Memorial University announces major budget cuts, 20 layoffs

Twenty permanent and contracted staff have been laid off from Memorial University, the school's president announced Thursday.

A statement released by MUN president Jennifer Lokash said those employees have already been notified, and that career transition support is available. 

The university has also eliminated the operating budget for the Harris Centre, which served as a hub for research and public policy analysis in St. John's. It was also the home of the annual Newfoundland and Labrador Vital Signs report. 

While the operational funding is gone, Lokash stated grant-funded projects at the Harris Centre will continue until the end of each contract.

The Office of Public Engagement in St. John's will close as well.

Lokash wrote that the university is "facing challenges that necessitate new ways of thinking and bold action."

The writing centre on the St. John's campus, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary, will merge its services with others within the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. 

MUN says its budget, which was reduced by $20.85 million in base expenditure, also led them to cut any vacant permanent positions, and it will reduce contract teaching in coming years. 

"Achieving this significant and necessary reduction in expenses to align spending with revenue necessitates difficult decisions to ensure the long-term sustainability of our university," Lokash wrote.

The president added in her statement that expenses related to travel and materials will be reduced, as will budgets for internal funding programs. 

A one-time payment of $3.9 million was allocated to fund as many as 363 additional course sections.

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