MUNFA is aware that the Vice-President of Research’s Office and the School of Graduate Studies are piloting a program for co-supervision of PhD students. This program, which has a deadline of August 15, 2019 for applications, will provide successful Academic Staff Members (ASMs) and their student with an award of $10,000.
MUNFA welcomes initiatives to increase funding for ASMs and graduate students. At the same time we have some questions about how this new program is being organized and what its implications might be for any MUNFA members involved in it. At a time when many academic units are facing a lack of faculty renewal and a loss of administrative support even in the face of increased graduate student numbers, this program raises questions as to whether ASMs are being asked to do more work without adequate support or recognition.
MUNFA will be contacting Memorial University’s Vice-President Research, Dr. Neil Bose, to inquire further about this program, and will report back to our members. In the interim, we ask that MUNFA members direct any initial feedback to our office at munfa@mun.ca.
