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Gazette Memorial 1 University of Newfoundland Volume 22 Number 16 April 6, 1990 Hiring freeze continues, new cuts announced Balancing university budget difficult Despite an apparent increase of approximately six per cent in operating funds, Memorial is experiencing difficulty in striking a balance in its budget. Earlier, Dr. Leslie Harris, president, announced an interim hiring freeze and now he says further measures are being taken to make up the difference. "We have eliminated approximately $4 million from capital operating costs and many of the projects we have had to drop are of critical importance," he said. "These include such things as roof repairs, road improvements, classroom renovation, replacement of desks and other classroom equipment, repairs to tunnels and other necessary projects." Considerable shortfall "We have eliminated a further $3.5 million from requests for faculty and staff appointments and replacements. Again, all of these appointments were deemed by the deans and directors as being necessary and essential. "Having done all that, we are still considerably short of balancing the budget and we are now looking at programs and operations" said the president. A committee of university officials has spent the last few weeks preparing a thorough analysis of the budget in an effort to determine the extent of the shortfall and possible areas where cuts could be made. Cutting back, raising revenue "The review is still ongoing but we have to fmd the means to affect a balance in the budget that we present to the Board of Regents later this month," said Dr. Harris. "In addition to cutting back we also have to look at revenue-generating mechanisms such as raising tuition, which is a possibility. But other than that we have very limited options." This is not the first time that Memorial has experienced budgetary restraint. "It seems to happen every year," said Dr. Harris, "and it gets worse, mainly because our base budget has never been sufficient "This year, the difficulty has been compounded because the base has been further deflated through an accident of timing." Dr. Harris explained: "Towards the end of the 1988-89 fiscal year, the government provided a $1.5 million addition to our capital account. This sum could not, however, be spent in that fiscal year and was carried over to 1989-90. In consequence, the actual government grant for 1989-90 was $1.5 million greater than the official figure upon which our increase for the current year is based. Thus, while the increase for the current year is apparently 6.45 per cent, it is in actual terms only 4.91 per cent," he said. Inflation higher "Further compounding the problem is the fact that the inflation rate for many university consumables, and particularly the carry-over effect of last year's large salary increases, is considerably higher than the increase in the standard consumer price index. "Moreover, there has been growth in new programs, such as pharmacy and fine arts, and our physical space, notably extensions to the medical school and the opening of the CERR building. "In short," said the president, "our costs have grown much more rapidly than our revenue." Price to pay Inadequate funding, said Dr. Harris, is reflected in the ability of the administration to provide services and facilities for students. "The fabric of the place suffers," he said. "Old plant and equipment which breaks down, the deteriorating quality of the classrooms and classroom materials, desks, audio visual equipment, the lack of space for recreation and social activities — these are some of the prices we pay when we cut back." NSERC grants approved Research funding exceeds $4 million Memorial researchers in a variety of disciplines will receive in excess of $4 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as a result of the February 1990 competition. A total of 181 projects have been approved for funding which includes operating grants, conference and infrastructure support and grants for equipment. Two additional projects are still pending approval. Dr. Niall Gogan, Memorial's associate vice-president (research), says the operating grant total represents a five per cent increase over last year's level. "It was a good performance this year, particularly on the operating side of things," says Dr. Gogan. "The funding increase we received was a little better than the national average so this is encouraging. "We could have done better in equipment funding, but that is something which fluctuates from year to year. Last year, our equipment funding was up, this year it is down. Funding of that nature tends to go in cycles. However, the real measure of health of the university's research program is operational funding and here we are very competitive." Dr. Gogan noted that Memorial receives approximately $23 million a year for research projects and that the NSERC funding represents the largest single amount "It is the