N.B. premier promises St. Thomas University won’t merge or close: president

St. Thomas University president said he has been assured that the university will not close or merge with University of New Brunswick.

Dr. Nauman Farooqi, president of St. Thomas University, said he has been assured by New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt that the university will not close or merge with the neighbouring University of New Brunswick.

Fear of that becoming a reality grew on the Fredericton campus after a government document listing 16 ideas on how the province could save money within the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour circulated last week.

The department has been asked to find $35-$50 million in reductions.

Some of the list includes ideas like merging universities and colleges, including STU and UNB, or privatizing Mount Allison University.

But in a letter to the greater St. Thomas University community Wednesday, Dr. Farooqi said Holt called him to say, “unequivocally that her government has no plans to close or merge St. Thomas University.”

“Developments over two weeks have been concerning and led to great uncertainty. I trust that you find the Premier’s message to our community reassuring,” he stated.

He does acknowledge the difficult financial situation the province is in.

In a third-quarter update, the finance minister unveiled a $1.3-billion deficit – more than ever before.

In a joint statement, student unions from across the province have asked for a meeting with government officials on the situation facing post-secondary institutions.

“Low enrolment is not the result of having too many campuses or too much regional access. It is the result of rising costs and declining public investment,” they said. “Universities increase tuition when government funding decreases. Students are not choosing to stay away; many simply cannot afford to attend.”

Ideas to find the $35-$50 million requested were supposed to be submitted to department officials this week, so they could present them to cabinet.

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