Numerous MUNFA members have contacted the MUNFA Executive to communicate their concerns about a Request for Proposals [1] (RFP) issued by the office of the Provost last month to hire an external consulting firm “to develop and implement a comprehensive strategic enrolment management plan”.
The scope of this project includes management of key priorities such as analysis of academic programs, assessment of program sustainability, as well as recommendations on program consolidation and “wind-down where appropriate”. Designing a new enrolment governance model, and budget and resource modelling are additional deliverables noted. We encourage you to review Appendix A of the linked proposal for detailed information. [1]
The three main concerns voiced are that:
- While the RFP describes the consultant as working alongside the University Senate, this request was routed through the strategic procurement office and not through Senate. The oversight of academic programs is a core function of the senate and enrolment planning is normally provided by the office of the registrar.
- An external firm, working under a mandate defined by Senior Administration, will shape recommendations about the future of academic programming at Memorial University. Members are concerned Senate and Academic Staff will be asked to implement those recommendations, not to design them.
- External consultants are being contracted at extra cost amid severe financial challenge to academic programs and for work normally done within the institution. Other examples include the use of external consultants for recent employee survey [2] and to support administrative hiring [3]. At a time when academic staff members are losing their jobs, members have questions and deep concerns about these spending priorities.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out on this issue so far – your communications help us to keep our ASM community informed and support members’ collective action on shared concerns. If you have additional concerns about this RFP or have information you think the MUNFA Executive should be aware of, we encourage you to reach out to us at munfa@mun.ca