biggest sum from any single funding agency and its dispersal is very wide among a total of 16 departments. Some departments do proportionately better than others and there are areas where we could do better, but in general the quality of our faculty and the work they are undertaking usually guarantees a good success rate in NSERC competitions." Workshop planned In an effort to enhance researchers' opportunities to receive NSERC funding in future, Dr. Gogan says a workshop is being planned for May. "This will primarily be to provide information to Memorial science and engineering researchers on NSERC funding, how to better prepare funding requests and, overall, how to successfully apply for grants, for continuation of funding and how to improve grants," he said. The Office of Research will organize the workshop and has invited NSERC officials to participate as well. For further details of the 1990 NSERC grants, see Research, p. 10. Those special graduates! During their recent tour of Russia, students congregate in Novgorod on the steps of an 18th-century Russian Orthodox church, built in the village peasant style. (L-R, clockwise): Steve Bonnell; Denise McGrath; Rhonda Wiseman; Rod Squires; Jeff Gillingham; Aiden Markin; Aisling Gogan; and Duke Newhook. For our special convocation issue, the Gazette needs information on graduates who are unique, who have overcome obstacles, who have accomplished the extraordinary — in essence, graduates who are different from most others. Whatever the cir cumstances, we want to know about it and let the rest of the university comni ■- «i the story. If you have such information, please contact the editor by calling 737- 8665, or drop off your suggestion at our offices, A1024. INSIDE Molecular activity of drugs studied 2 Telephone registration 2 SCHOLARSHIP SUPPLEMENT listings, features 5-8 NSERC awards 10
Object Description
Title by Date | 1990-04-06. MUN Gazette, vol. 22, no. 16 |
Publisher | Memorial University of Newfoundland |
Place of Publication | St. John's (N.L.) |
Date | 1990 |
Physical Description | ill. |
Description | The official newspaper of Memorial University of Newfoundland. |
Subject | Memorial University of Newfoundland--20th century--Periodicals |
Note | Range: 1968-present, biweekly during the university year and monthly during June, July and August. |
Indexed In | Newfoundland Periodical Article Bibliography |
Location | Canada--Newfoundland and Labrador--Avalon Peninsula--St. John's |
Time Period | 20 Century |
Type | Text |
Resource Type | Periodical |
Format | image/jpeg; application/pdf |
Language | eng |
Collection | MUN Gazette newspaper |
Sponsor | Centre for Newfoundland Studies |
Source | Print text held in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies. |
Repository | Memorial University of Newfoundland. Libraries. Centre for Newfoundland Studies |
PDF File | (3.59 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/mun_gazette/MUNGaz_V22N16.pdf |
Description
Title by Date | Cover |
Description | MUN Gazette, Vol. 22, No. 16 (April 6, 1990) |
PDF File | (3.59MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/mun_gazette/MUNGaz_V22N16.pdf |
Transcript | Gazette Memorial 1 University of Newfoundland Volume 22 Number 16 April 6, 1990 Hiring freeze continues, new cuts announced Balancing university budget difficult Despite an apparent increase of approximately six per cent in operating funds, Memorial is experiencing difficulty in striking a balance in its budget. Earlier, Dr. Leslie Harris, president, announced an interim hiring freeze and now he says further measures are being taken to make up the difference. "We have eliminated approximately $4 million from capital operating costs and many of the projects we have had to drop are of critical importance," he said. "These include such things as roof repairs, road improvements, classroom renovation, replacement of desks and other classroom equipment, repairs to tunnels and other necessary projects." Considerable shortfall "We have eliminated a further $3.5 million from requests for faculty and staff appointments and replacements. Again, all of these appointments were deemed by the deans and directors as being necessary and essential. "Having done all that, we are still considerably short of balancing the budget and we are now looking at programs and operations" said the president. A committee of university officials has spent the last few weeks preparing a thorough analysis of the budget in an effort to determine the extent of the shortfall and possible areas where cuts could be made. Cutting back, raising revenue "The review is still ongoing but we have to fmd the means to affect a balance in the budget that we present to the Board of Regents later this month," said Dr. Harris. "In addition to cutting back we also have to look at revenue-generating mechanisms such as raising tuition, which is a possibility. But other than that we have very limited options." This is not the first time that