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Ross Giblin / Stuff
The Chancellor of the University of Victoria, Grant Guilford, told staff during his Christmas address that the university would have to make tough decisions early next year. (File photo)
Victoria University staff say they feel “guilty” about quitting their jobs after a Christmas speech from the rector.
At the staff Christmas party on Tuesday, Grant Guilford said that by February 2021 the university needed access to international students, a significant increase in national enrollments and strong buy-in to the voluntary staff layoff plan.
“At present, none of those three things look particularly promising.” he told the assembled staff.
“Therefore, very unfortunately, it seems increasingly likely that in order to fulfill our commitments to kaitiakitanga and intergenerational responsibility, we will face difficult decisions early next year.”
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He then wished the staff a well deserved break and told them to enjoy it to the “absolute maximum possible”.
Tertiary Education Union branch co-chair Dougal McNeill said staff felt guilty leaving their jobs just before Christmas even though the voluntary layoff plan will be open until January 27.
The message was consistent with what they had been hearing throughout the year, but it was inappropriate to mention it at the Christmas party.
It demonstrated the disconnect between staff and senior leadership.
David White / Stuff
Dougal McNeill said staff felt guilty agreeing to the voluntary layoff plan.
The staff felt that questionable spending decisions had been made, such as the $ 16.7 million Student Success Project, $ 1.6 million of which had been canceled, with an external audit from PricewaterhouseCoopers identifying another $ 3.4 million at risk. Another $ 6 million has been budgeted for the project over the next two years.
McNeill questioned who would dump his job when the staff weren’t sure top leadership would care about the college.
But Guilford said Things honesty and transparency were important and he didn’t want to sugarcoat the situation.
The university needed a $ 50 million change to become sustainable in 2022.
At this stage, 20 employees had raised their hands to be considered for voluntary layoff, although Guilford said it was still early. Without any other cost-cutting measures, the university would have to cut about 280 full-time equivalent employees.
The university has seen a 2-3 percent increase in national enrollments for the first quarter, and was hopeful that it would rise to 10 percent when 2021 rolled around.
The university council would meet in February to discuss the financial situation, including whether it is necessary to take mandatory measures, such as layoffs.
Clipping courses were also on the table, though Guilford said it was standard for the university to review what was offered each year. His policy was to retain as many courses as possible, but this had to be balanced by the workload of the staff.
Guilford’s speech also took the time to recognize the university’s most successful year in terms of grants from the Marsden Fund (grants for researcher-initiated research), the work its researchers were doing in researching and evaluating the Covid vaccine. -19 of the country and its Times Higher Education. ranking among the 40 best universities in the world for social impact and commitment.
