U of A president delivers determined State of the University Address

EDMONTON – The University of Alberta’s president outlines a three-year action plan in her State of the University Address Thursday, less than a month after announcing a 15 per cent cut to academics and support services.

“We are not backing away,” stated U of A President Indira Samarasekera. “We are not backing away from our ambition to be one of the world’s great public universities.”

During her address, Samarasekera addressed the current financial challenges while enforcing the school’s goal of educational and research excellence.

“Our university faces serious challenges,” she said. “Decisions have been made by the provincial government… that have been out of our control. However, we can control the steps we take next.”

She added that she and other university leaders have been doing all they can to “mitigate the impact of provincial decisions.”

At the end of August, Samarasekera revealed the cost-cutting measures the school would have to take to try to balance its budget by April 2015, a date she says was requested by the Minister of Advanced Education Thomas Lukaszuk.

“In order to be balanced by April 1, 2015, we have to reduce our core academic expenses by seven per cent in 2014-2015, our core support for the academy… by eight per cent in ‘14-’15, and we will then take two more years to ensure that we have balance beyond that, given wage settlements, given inflation, we will have to plan for two more years of cuts of two per cent,” she revealed.

Samarasekera explained the U of A was already dealing with an operational deficit of about $19 million of its own, when it learned it would be receiving roughly $56 million less from the province than it expected.

“This – from a post-secondary institution perspective – was a very difficult budget,” said Lukaszuk. “It wasn’t a budget of choice; it was a budget of necessity – where all schools across the board have taken a seven per cent decrease.”

The deadline for staff to apply for voluntary severance was Monday, September 16. A media relations official with the University says the school’s received applications and will now determine how many are accepted.  The number of accepted applications for voluntary severance will be released around September 30.

In Thursday’s Address, the president outlined four main strategic objectives for the institution over the next three years: Academic Transformation, Sustainable Financial Models, Efficient Administration, and Culture Change.

Samarasekera admitted these are tough times for the University.

“We have had to make some very difficult decisions.”

She said 143 positions have been affected by this year’s funding shortfall, including retirements, abolished positions, and layoffs.

“The U of A is diminished by their departures.”

However, she stressed, “we are united in the ultimate goal… delivering excellence in teaching, research and service.”

Samarasekera said she – and other university leaders – will continue to meet with officials on all levels of government to speak about the importance of the University.

“Alberta and its citizens need the benefits that a great university … can bring; a university that educates future citizens and leaders… and builds influential networks that stretch far beyond the borders of this province.”

“Who will those innovative Albertans be?” she asked.  “Where are the seeds of social and cultural change… planted?”

“From right here.”

The president said 89 per cent of U of A graduates choose to live and build their careers in Alberta, and that the annual revenue of organizations founded by U of A alumni is $330 billion, according to a soon-to-be-released U of A study.

“The U of A has proven to be a resilient institution,” she added. “We are still determined to become one of the world’s greatest public universities.”

Watch: Provincial Affairs reporter Vassy Kapelos speaks one-on-one with Samarasekera

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