Although there’s still a lot of work to do, the Premier’s comments during Friday’s State of the Province Address were reassuring enough to mark a victory for UNBSJ. It was during this address that the Premier clarified that the University of New Brunswick in Saint John will remain the University of New Brunswick in Saint John with Liberal Arts programs, but also new programs in technical fields. In addition to this, the universities themselves will become responsible for organizing the necessary changes.

For me, it is great to know that all the rallie, letters, media coverage, and public uproar over this issue was enough to change the government’s direction, and prevent a major blow to this city and the province. Is everything good forever now? No, of course not. But at least the Premier is finally acknowledging the importance of the Saint John university and has now created an opportunity for UNBSJ to write a new chapter for itself. We must not become complacent and ignore what the government was originally considering. For now though, we can rest and celebrate.

Early on, I said that a “done” deal CAN be undone. We un-did a “done” deal. Too often, Saint Johners are perhaps too used to situations where government deals go through regardless of what the people want, but this is one notable exception for the history books.

History did repeat itself.

This post is part four of many in my series as I point out some facts and figures from a special financial review that shed light on real problems affecting UNBSJ as well as UNB as a whole. I will compile a few relevant quotations from the financial review, and offer a brief summary to bring it all together.

“UNB must also consider the provincial funding formula in relation to its two campuses. UNB applies the government formula when allocating the provincial grant between the two campuses. Since 75 per cent of the formula is fixed, there has been little change to the level of funding at either campus, despite how each campus has evolved in the last 15 years. The remaining 25 per cent of government funding is variable depending upon enrolment.” (page 13)

“This formula, however, does not provide funding for international students. It also allocates different funding amounts for students based on their study program and their status as an undergraduate versus a graduate student. For example, a university receives funding of approximately $1,089 for an undergraduate student in an arts program versus $8,715 for a graduate student in an engineering program. These parameters result in the Saint John campus receiving less government funding due to the make up of its student body – with its high levels of both undergraduate and international students – rather than as a result of supporting strategic priorities or initiatives between the two campuses. The following charts indicate the impact this has on the operating revenues of each campus.” (page 13)

The red portion of the charts reflects the government’s funding received and then allocated by UNB to each campus. Keeping the majority of this funding formula fixed as UNBSJ has evolved is the ultimate growing pain. One result of this is that UNBSJ students carry a larger burden of supporting their campus’s operating revenue through tuition than their counterparts at UNBF. Is this fair? I think not.

This is one example of a funding issue affecting us where UNB itself is primarily responsible. In my next post, I will take a look at how the provincial government’s funding of post secondary education may be lacking as compared to other provinces.