Queen’s announced that it projected a $62.8 million operating budget deficit in May. Since then, the projected deficit has fallen $14.8 million to total $48 million as of December, with the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) ing for a projected $37 million.
The Journal summarizes the cuts being made across the University over the next two years to balance Queen’s books.
What is happening at Queen’s?
In the fall of 2023, students and faculty were made aware of proposed cuts to academic programming for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years due to the University’s projected budget deficit. The hardest-hit faculty is the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS), which is responsible for $37 million of the total projected deficit.
Within the FAS, undergraduate classes with less than 10 students and graduate classes with less than five students will be cut. In December, the University announced it is closing issions to Arts and Science Online degree and certificate programs, but will continue to offer online courses for on-campus students.
READ MORE: Queen’s shutters issions to online ArtSci degrees and certificates
This is combined with the University planning on having more graduate and post-doctoral students teach classes.
To relieve some of the budgetary strain—as salaries make up 67 per cent of the University’s costs operating costs—Queen’s introduced a hiring freeze for full-time operating positions in May. Exceptions could be made for “critical hires” on a “case-by-case basis,” according to a University notice.
The University was relying on its reserves to cover the losses, which wasn’t a sustainable solution, according to senior s, who noted the FAS and Smith School of Engineering will exhaust their reserves by the end of this year.
Who is making these decisions?
Provost Matthew Evans is charged with tackling Queen’s budget deficit. As the Provost, Evans is the chief academic, budget, and operating officer. To disseminate information to key stakeholders, Evans has been hosting town halls for faculty and staff, and is attending student government meetings, including AMS Assembly on Jan. 23.
Why is Queen’s in this position?
Queen’s attributes the deficit to the provincial government’s 10 per cent tuition cut for Ontario students in 2019 and ongoing tuition freeze. The tuition freeze has cost Queen’s $179.4 million, according to a 2023 budget update. The Ontario government funds universities 57 per cent below the national average, according to a report by the Blue-Ribbon .
READ MORE: recommends tuition increase for Ontario universities
Tuition, plus provincial grants for teaching, cover $635 million of the $660 million operating budget. Faculties earn revenue from tuition and the provincial government based on enrollment.
Not all of Queen’s dollars are at the University’s disposal. Money donated by alumni for specific purposes, and money set aside for capital projects, can’t be re-allocated.
The situation is exacerbated by inflation, and a downturn in international student enrollment following the pandemic. In 2019, Queen’s was home to more than 600 full-time international students, which fell to approximately 400 international students in 2022-23.
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Zedrick Serson
> Why is Queen’s in this position?
Because Queen’s chose to be in this position. They started paying back loans long before they were actually due and have moved around money to manifest a budget deficit where none actually exists.
Ethan
Pushing the university’s line isn’t a good link – why not ask faculty reps in the QCAA?
Mike
I believe Queen’s University is wasting money on the graduate research for non beneficial research. I mean in particular the non sense research they are doing at the school of Nursing
Brian Sterling
Needing to wrestle with a deficit and squeeze hard on money (cash) management is not necessarily a bad thing. Claiming there isn’t a problem or that the deficit is overstated is beside the point and does little to engage creativity in developing solutions.
And isn’t instilling creativity and broader perspectives what Queen’s routinely says it wants to do? So, embrace reality and all those collaborative efforts that you claim are important. Challenges are part of life and if they discomfort you, good. It means you’re learning!
Carlo
They should lay of staff under 3 year tenure and roll back wages 15% across the board. The budget should also Eliminate the Queen’s Tuition Assistance Program that provides Queen’s Staff with funding for their, or their family’s, education. Students had parent’s help or they had OSAP, so should the staff at Queen’s.
Alex Wilding
Wow! When I went thru the Queen’s undergrad A.S. program, Vic College was a brand new build, and we had virtually no international students in Engineering or A.S.. No virtual classes to subsidize brick and mortar classes. International students and just a 10% reduction? Curious you cant balance your budget.