Gazette, 1998-12-10

              jj§ Memorial
W/B University of Newfoundland
Publications Mail
Registration No. 551 988
31 Number 9
A MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND PUBLICATION
December 10, 1998
University submits
budget request
By Peter Morris
Memorial University is seeking an
increase in its annual operating
grant from government for the
pcxl fiscal year. According to Dr. Arthur
1 trial's president, the univer-
,■: request was presented to gov-
week.
requesting an increase in Ihe
rating grant from government for the
1-2000 fiscal year." said Dr. May. "We
1 this to offset a projected deficit
our revenues and expenditures that
about primarily as a consequence of
id fixed costs. In calculating the uni-
k-ds for the next year we've
on the assumption that enrolments
remain stable and that there will be no
ton fee increases."
though the university's last government
HS pro\ ided for a three-year period.
[ay said .Memorial was only requesting
it for line year this time around.
"There are too many variables that come
into play next year lhat will affect the costs
Lo the university," he said. "The most significant among these arc the faculty collective
agreement which expires on Aug. 31, 1999
and the largest staff onion agreement which
expires on Sept. 30, 1999. Since salaries
represent our largest expenditure, the
upcoming negotiations could have significant impact on the university's future financial position."
Dr. May said the amount of the
increase requested in the grant is still the
subject ol' discussion between government
and Lhe institution. Last year. Memorial
received around $99 million from the
provincial government in an operating
grant (excluding Lhe Faculty of Medicine,
which is funded separately).
"We will need significantly more than
that if we are to meet our legislated obligation to balance our annual budget," said die
president.
Memorial offers BTech.
to Ontario college
Memorial University and Cambrian College of Sudbury,
Ontario, signed an agreement
fee. 7 which will see a Bachelor of Tech-
fdGgy program developed by Memorial's
Itteries and Marine Institute being taught
ro&tance education. Tlie degree program
fill be fully supported at Cambrian's cam-
jhs in Sudbury.
This is a unique arrangement in Cana-
ik education, and one of the first instances
pre a major Canadian university will be
mding oui-of-province students the
nily to transfer full credit for their
into a degree program.
Hfemoriaf s Bachelor of Technology (B.
degree is designed to give graduates
I'llOit) liy CI ins HanmiOMtl
xjal President Dr. Arthur May and Cambrian
f president Dr. Fmnk Marsh swap sweat-
of nationally accredited technology programs an academic background suitable for
management positions or entrcpreneurship.
Just over 60 per cent of the students currently enrolled in the program are fulfilling
their degree requirements via distance education. Since the distance education aspect
of the program is already completely developed, graduates of Cambrian College's
accredited technology programs will be able
to work on tfieir baccalaureate degrees with
confidence.
In addition to services such as library
holdings, bookstore stock, and exam invigilators, students will have access to faculty
supervisors at Cambrian for the technical
project and report required under Memorial's degree program.
"1 am pleased with this opportunity to
export our capacity outside the province,"
said Dr. Arthur May, Memorial's president.
"Our B.Tech. degree is in many ways
unique, and highly desired by technologists
in both the medical and the engineering
fields. While the program is entirely available by distance methods already, the agreement greatly simplifies the earning of this
degree for this panicular group of suidents."
Dr. Frank Marsh, president of Cambrian
College, is equally happy about the agreement.
"It's definitely a mutually beneficial
educational activity," said Dr. Marsh. "In
addition. Memorial's recognition of the
high quality of Cambrian's technology
programs will reinforce that quality for
our local public."
Suggestions
for Santa "g
Ringing in the season
Student*,, tfalX famuli) and friends ol the university helped ring in the season wilh tlie annual Christmas
tree lighting Dae. 2 on Memorial's St. Johns campus.
International expansion
By Ivan Muzychka
Memorial University wants to
expand its international efforts.
With this goal in mind the university recendy published a booklet titled
Memorial: Reaching out to the World. The
booklet is a compendium of the university's international goals, its current international projects, and contains descriptions
of the various centres around tlie university
which may be involved in expanding
Memorial's presence around the world.
Gordon Slade. executive director of
Memorial's International Centre, said the
new book is a greai source of information
about what Memorial is currently doing, but is also aimed
at encouraging further efforts.
"The International Centre
consulted with various campus
groups, with senior university
officials, and developed a
series of goals which are mean*
ui be a framework for further
work in Ihis area." lie said.
The new book will have
many uses.
"We created this book with
a dual purpose; it will provide
faculty, staff and students with
a better understanding of what
Memorial is currently doing, and it also talks
about what internationalization is all about,"
he said. *'We want to get people thinking, but
we have also provided a set of goals and have
listed some concrete objectives which will
help make Memorial a truly international
institution. We hope this initiative will help
people connect with sonic of the centres and
organizations which have some responsibility
for Memorial's internationali/ation efforts."
Dr. Arthur May, president of Memorial,
endorses the new initiative, noting that
internationalization is becoming increasingly important to universities.
See INTERNATIONAL page 2
Pboln hy Chris Hjimnwncl
(L-R) Dr. Arthur May; Hardave DhJlfon of Malaysia; president of
the international Student Centre; Lillian Beresiord, international
student advisor, Student Affairs; and Gordon Slade, executive
director of the International Centre.