Achi news desk-
Unionized librarians and faculty members at St. Mary’s University in Halifax have voted 91 percent in favor of a motion expressing a lack of confidence in the school’s president and board chair.
The University of Saint Mary’s Faculty Union released a statement on Tuesday saying that the administration had refused to respond to the union’s request for information about the school’s finances.
The statement raises questions about the university’s financial management, saying there have been unexplained budget cuts, the elimination of a student employment program and reductions in scholarships.
Union president Cathy Conrad says the administration lacks accountability and transparency.
The university’s administration issued a statement today saying the school’s financial challenges are no different than those facing the post-secondary sector across Canada.
A spokeswoman for the university, Margaret Murphy, says that St Mary’s, like other universities, faces challenges related to international student enrolment, reduced government funding and inflationary pressures.
“The board and university administration are aligned with the need for timely, innovative and sustainable long-term solutions to allow our great university to continue to contribute to Nova Scotia,” said Murphy’s statement.
“We understand that the union gives voice to concerns. We have assured them, our faculty and staff that we will work together to take action to set the university on a sustainability course.”
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on April 10, 2024.
