These changes will not address the budget shortfall for this year. They are an operationally manageable approach to begin the change process at Memorial. 

The budget shortfall for 2024-2025 is expected to be $9.4 million from tuition revenue. With anticipated other shortfalls, such as special fees, we anticipate a budget shortfall of about $12 million.

There are no plans for an early or voluntary retirement program.

The pension plan is a separately trusteed plan and is administered separately from the university's operating budget. The budget update has no bearing on the pension plan or its funding. The pension plan is covered by the Memorial University Pensions Act. 

No.

We meet regularly with government to discuss a number of topics and support for Memorial is something we are always advocating for. Changing federal restrictions for international student visas, a reduction in Memorial’s tuition offset grant and increasing inflationary costs have created this situation that requires decisive action to protect Memorial’s academic mission.   

In the short- to long-term, focused discussions need to occur around the future direction of Memorial University, its strategic priorities and structural changes.  

We know that this will require both cost-cutting measures and investments to ensure the academic mission of the institution is maintained and supported as efficiently as possible.    

In the coming weeks and months, we will be looking to the university community for serious and bold ideas for Memorial’s future. 

In the coming weeks and months, we will be looking to the university community for serious and bold ideas for Memorial’s future. We will require both cost-cutting measures and investments to ensure the academic mission of the institution is maintained and supported as efficiently as possible.  What that looks like will be part of our longer- term plans. 

Our plan is to develop long-term plans collaboratively and with input from the university community.  There isn’t currently a plan in place to assess academic programs. However, we need to ensure a positive, innovative environment and create a forward-looking university that is responsive to student needs, fiscal realities, enrolment changes and the needs of the province. 

The short-term measures just announced do not include unit funding cuts. 

We are putting various processes in place to deal with the hiring pause and carryover restriction. We have plans in place for a Senior Leadership Council planning day to discuss these topics and the future of Memorial. We are in the process of setting up opportunities for faculty, staff and students to contribute to the budget discussions in the near future. 

Guidelines are currently being developed. The intention is to make processes as similar to current processes as possible. For example, exemptions to the limited hiring program for administrative roles, for example, will follow the justification to hire process, flowing through the unit head, dean/director and vice-president. The extra step will be the requirement to go for approval to the President’s Executive Council. 

There are no current layoffs planned. We will be working hard to envision a new Memorial. Currently, there are measures in place to ensure due diligence and awareness of budgetary issues. 

Questions about specific roles should be directed to deans/directors of that unit. In general, although the limited hiring program restricts hiring new/vacant administrative permanent and contractual positions, tenured, tenure-track, and new regular-term appointments on all campuses, a process will be put in place to assess positions deemed necessary to support teaching and learning and operational needs.   

Yes, regular work continues.  

Extension of current non-academic contracts may continue with appropriate diligence. This diligence should include whether or not the positions are budgeted.  

There are currently a number of searches and recruitment activities ongoing; those that have already been advertised will continue through the hiring process.    

Although the limited hiring program restricts hiring new/vacant administrative permanent and contractual positions, tenured, tenure-track, and new regular-term appointments on all campuses, a process will be put in place to assess positions deemed necessary to support teaching and learning and operational needs.   

Vacant permanent positions will need to go through the exemption process in order to be filled.  

Secondments are contracts that can be extended with due diligence. If a contract is to be converted into a new permanent position, it would need to go through the exemption process.  

Contract renewals are permittable. We are asking units to ensure that they review extensions with this budgetary constraint lens.  

Any positions externally (e.g. grant) funded are not subject to the limited hiring program and will continue to be filled as normal. 

No. They will be reviewed with due diligence with the lens of budgetary constraints.  

Contract extensions are permitted but units should consider the need for the extension in light of budgetary constraints.  

The majority of employees with contracts ending Dec. 31, 2024, should have received confirmation of extension at this point. If they have not, they should contact their manager to discuss further. Contracts are not impacted by the limited hiring program. 

Contract extensions should follow the usual process of review. We are asking units to ensure appropriate diligence is given when looking at renewal, given our current budgetary constraints.  

There is need for investment in order to help modernize administration. We will be gathering input from the university community on how we can work collaboratively to maintain a positive, innovative environment. There is an exemption process in place, in part, to avoid this scenario. We cannot continue to do the same with less.  

The motion from the board is to: “Institute a limited hiring program in new tenure track and new regular-term appointments and new/vacant administration permanent and contractual positions, to be evaluated April 30, 2004.” Recognizing that there will be critical positions that will need to be filled, a process is being  put into place to provide exemptions to this directive.  

A secondment is a contract which means it can be extended.   

No. It is a pause on hiring of certain positions with an exemption process in place. Hiring new/vacant administrative permanent and contractual positions, tenured, tenure-track, and new regular-term appointments on all campuses as well as to Marine Institute instructors and research scientists is restricted. A process will be put in place to evaluate new position requests that are necessary to support the mission of the university. 

New and vacant positions are paused. Exemptions to fill a new or vacant position will have a process to go through for approval.    

Extensions to contracts are not paused. As always, units are to review extensions carefully, considering things such as:  

1. The position either directly supports operational needs or deliverables which cannot be deferred.
2. The impacts of not extending the contract are significant and are deemed unacceptable 

We encourage all ideas to ensure Memorial continues as a viable and innovative institution.  

Searches that have been paused due to the Indigenous verification policy will be paused until a policy is in place. That policy will not be in place before April 30, 2025.

This is part of the discussion that we must have over the next few months.