Provost Matthew Evans took centre stage during Queen’s last senate meeting of the year.
Senators deliberated the budget deficit and the impact of course eliminations on the University’s reputation in Robert Sutherland Hall on Nov. 30. The University’s financial position and concerns about Queen’s poor performance in Times Higher Ranking were all topics of conversation.
Evans briefly updated Senate on the status of Bader College, which to students on Nov. 13.
READ MORE: University focused on settling Bader Collage students in Kingston
He told Senate he isn’t thinking about the permanence of the closure yet. Instead, he’s focused on transitioning Bader students to life in Kingston and is withholding judgement until the castle’s safety assessment is completed, which is set to take place in the new year.
Principal Patrick Deane was absent as he attends the International Associations of Universities conference in Qatar. Deane answered a question on support for staff, faculty, and students who are facing threats and harassment over the conflict in the Middle East in writing.
In his written answer, Deane underscored the University’s commitment to academic freedom and to protecting the community from discrimination and hate. He encouraged students to use community resources.
Senate approved the 2024-25 Senate meeting dates and the nomination of Emils Matiss to the role of graduate student member on the Senate Cyclical Program Review Committee. Matiss assumed the position on Nov. 30 with his term ending August 2025.
Budget Deficit
The University is now projecting an operating budget deficit of $48 million, Provost Evans announced. He described the change as an insubstantial improvement from the projected $62.8 million deficit.
Senator Kyla Tienhaara asked why the University hasn’t increased its budgeted income to reflect the value of its investment fund, which has gone up from $210 million to $561 million.
“While it attractive to say we can drop money into operating budget for one year, it doesn’t solve the problem long term,” Evans said.
Donna Janiec, vice-principal (finance and administration), emphasized the amount of money the University gets from investments varies year-to-year. It’s considered one-time money and can’t be used for recurring expenses such as salaries.
READ MORE: Queen’s ranked 12th in Canada by Times Higher Education
In the face of the budget deficit, Senator Samantha King questioned the University’s prioritization of new capital projects and expansions over maintaining existing buildings. Transparent plans are critical for facilities to uphold the University’s academic mission, King explained.
Evans reiterated the reason why the University is in a precarious financial position: Queen’s expanded its employee team, but then revenue fell due to the provincial tuition freeze and downturn in international student enrollment caused by COVID-19.
“When you have an organization in which 70 per cent of the expenditure of the organization goes to people’s salaries, the cost ends up being that people lose their job,” Evans said.
Evans wants to ensure the University is living within their means, a point he encapsulated using a Charles Dickens quote from the book David Copperfield.
Queen’s Times Higher Education Ranking
Senator Leo Yang and Evans went back-and-forth about Queen’s position in the 2024 Times Higher Education Ranking.
Overall, Queen’s ranked between 251 and 300 of 1,904 universities worldwide, a position Evans isn’t proud of.
Yang stressed the decision to eliminate small course sections within the Faculty of Arts and Science may negatively impact Queen’s ranking in the future, as faculty to student ratios contribute to the academic standing of universities. He asked Evans if he plans to make an advisory board to tackle this issue.
READ MORE: New Policies risk education quality in Arts and Science
Most university rankings rely on surveys completed by academics around the world, Evans claimed. Yang cited the Times Higher Ranking website showing universities provide student-to-staff ratios to the Times Higher Education in their submission.
According to Yang, Queen’s rankings impact the operating budget deficit, as prospective international students may look at the low ranking and choose to not come to Queen’s.
According to Evans, the ranking is mainly considered by Chinese international students, not other demographics. He doesn’t want Queen’s to start catering to external reviewers without implementing meaningful change.
“We are not going to be chasing rankings,” Evans said. “We should be changing outline policy which will then be reflected in the measurement.”
Tags
budget deficit, Senate, Times Higher Education
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Greg Samuel
I read the queens has 2 billion invested. Saving it for what?