Education
July 29, 2008

Search for New President for Memorial University Continues

�The search for a new president for Memorial University is a complex and incredibly important process,� said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, today.

Universities and colleges traditionally need to plan for lengthy recruitment processes for senior leadership positions, given the cycle of the post-secondary year and notice period requirements that must account for longer-term commitments associated with semester systems. And when the province is competing with many other institutions nationally and internationally within a very tight global labour market to attract the best person, it is all the more time-consuming.

�Clearly, the Provincial Government has a vested interest in this process,� said Minister Burke. �We have invested heavily in our post-secondary institutions. The current and capital budget for the university alone this year is nearly $240 million. Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic are making names for themselves in the international arena. All of our public post-secondary institutions need strong, knowledgeable, visionary individuals at their helms. The president�s position can never be a patronage appointment, nor are we interested in political interference, as has been suggested by some. What we are committed to is the identification of an individual whose leadership skills and abilities will propel the university�s growth in an increasingly-global market, one characterized by competition for students no matter where they live. If it takes longer than expected to get that person on board, then so be it.�

The minister said the search committee is continuing the search. Once the committee has concluded its work, it will make a formal recommendation to the Provincial Government, as is required by the Memorial University Act. The president is appointed by the Board of Regents after consultation with the university�s Senate and with the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Memorial University has an enrolment of 18,000 students and 2,500 permanent faculty and staff. It offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees ranging from sciences and arts, to professional programs. It is emerging as a leader in areas such as ocean technology, and oil and gas research. An investment of $1.1 million in Budget 2008 will fund the expansion of several programs in the Faculties of Business and Engineering.

�Government believes in and supports the academic independence of the university,� said Minister Burke. �But we also believe strongly in ensuring strong and visionary leadership for the people�s university. I cannot stress enough the importance of Memorial University to the educational, social and economic future of Newfoundland and Labrador. Just as the Board of Regents has an obligation and a duty to find the appropriate candidate, so does the government as mandated by the Memorial University Act. We take this obligation seriously. Government shares the committee�s objective of identifying world-class candidates who can advance Memorial�s standing on a national and international basis. We look forward to the day when an announcement about a new president can be made.�

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Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquleynhoward@gov.nl.ca

2008 07 29                            3:10 p.m.
 


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