“Outrageous”: College of Sciences could face huge course cuts with over 100 jobs on the line

In a meeting this morning, a new proposal to cut Engineering and Plant Science from the university was revealed.

All offerings in the schools of Natural Sciences, and Food and Advanced Technology at the Auckland campus would also be cut. 

If confirmed, the proposal would cause over 100 job losses.

Aniva Feau, Te Tira Ahu Pae pasifika president said the university consistently assured her that students would be able to finish their qualifications no matter what - but today it said this wasn’t the case anymore. 

The cuts would close down the Massey Genome Service, Manawatū Microscopy, and Imaging Centre. 

Feau said, “We are alarmed at the rapid pace of these changes,” and felt if Massey were to be honest with students, they could build trust. 

She felt Massey had “failed students due to unsustainable financial management, chronic underfunding, and a disproportionate reliance on international students to subsidise the education of domestic students”.

Earlier this year, the university announced a year-to-date operating deficit of $14.2 million dollars. 

Ray Geor, College of Sciences pro vice chancellor, said the college was proud of its contributions to knowledge creation in New Zealand’s agriculture, food technology, veterinary and animal sciences.

Geor said, “This proposal continues work to shape the academic profile of the College of Sciences in a manner that supports world-class teaching and research in a breadth of subjects and disciplines, whilst also addressing challenging financial circumstances.”

Tertiary Education Union (TEU) organiser, Ben Schmidt described the proposal as “outrageous”.

In June, the Government announced a higher education review in response to tertiary sector-wide protests against mass staff redundancies and a flawed funding model. 

Schmidt said with the election and new funding promised by the Government, “the vice chancellor appears determined on bent on pushing through her austerity agenda.”

He said, “All Vice Chancellors and Chief Executives of the sector need to stop and wait for the funding review to run its course before continuing to make short-sighted decisions such as these ones.”

He said it wasn’t fair to tell students in Manawatū and surrounding districts that if they want a career as an Engineer they must leave their home and family and move to another part of the country. 

“Nor is it good sense to end Natural Sciences and Food and Advanced Technology provision on the North Shore – one of Aotearoa’s most populous and fastest growing areas.”