Memorial University is facing a significant shake-up, with over a dozen academic programs either discontinued or put on hold! This drastic measure, primarily attributed to dwindling student numbers, is impacting a wide array of disciplines across various faculties, including business, nursing, humanities, and social sciences, as well as programs at the Marine Institute and Grenfell Campus. The university is also navigating substantial financial challenges, leading to property sales and the reduction of vice-president roles, all while the province has reimposed a tuition freeze until financial stability is restored.
But here's where it gets controversial: a university spokesperson, Chad Pelley, insists these program cuts are not a direct result of budget reductions or recent cost-saving initiatives. Instead, he states the decisions were based on a comprehensive review of enrollment figures, the quality of learning outcomes, and the feasibility of program completion given available faculty and course offerings.
However, the dean of humanities and social sciences, Natasha Hurley, offers a different perspective. She openly acknowledged that tightening budgets were indeed a driving force behind program eliminations. "We just can’t keep doing all the same numbers of things that we’ve been doing while having fewer and fewer resources in the form of faculty members, dollars, etcetera to support those programs," she explained. This raises a critical question: Is the university being transparent about the true reasons behind these cuts?
Among the programs axed in the humanities and social sciences faculty are six diploma and certificate programs. This includes the highly specific Newfoundland and Labrador studies certificate, ancient languages, ancient worlds, food studies, and diplomas in humanities and environmental humanities. Hurley noted that enrollment in these programs had been extremely low, with an average of zero to four graduates annually since 2021. While students can still access courses in these subjects, the faculty has had to reduce its course offerings by approximately 96 this year due to budget constraints.
And this is the part most people miss: the Newfoundland and Labrador studies certificate, in particular, has sparked concern. Nathan Gillingham from MUN’s undergraduate students' union questioned, "What other universities would (offer) that, if not MUN?" This highlights a potential loss of unique regional academic offerings. Dean Hurley, however, assured that the faculty remains committed to offering NL studies courses and conducting research in the area, stating, "That is an area that we are not going to abandon."
The MUN Faculty Association, represented by president Lisa Moores, voiced concerns that many more programs are at risk, directly linking these changes to the university's financial woes. "Our members are struggling to contain the damage, and doing their best to limit the impacts on students," Moores stated. "But program cancellations mean less choice and less opportunity, and that should be of concern to everyone." This sentiment suggests a broader impact on student choice and future opportunities.
The three-year bachelor of nursing program has also been suspended, with the university citing that it "needed significant resources yet is rarely filled to capacity." Pelley mentioned that students often opted for the four-year program or left altogether. This decision has drawn criticism from Yvette Coffey, president of the nurses' union, especially given the province's critical nursing shortage. Coffey argued, "If a program is not reaching capacity or students are struggling, the first question should be how to fix that." She emphasized focusing on recruitment and student support rather than outright program removal.
In the business faculty, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on social enterprise and entrepreneurship was discontinued in 2024 due to low enrollment. Kristen Murray, a 2022 graduate, expressed disappointment, believing the loss of this specialized program, which focused on mission-driven organizations, "is not serving our business community (or) our communities in general." While MUN now offers social enterprise and sustainable entrepreneurship courses to all MBA students, the dedicated program is gone.
Other programs that met a similar fate due to low enrollment include the Master of Arts in Religion and Culture and the post-graduate certificate in quality management at the Marine Institute. Some programs were ended due to faculty-related issues; for instance, the Master of Philosophy in Humanities was dependent on a director without a permanent contract, and no other faculty members were willing to take on the role.
However, MUN is also redeveloping some programs. The Bachelor of Special Education, for example, has been transformed into a new Master of Education, which the university states aligns better with other institutions and credentialing trends. At Grenfell Campus, the Master of Fine Arts was suspended for re-evaluation and minor adjustments, with plans to accept students again in Spring 2026. Similarly, the Applied Literary Arts program was paused for Fall 2026 adjustments, with a return planned for next year.
Other affected programs include the Doctor of Pharmacy for working professionals (which typically runs for a limited duration), the English major with a theatre/drama specialization (due to faculty retirement), and the Certificate in Public Policy (which has transitioned to a diploma program). Grenfell's multidisciplinary humanities major is also paused due to a lack of current student enrollment.
What do you think about these program cuts? Are they a necessary evil for financial stability, or a detriment to student choice and specialized learning? Share your thoughts below!
