'Neglect for Memorial' part of Furey's legacy, MUN unions say in calls to increase funding

As Premier Andrew Furey prepares to leave provincial politics, a group of 18 student and labour unions at Memorial University say they want him to think about his impact on the university — and bring back millions of dollars in funding his government cut.

Nicolas Keough, executive director of external affairs for MUN's students' union — one of the members of the group, named The Coalition — said students are worried about the state of the university's infrastructure and feel their physical health is at risk on campus.

Although Keough said Furey has had successes in his tenure as premier, Memorial University isn't one of them.

"If I were to give him a grade for just Memorial, I would say definitely not a good one at all," he said Wednesday. "I just think one of the major, major gaps of his tenure has been the sort of neglect for Memorial."

In March 2021, the province announced it would be phasing out $68.4 million in university funding over a five-year period. The cut was part of of the 2021-22 provincial budget — Furey's second budget as premier.

That money was given annually to the university to maintain a tuition freeze that had been in place since 1999. Tuition increased in 2022 to $6,000 per year for domestic students and $20,000 annually for international students.

Students who were currently enrolled at the university in Fall 2021 didn't pay that increase, but their tuition started increasing by four per cent a year — which will continue until 2026.

Most recently, campus infrastructure was a key element of a hard-hitting report released by Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general in January, in which she found the university had largely ignored nearly $500 million in deferred maintenance liabilities, and misused student money meant to improve facilities.

Lisa Moores, vice president external of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association — another member of The Coalition — said Furey has committed to listening to calls for more funding, but so far that hasn't happened.

"We feel very much like the university is at a tipping point. We're seeing some really big changes that are impacting the quality of the education," Moores said. "We've seen a number of really troubling cuts there, and it's concerning."

It's so concerning, Moores said, that she and other alumni feel current students don't have access to the same quality of education and opportunities past students had.

The group wants Furey to meet with them regarding infrastructure and money, and a letter signed by the unions on Tuesday says the premier made a promise in December that ministers would reach out with a meeting request, but so far that hasn't happened.

"We really want to see good and clear work done, and an opportunity to speak exactly to the folks who can tell you right away where the priorities are," Moores said.

Furey wouldn't do an interview, but Angela Sullivan, communications director with the Education Department, sent an email in which the department referenced its financial support for the university through its main operating grant — almost $300 million, plus $70 million for medical and nursing programs.