The 2014-2015 budget and the appointment of a vice-president of Academic and Research top the agenda for the Université de Moncton Board of Governors

Today (Saturday, April 12), the Université de Moncton Board of Governors adopted the institution’s operating budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, beginning May 1st. The budget foresees revenues of $115,666,000 and expenditures of $116,294,000; it projects a deficit in the amount of $628,000.

“This year’s budget takes into account many realities that have been anticipated for some time and that are now taking place,” said president and vice-chancellor Raymond Théberge. “The institution’s two main sources of revenue are provincial grants and tuition. This year, we are projecting a loss of net revenues totaling $325,000 from these two sources. The Université Moncton has not faced such a situation for at least the last 20 years.”

The decrease in revenues - despite an increased provincial grant rate and a 3% rise in tuition for undergraduate full-time students - is due to a decline in the number of Canadian students registering at the institution. A phenomenon which has been expected for some time, its impact started to be felt in 2013-2014. The drop in registrations stems from reduced numbers of students in French schools and increased competition from other postsecondary institutions.

“In fact, in January 2014, there were 250 fewer Canadian students registered at the Université de Moncton, as compared to the same date in 2013. And in 2014-2015, we expect an additional loss of 100 registrations,” he added.

Again this year, important measures were taken to control expenditures. In fact, the average annual rate of increase in expenditure for the last three years has been 2.53%. The expected rate of increase for 2014-2015 is well below that of the current year and of the average for the past few years. Openness and cooperation on the part of the various academic and non-academic budget managers have made possible this rationalization of expenses.

President Théberge also stated that the budget for student bursaries will increase by 3%, the equivalent of the increase in tuition fees.

Board of Governors chair Raymond Lanteigne is pleased with the work done by the management team in preparing the budget. “Considering the province’s poor economic situation and the forecasted decline in the number of Francophone students in the school system over the next few years, we cannot expect much change in the situation over the years to come,” he said. “Measures initiated this year to control expenses will need to be continued in order to ensure that the institution’s role within the Canadian and International Francophonie remains intact and that together we can realize our collective dream as enunciated in the institution’s strategic plan, Un rêve qui nous appartient (Our very own dream).”

Following the Board of Governor’s meeting, the student presidents from the Edmundston and Moncton campuses joined the chairman and the president in a meeting with students to discuss the budget.

While student representatives voted against the budget and, consequently, against the hike in tuition fees, all agree that the overall message is that education must become a priority in New Brunswick. The president of the Moncton campus faculty association, Marie-Noëlle Ryan, also expressed her support for this position.

During its meeting, the Board of Governors also approved the appointment of André Samson as vice-president, Academic and Research, effective July 1st, 2014.

Mr. Samson will be responsible for managing, coordinating and developing academics and research for the entire university network. He replaces Neil Boucher who has been in the position since 2003.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Mr. Samson as a member of the management team,” said president and vice-chancellor Raymond Théberge. “His academic background and his experience in program restructuring and strategic planning will be definite assets for the Université de Moncton.”

Mr. Samson, who holds a Ph.D. in psychology (neurosciences) from the Université de Montréal, is currently dean of the faculties of Arts and Sciences at the Université de Saint-Boniface, in Manitoba.

The Board of Governors also confirmed Lise Dubois for another five-year mandate in her role as dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, as well as assistant vice-president, Research. Ms. Dubois has been in the position since September 2009.

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Additional information:
Thérèse Thériault
Director of Communications
506-858-4129 or 506-863-9873



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