Neither crisis mode nor complacency

In September, the Quebec government announced that McGill’s operating grant would be almost $15 million less than what it had proposed in the spring — and warned that a second wave of cuts were to come. On Nov. 12, Quebec’s universities and CEGEPs were hit with that new round of cuts, amounting to $31.6 million. McGill’s share is close to $5 million. Provost Anthony C. Masi talked to the McGill Reporter about this development, and the University’s ongoing underfunding situation.

... For example, international students in science, engineering, management, and law are now “de-regulated,” meaning that universities get no subsidies for them, but all the tuition they pay stays with the home institution. So, why not de-regulate all international students? Much of the red tape at McGill is due to compliance and reporting requirements of a complex funding formula. Wouldn’t the Ministry and universities save positions and money if the processes were simplified? A third option is to generate revenue by offering programs that are not subsidized by the Ministry like professional master’s degrees and continuing professional training. Couldn’t McGill build on strengths and enhance our reputation and reach, and therefore revenues, by designing and delivering such offerings? As a final illustration, look at how well we have done in increasing revenues with creative off-shore programming by Continuing Studies, the Desautels Faculty of Management, and the Faculty of Medicine. Can we think of other such developments that would be in line with our mission and values?

Read full article: McGill Reporter, November 18, 2014