The amount of administrative bloat at Memorial University is out of control, and over a year of access to information (ATIPP) requests presents plenty of evidence to support the claim. See below 15 examples:
1. Provost salary increase by 16.5%
First, the position of Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at MUN has increased from a lavish salary of $274,500 when Dr. Noreen Golfman held the position to an even more lavish salary of $320,000 with the appointment of Dr. Florentine Strzelczyk.
Dr. Strzelczyk left the position after just six months for another job as Provost at an Ontario University
2. Search for new Provost costs over $60K
The costs for the search for the new Provost come to a total of $60,990.89 with most of it spent on “professional fees” for a headhunting firm.
3. Over $2 million on Navigate app
Memorial University spent over $2 million on software and an app called Navigate by American-based company EAB.
Institutions are becoming more dependent on outside services. The EAB currently providing data software to MUN is a data mining company with for-profit motives.
4. President claims over $76K in expenses
The total expenses that Memorial University President Vianne Timmons has claimed since taking office in March 2020 was over $76K.
5. Over $34K on consultation fees to Alex Usher
Memorial University paid Alex Usher $34,500 in consulting fees to be part of the Strategic Planning Facilitation Team to produce a five-year strategic plan.
6. New Vice-President (Advancement) with over $200K salary
The salary of Memorial University’s Vice-President (Advancement and External Relations) Lisa Browne at over $200K a year. This was a newly created position.
7. Associate Vice-President with over $160K salary
The salary of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Associate Vice-President (administration and finance) Marine Institute Laurie Skinner at over $160K a year.
8. Executive Director with over $130K salary
The salary of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s new Executive Director of the Office of the Board of Regents, Michelle Snow, at $130,880.
9. President spends over $50K on office renovations
President Vianne Timmons spent over $50K on renovations for her office. The original project budget was $44,800, but then it was increased to $54,450.
The total budget was then increased by $3,530 to $57,980 to finish the remaining work of the addition of sound masking elements and additional furniture pieces.
10. Over $338K on Campus Master Plan
The total costs of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Campus Master Plan from the start of the project to September 30, 2021, was $338,094.69.
11. New Associate Vice-President with over $150K salary
MUN hired Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Research) Violet Ford at $150,684.
12. Over $59K on search for Associate Vice-President
$59,033.84 on the search for an Associate Vice-President (Indigenous research). There were two initial installment fees of $15,525 paid to an external consulting company. There was also a third installment fee for the shortlist of $17,846.42. Additionally, a fourth installment fee of $5,085 to complete the process. There were two payments made for job advertisements: $2,461 and $2,591.42.
13. Over $103K on Economic Impact Assessment
The total amount that Memorial University paid to KPMG firm for the report “Memorial University Economic Impact Assessment” at $103,500.
14. Over $184K on office renovations of senior administrators
The total project cost of renovations to the offices of senior administrators in the University Centre (UC) at $184,974.
15. Over $836K on Perfect Day Productions from October 2016 to May 2022
A total of $836,985.52 outsourcing to the company Perfect Day Productions for film and design work, even though MUN has employees capable of doing such work.
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.
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