Education
July 29, 2008Search 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.