Matt Barter

A recently obtained ATIPP reveals Memorial University of Newfoundland Vianne Timmons’s notes for CBC’s radio program CrossTalk. The notes were prepared by MUN’s Associate Director of Communications Meaghan Whelan, which is evident by here email communication to Timmons:

“I’ve attached a document for Cross Talk today. This has some facts and figures that should be helpful for answering questions as well as filling time between calls.”

See below for file titled Cross talk July 16 vFINAL.docx:

Notes for Crosstalk — Adam Walsh, CBC, will call your cell phone just before noon on Friday, July 16.

Finding efficiencies

By legislation, Memorial is required to maintain a balanced budget. The university has implemented a number of changes since 2012 to find efficiencies of $42 million in order to balance its budget. This includes:

• Reducing the total number of employees by 432 since 2015 (a reduction of 11 per cent).

• Reviewing salary scales, including a 2019 review of senior administrator salary scales. That review led to a number of reductions and changes.

• The increase in Memorial’s consolidated financial statements reflect our operating budget as well as our research (and other) budgets. Research funding comes primarily from the federal government granting councils and private industry. This funding is used for research assistants, equipment, student funding and fieldwork. The province would not have that funding or the calibre of research that is happening here without the university.

Supporting students

• Met with and consulted students before the decision was made.

• The new tuition framework minimizes financial impact on current students – just 4% annual increase starting in Fall 2022.

• Making the announcement now allows enough time to inform future students what to expect.

• Memorial awards more than $4.5 million in undergraduate student scholarships annually. We will be increasing our fundraising for bursaries and scholarships over the next several years to further support our students in need.

More than affordability

For Canadian students, Memorial will still have the most affordable tuition in Atlantic Canada, and for international students Memorial’s tuition will be below the Canadian average.

However, Memorial’s strengths are much more than affordability. In a 2020 survey of undergraduate applicants said the main reason they applied to Memorial was the programs available, not tuition.

Unique programs:

• The only co-op program in Ocean and Naval Architectural engineering in the world.

• Canada’s only MBA in social enterprise and entrepreneurship.

• The only Anglophone university in Canada to offer comprehensive folklore programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

• Canada’s first joint degree in music and business.

• The first master of occupational health and safety degree in Atlantic Canada.

• The only four-year bachelor of fine arts (theatre) degree in Atlantic Canada with options in acting or theatre production.

High-Quality Student Experience:

• 16:1 student-faculty ratio (one of the best in Canada)

• 450+ courses specially designed for online

• 1,600 co-op placements and internships around the world

• 50+ Rhodes Scholars educated at Memorial

• Many individuals affiliated with Memorial are nationally and internationally recognized, including:

                   31 fellows of the Royal Society of Canada

                   21 Canada Research Chairs

                   19 fellows of the Canadian Academy of Engineering

                   13 fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences

Internationalization

Memorial is privileged to be able to bring together students, faculty and staff from Canada and other countries, building mutual respect, cultural understanding and meaningful relationships. That’s why Memorial is committed to internationalization, international co-operation, student mobility and cultural sensitivity.

• International students are a very important, and valued, part of our campus community.

• The increase to tuition for international students reflects the actual cost of providing university education to them. Canadian students’ university education is (still) heavily subsidized by taxpayers’ dollars, keeping their tuition fees lower.

Research

• $130M in research funding attracted last year.

• Research benefits all students, undergraduate and graduate, as well as the province.

• One of the top 20 research universities in Canada.

• Memorial is the only source of high-calibre research in the province. We are generating new knowledge that it has impact worldwide.

• 40% of our research is ocean-related research.

• Memorial is a partner with the Ocean Frontier Institute, a $220 million collaborative research initiative aimed at harnessing the vast potential of the world’s ocean. Memorial is also part of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, a private sector-led partnership using innovation and commercialization to drive increased sustainable economic growth from our oceans.

• Memorial has been recognized with numerous awards and honours for meaningful contributions to society. The Arctic Inspiration Prize, SSHRC Impact Award (including Gold Medal and Insight Award), Governor General’s Innovation Award (2018 and 2019), and the UN’s Climate Solution Award are just a few of the national and international accolades that demonstrate Memorial’s place as a global research university.

Other benefits to the province

• According to Stats Canada, an undergraduate degree in this province increases median annual earnings by 113 per cent for women and 66 per cent for men.

• Ranked 9th in Maclean’s magazine’s top comprehensive universities ranking.

• A global network of almost 100,000 accomplished alumni throughout the world strengthens Memorial University’s capacity and reputation (and NL’s) for leadership in research, teaching and public engagement.

See below for file in image format:

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.