries and expenses.

Summary of proposal

Effective fall 2022, new domestic undergraduate students (Newfoundland and Labrador and Canadian) will pay $600 per course.
The differential for Canadian students will be removed.
Effective fall 2022, international undergraduate students will pay $2,000 per course,
Effective fall 2022, domestic Marine Institute diploma, advanced diploma and post-graduate certificate students (Newfoundland and Canadian) will pay $600 per course.
The differential for Canadian students will be removed.
Effective fall 2022, International Marine Institute diploma, advanced diploma and post-graduate certificate students will pay $2,000 per course.
Four per cent inflationary factor, reflecting the inflation on goods and services in higher education, will be implemented every fall, beginning in 2022, to the domestic and international rates.
Current students (including new students in fall 2021 and winter 2022 and spring 2022) will pay tuition at the current price per course plus a four per cent annual inflation increase between fall 2022-2025.
Other fees are not included in this proposal.
Graduate program tuition is not included in this proposal at this time.
The Faculty of Medicine is not included in this plan. A multi-year budget is under development that will be presented to the Board of Regents in Fall 2021.

Key messages

Memorial University has announced a new schedule of tuition fees for undergraduate students entering in fall 2022.
With this adjustment, Memorial’s undergraduate tuition will remain the most affordable in Atlantic Canada.
Current students will have a four-year grace period with only inflation-based increases. This includes incoming students in the fall 2021, winter 2022 and spring 2022 semesters.
The fee increase will bring the cost of a Marine Institute diploma of technology/technician diploma, an advanced diploma and post-graduate certificate courses (level 07 and 08), as well as the tuition fees for international students, in line with the costs of undergraduate courses for domestic and international students in other Memorial programs. Depending on the program, the new cost will be about 70-80 per cent of the Canadian average.
This tuition framework adjustment is necessary given the provincial government’s planned removal of the $68.4-million tuition revenue offset over the next five years and the end of government support for the tuition freeze in place for the past 20 years.
Memorial will support access for NL students in need via increased fundraising for bursaries and scholarships that support students in need and recognize high-achieving students.
Increasing tuition fees is just one part of Memorial’s plan to balance its operating budget; other measures include reducing costs. Since 2016 Memorial has implemented $42 million in efficiencies in order to balance its budget. This work to find efficiencies will continue.
The proposed increase in the undergraduate tuition rate is forecasted to provide an additional $54.3 million to the university budget from 2022-23 to 2026-27, in addition to $3.09 million to the Marine Institute.
In 2021 tuition fees represent 15 per cent of the total funding for university education at Memorial, while the current average at other Canadian universities is 46 per cent. When these changes are fully implemented in fall 2026, tuition fees are expected to comprise approximately 35 per cent of Memorial’s funding for university education.
Making this decision now ensures incoming students in fall 2022 have the information they need about the tuition rates they can expect throughout their programs.
Implementing this change to Memorial’s tuition structure is complex and will take time. Over the coming days and weeks, the university will work to ensure all necessary details are considered to address implications for our students. Details will be communicated as they become available.
Memorial will be proposing to increase tuition for some course-based masters programs that do not currently have differential fees. Many of these programs are well below the national average. The Board of Regents will be asked to consider this proposal at its September meeting.

Spokespeople

Dr. Vianne Timmons, president and vice-chancellor — primary spokesperson for overall impact

Dr. Mark Abrahams, provost and vice-president (academic) pro temp — secondary spokesperson for academic-related inquiries

Mr. Kent Decker, vice-president (finance and administration) — secondary spokesperson for inquiries related to budget and administration

Mr. Glenn Blackwood, vice-president (Marine Institute) — secondary spokesperson for inquiries related to Marine Institute

Dr. Ian Sutherland, vice-president (Grenfell Campus) pro temp — secondary spokesperson for inquiries related to Grenfell Campus.

