After reading multiple posts on twitter and countless stories there after, its becoming apparent that MUN is heading into a financial crisis, like the rest of NL, and its having to make drastic cuts to programs, some to the point where students will not even be able to finish the programs they started there. This is unacceptable. While the freeze to tuition hasn't helped the cuts, we need to find another way. Cutting education is the last thing we should be doing. Some of these people getting their programs cut may just have an idea that helps us out. While its not the be all end all to life, education sharpens the mind seems to me we could use all the sharp minds we can get.
Update on this post, At Pauly's suggestion, a digging I have gone. Over the last three days, I have been digging through MUN financials looking into, tuition payroll etc..talk about going into a rabbit hole. For someone only mildly versed in the world of economics and budgets its quite a daunting read. While I am nearing the end, questions are a plenty and with tuition increases are in the news when better to ask them.
1. How did anyone think this was going to turn out? Looking over salaries using the sunshine list >100k. The year over year increases, range from mild to staggering depending on the entry.
2. With the expanding cost of wages and operation, the deficit looming over the province, and the lack of increasing revenue from tuition over the past 21 years, what direction could it go but down?
3. If we don't raise tuition, lower salaries or remove staff all together or cut programs. What will happen?
The province is broke, the investment in education is crucial but to what end, increasing taxes on the people to fund does not seem like a viable alternative. That's where I am at so far, research and conclusions around the corner. Please anybody with suggestions or ideas please interject we need all the help we can get.