Universities bracing for 4% funding cut

University of King's College president William Barker says King's wasn't prepared for the 4 per cent funding cut. (Photo: Lauren Naish)

University administrators in Halifax are considering what to do next after the government announced a four per cent funding cut, which could mean tens of millions of dollars this year.

After the government made the announcement Tuesday, most university administrators have yet to make a statement individually. At this point it's unclear how the funding cuts will affect students and faculty.

Along with a funding cut, the government brought an end to the tuition freeze. This means tuition can increase, but no more than three per cent each year for the next three years.

University of King's College president William Barker said the funding cut came as a surprise.

Barker said the King's administrators had projected a three-year funding announcement with a three per cent reduction in the grant and a four per cent increase in tuition fees for the first year.

In an email sent to faculty Tuesday night, Barker said, "this arrangement is marginally worse than our budget scenarios."

He says the tuition fee cap has more impact on King's than any other university in Nova Scotia because King's has the highest reliance on tuition fees.

"All of us in the academic world in Nova Scotia will be feeling serious pressure," he said. "Trust and patience will be needed by all."

John Mabley, communications officer for NSCAD University, said the arts school has yet to prepare a statement.

"We may have finished our review of the situation at some point this week but we won't be making any institutional response until mid next week," he said Wednesday.

Mount Saint Vincent University made a similar statement, saying it is confident that the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents can speak on its behalf.

Peter Halpin, the executive director of CNSUP, said Tuesday that the N.S. university system will suffer "a real cut of 7.5 per cent, which is about $46 million in the 2011-2012 year."

He said the 7.5 per cent factors in inflation.

Halpin said this announcement comes at a time of two straight years of growing enrolment and costs for universities.

He also said that each university president and their boards will examine the government's plans and how it will affect each individual institution.

Comments on this story are now closed