Memorial has experienced budgetary restraint. "It seems to happen every year," said Dr. Harris, "and it gets worse, mainly because our base budget has never been sufficient "This year, the difficulty has been compounded because the base has been further deflated through an accident of timing." Dr. Harris explained: "Towards the end of the 1988-89 fiscal year, the government provided a $1.5 million addition to our capital account. This sum could not, however, be spent in that fiscal year and was carried over to 1989-90. In consequence, the actual government grant for 1989-90 was $1.5 million greater than the official figure upon which our increase for the current year is based. Thus, while the increase for the current year is apparently 6.45 per cent, it is in actual terms only 4.91 per cent," he said. Inflation higher "Further compounding the problem is the fact that the inflation rate for many university consumables, and particularly the carry-over effect of last year's large salary increases, is considerably higher than the increase in the standard consumer price index. "Moreover, there has been growth in new programs, such as pharmacy and fine arts, and our physical space, notably extensions to the medical school and the opening of the CERR building. "In short," said the president, "our costs have grown much more rapidly than our revenue." Price to pay Inadequate funding, said Dr. Harris, is reflected in the ability of the administration to provide services and facilities for students. "The fabric of the place suffers," he said. "Old plant and equipment which breaks down, the deteriorating quality of the classrooms and classroom materials, desks, audio visual equipment, the lack of space for recreation and social activities — these are some of the prices we pay when we cut back." NSERC grants approved Research funding exceeds $4 million Memorial researchers in a variety of disciplines will receive in excess of $4 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as a result of the February 1990 competition. A total of 181 projects have been approved for funding which includes operating grants, conference and infrastructure support and grants for equipment. Two additional projects are still pending approval. Dr. Niall Gogan, Memorial's associate vice-president (research), says the operating grant total represents a five per cent increase over last year's level. "It was a good performance this year, particularly on the operating side of things," says Dr. Gogan. "The funding increase we received was a little better than the national average so this is encouraging. "We could have done better in equipment funding, but that is something which fluctuates from year to year. Last year, our equipment funding was up, this year it is down. Funding of that nature tends to go in cycles. However, the real measure of health of the university's research program is operational funding and here we are very competitive." Dr. Gogan noted that Memorial receives approximately $23 million a year for research projects and that the NSERC funding represents the largest single amount "It is the biggest sum from any single funding agency and its dispersal is very wide among a total of 16 departments. Some departments do proportionately better than others and there are areas where we could do better, but in general the quality of our faculty and the work they are undertaking usually guarantees a good success rate in NSERC competitions." Workshop planned In an effort to enhance researchers' opportunities to receive NSERC funding in future, Dr. Gogan says a workshop is being planned for May. "This will primarily be to provide information to Memorial science and engineering researchers on NSERC funding, how to better prepare funding requests and, overall, how to successfully apply for grants, for continuation of funding and how to improve grants," he said. The Office of Research will organize the workshop and has invited NSERC officials to participate as well. For further details of the 1990 NSERC grants, see Research, p. 10. Those special graduates! During their recent tour of Russia, students congregate in Novgorod on the steps of an 18th-century Russian Orthodox church, built in the village peasant style. (L-R, clockwise): Steve Bonnell; Denise McGrath; Rhonda Wiseman; Rod Squires; Jeff Gillingham; Aiden Markin; Aisling Gogan; and Duke Newhook. For our special convocation issue, the Gazette needs information on graduates who are unique, who have overcome obstacles, who have accomplished the extraordinary — in essence, graduates who are different from most others. Whatever the cir cumstances, we want to know about it and let the rest of the university comni ■- «i the story. If you have such information, please contact the editor by calling 737- 8665, or drop off your suggestion at our offices, A1024. INSIDE Molecular activity of drugs studied 2 Telephone registration 2 SCHOLARSHIP SUPPLEMENT listings, features 5-8 NSERC awards 10 |