Massey lecturer allegedly finds out her course is cut on Twitter

A Twitter user tweeted, “Massey University isn’t allowing my son to complete his history degree next year by studying Reformation! So much study and build up for nothing”.

A Lecturer from the School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication responded to the tweet. 

She said, “Well this is interesting [user] because The Tudors and the Reformation is a course I currently teach (and it's awesome). I’m expecting to lose my job when my contract expires in Feb but no one has had the courtesy to tell me that directly.” 

The Lecturer continued in another tweet, “And the fact that I find out about this on social media rather than having my manager tell me directly speaks volumes about the utter contempt in which Massey leadership holds staff and students alike.”

A Massey University spokesperson confirmed that the Tudors and Reformation courses will not be offered in 2024. 

“Students currently enrolled will be able to complete their major as sufficient courses are being offered. In most years, for a variety of reasons, not all courses in the calendar schedule can be offered,” the spokesperson said. 

The tweets come after Massey vice chancellor Jan Thomas began the Voluntary Enhanced Cessation process across the university. 

Massey recorded an $8.8 million deficit in 2022 and recently announced a year-to-date operating deficit of $14.2m. 

In June the government announced a $128 million dollar funding boost for universities and a higher education review in response to protests against mass staff redundancies and course cuts.   

Massey updated it’s ‘No and Low Enrolment’ policy and procedures which meant a subgroup of the Senior Leadership Team could cut courses without input from the staff who teach them. 

The new ‘Digital Plus’ policy aims to anchor each college to be taught at just one physical campus with online study, unless it can be financially justified.  

Both the Mum and Lecturer who tweeted were contacted for comment.