Grenfell professor hopes campus won't be 'lost in the shuffle' as it loses its own VP

An assistant professor at Memorial University's Grenfell Campus hopes the loss of its own vice-president won't mean the end of autonomy at the west coast campus.

"We are deeply concerned about what this could mean for our fiscal autonomy, our programming autonomy, and really, education on the west coast," Rachel Jekanowski, who is also part of MUN's Faculty Association, told CBC News on Thursday.

"There's so much happening here. And there is a real, and I would say understandable concern, that [Grenfell] will get lost in the shuffle."

Under changes to MUN's leadership structure announced earlier this week, Grenfell Campus lost its own vice-president. Effective March 1, the school will have a deputy provost — which it will share with the Labrador Campus — reporting directly to university president Janet Morrison.

The Corner Brook campus has had its own vice-president since 2010. The role was most recently held on an interim basis by Ken Jacobsen.

Autonomy at Grenfell is important, Jekanowski said, as the campus is a key economic driver for the west coast of Newfoundland and home to the only fine arts institution in the province.

"We just want to make sure students are front and centre in these conversations, and that we can continue to deliver high quality and accessible education," she said.

Morrison visited the campus on Wednesday to speak directly with staff and students about the change in structure.

Speaking to CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning on Friday, the president was asked if Grenfell will retain the same level of autonomy.

“I balk a little bit about the notion of autonomy. There is one Memorial University. We have one budget. We have one line of accountability to the provincial government," she said.

“What we always talk about, and what I observe every time I am in Corner Brook, is the unique identity of Grenfell Campus. And that identity is paramount. It needs to be respected, it needs to be maintained.”

Morrison said the changes were made in response to concerns raised repeatedly by staff, students and the general public — concerns about uneven leadership, accountability gaps and duplication of roles.

The vice-president of finance, for example, did not have full responsibility for finances at the Grenfell and Labrador campuses under the previous administrative structure, she said. That will now change, eliminating what she calls "duplication in silos."

Morrison said she'll continue to be heavily involved in the Grenfell Campus moving forward.