On Campus

New ‘university institution’ in Newfoundland

Grenfell College granted more autonomy

After years of lobbying, Sir Wilred Grenfell College will be granted university status. Well almost. Newfoundland education minister Darin King announced today that the Memorial University satellite campus, located in Corner Brook on the province’s west coast, will be granted more autonomy within the existing governance structure. The government will be giving the campus an additional $6.5 million, a 38 per cent boost to its operating grant.

The changes include a different name that reflects both Grenfell’s enhanced status as a “university institution,” as well as its continuing ties to its parent institution. The college’s official name will now be: Memorial University of Newfoundland-Corner Brook. More substantive changes include:

•Submitting a separate budget to government for Grenfell through the Board of Regents to allow independent budget processes and priority setting; and,

•Positioning the principal of Grenfell on Memorial’s Senior Executive Committee, reporting directly to the president of the university

•Enhanced marketing and student recruitment efforts, including an international office to attract students and identify new markets with the greatest recruitment potential;

•Five new positions to attract increased research funding and additional positions in student support services and administrative support based on Grenfell’s strategic planning process;

•Five new positions to attract increased research funding and additional positions in student support services and administrative support based on Grenfell’s strategic planning process;

•Annual funding in the amount of $1.6 million to eliminate Grenfell’s existing operating deficit; and,

•The establishment of a Grenfell Secretariat, located in Corner Brook, to support Grenfell as it implements key priority areas for growth.

The new governing structure was initially proposed by the government in 2007, and Grenfell was to receive the upgrade in fall 2008. However, due to delays in the provincial legislature, any decisions about Grenfell’s future were postponed until now.

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