MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 5, 2023
Despite Promises, No Academic Staff Representation on Memorial’s Board of Regents
Throughout and following the MUN Faculty Association’s strike in January and February 2023, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador made a commitment to appoint academic staff members to the Memorial University Board of Regents. This was later supported by the passage of amendments to the Memorial University Act in late May receiving Royal Assent through the House of Assembly.
MUNFA was asked in anticipation of this to prepare a list of faculty and staff representatives to serve on the Board by the Minister of Education, John Haggie; who publicly announced these appointments would now be able to happen “without delay”.
Despite this, academic staff members have yet to be appointed to the board.
With the next Board of Regents meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, July 6th, this exclusion means that academic staff members will continue to have no representation in Board of Regents meetings until at least October. This is a gross oversight. Last Thursday, MUNFA sent a letter to Minister Howell to address the ticking clock to Thursday’s meeting and asked for an update on the submitted names for nomination to the Board. This response, of no response, is a clear indication of continuing the status quo.
Appointing academic staff members to the Board of Regents would be a small but significant step towards enhancing the collegial governance of Memorial. It appears that the provincial government is not prioritizing these changes as they had previously indicated. Treating these promises as lip service without action is unacceptable. The government’s reluctance to address this issue promptly suggests that their priorities lie more with upper administration rather than with the faculty, staff, and students who form the backbone of this institution.
MUNFA will be available for comment on this issue. Contact membership.munfa@mun.ca or (709) 730-6581 to schedule media appearances.
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The MUN Faculty Association is the certified bargaining agent for more than 800 academic staff members at Memorial University.
For more information, contact:
Isabel Ojeda, Organizing, Membership Engagement & Communications Coordinator
(709) 730-6581 | membership.munfa@mun.ca