Tactics

Suggested timeline of staged approach to communications based on the assumption that the Board of Regents approves changes to tuition framework on Thursday, July 8

Audience	Tactic	Timing	Materials required
Provincial government	Letter to Premier, Minister of Education, Minister of Health and Community Services	Immediately following Regents meeting, July 8	Letters
Indigenous governments	Letter to leaders from President	Immediately following Regents meeting, July 8	Letters
MLC	Meetings to share details, key messages Call on leaders to be champions, correct misinformation. Via WebEx	9 a.m., July 9	Statement/key messages document?
Student leaders (MUNSU, GSU, MISU, GCSU)	Meeting to discuss Details of proposal/ answer ‘why not’ Vianne Timmons, Mark Abrahams, Glenn Blackwood, Ian Sutherland Via WebEx	10-10:45 a.m., July 9	Statement Table of fees for current students over next 5 years Table of fees for new students as of 2022
Media	News conference/technical briefing Vianne Timmons, Mark Abrahams, Kent Decker, Glenn Blackwood In person	11 a.m., July 9	Speaking notes Powerpoint Media release with key facts/figures
University community	Email message to community (Newsline) Gazette	11 a.m., July 9	Statement
Media	TBD: Gov’t of NL news conference/technical briefing on changes to student aid for NL students in need	TBD
Comms advisors	Meeting to share details, key messages and communications implications	1 p.m., July 9	Key message document
Students (Undergraduate and graduate)	Email message to all students, all campuses explaining what changes mean for them	3 p.m., July 9	Hand out with key facts/figures Cover message/statement
Municipal leaders, donors, friends, provincial chambers of commerce	From the Desk of Vianne Timmons e-newsletter – special edition	3 p.m., July 9	Text
Federal government (NL reps)	Letter to NL representatives from President (NL representatives: Jack Harris, Gudie Hutchings, Yvonne Jones, Ken McDonald, Seamus O’Regan, Churence Rogers, Scott Simms)		Letters
Current + prospective students	Web pages with information about change, FAQs	As soon as possible after decision	Text

Engage key stakeholders/supporters

This tactic aimed at ensuring key external stakeholders are aware of the plan to adjust tuition fees in 2022; have accurate and relevant information; and are able to speak knowledgeably if they choose to do so. Timing: July 10 onwards

Individual/group	Approach
Alex Usher	Share media release
President’s Ambassadors/Advisory Group	Information shared via email from President Timmons
Provincial government deputy ministers	Include in agenda for future presentation from President Timmons at monthly “DM breakfast”
St. John’s Board of Trade executive	Information shared via email from President Timmons
Advisory boards of university units/groups: Faculty of Business Administration Faculty of Engineering MCE Genesis CSE Harris Centre Grenfell Campus Community Marine Institute Advisory Committee The Works/MUNRC	Information shared via email from President Timmons

Image format of document below:

MUN proposes differential tuition for over a dozen graduate programs

A recently obtained ATIPP reveals that Memorial University of Newfoundland has a proposal to implement differential tuition for both new and existing programs. The list includes a total of 13.

Below is the section from the Board of Regents finance committee document titled Tuition Framework:

Graduate Programs (Course-based, Professional)

Since the early 2000s, for all newly-developed course-based, graduate programs, Memorial has introduced differential tuition to offset the cost of delivery for these programs. The revenue attribution model provides 80% of the differential portion of the tuition to academic unit and 20% is retained centrally. Memorial currently has 15 differential tuition programs.

It is now being proposed that some of our existing course-based programs, established prior to 2000, introduce differential tuition to address budgetary erosion, combined with increased delivery costs that have occurred over the past two decades. Many of these programs are well below the national average. For example the two-year, MBA program at Memorial currently costs $5,718 (NL), $7,434 (Can), $9,600 (Int’l). The national average for the same program is approximately $20,500 (Domestic) and $22,200 (International.)

A list of professional/course-based programs being proposed for differential tuition are provided in the attached Appendix A. Several of these are new programs, while others are existing programs. Fully-developed proposals will be submitted to the Board for consideration at its September 2021 meeting.

APPENDIX A

Proposed Graduate Differential Tuition

Faculty of Education

Post Secondary Studies – International NEW

Post Secondary Studies – Student Affairs and Services NEW

M.ED Counselling Psychology NEW

M.ED. Inclusive Education – course route NEW

M.Ed. Inclusive Education – internship route NEW

Ed.D. Doctor of Education NEW

Business

MBA EXISTING

Graduate Diploma (MBA) NEW