Minister Affirms Province�s Support for Academic Freedom

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador today confirmed its full support for the academic freedom of Memorial University. The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, said the province has never undermined the academic freedom of the province�s university and its involvement in approving a new President for Memorial is in keeping with past practice and in full compliance with the legislation governing Memorial, an Act Respecting The Memorial University of Newfoundland (act).

�Our government has in no way made any attempt to intervene in the academic freedom or autonomy of Memorial,� said Minister Burke. �Memorial is a world-class institution with a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars serving some 18,000 students. Obviously, government would have an interest in the leadership of this institution. That has nothing to do with academic autonomy and those who are suggesting so are simply wrong and are doing a disservice to the reputation of the university.�

Minister Burke noted that academic freedom is defined by the Canadian Association of University Teachers as: �It is the right to teach, learn, study and publish free of orthodoxy or threat of reprisal and discrimination. It includes the right to criticize the university and the right to participate in its governance. Tenure provides a foundation for academic freedom by ensuring that academic staff cannot be dismissed without just cause and rigorous due process.�

�I have yet to hear one concrete example of how exactly our government has impeded or interfered in academic freedom or autonomy,� said Minister Burke. �We have never told people what to teach or how to teach nor have we suppressed opinion. We are very simply saying we will exercise our legal obligation under the act, which clearly states that Cabinet has an approval role as an oversight, and I can assure everyone that we take that role seriously and will exercise our responsibility.�

The act governing the university defines a process whereby the Board of Regents in consultation with the Senate must forward candidates to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council for approval, and that process will be followed.

�The province has not submitted any names for consideration or instructed the board on who must be hired,� said Minister Burke. �This is not about political patronage.�

The minister added that the Provincial Government is not choosing the next Memorial University President unilaterally. The process as outlined in the act will be followed which states in section 51 � There shall be a president of the university who shall be appointed by the board in consultation with the senate and with the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. This section of the act has been in place since 1973. Prior to that, the appointment was made by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council in consultation with the board.

The search for the President of any university is typically a lengthy and complex process. Minister Burke said the search for the President of Memorial continues and she looks forward to the day when a new President is appointed.

�I would also add that I will be pleased to meet with acting President Eddy Campbell at any time, as I have always been readily available to meet with him and other university officials,� concluded the minister. �I have had a positive working relationship with the university and trust this will continue into the future.�

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