Move now on Grenfell university status: principal

The principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College says debate over the Corner Brook institution's futureis being prolonged unnecessarily.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced in its April budget that it wished for Grenfell to have university status, and no longer under the administration of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Memorial administrators said the decision caught them off guard, but agreed to study the plan, which was recommended by an independent commission that had reviewed programming at Grenfell's campus in Corner Brook.

Grenfell principal John Ashton, however, said little has been achieved.

"This thing is being slowed down," said Ashton, who had hoped to have some changes in place by September.

With MUN's board of regents now determining how a new arrangement might work, Memorial president Axel Meisen is hinting at how he feels about the recommendation.

"To have one university that can speak with one voice, on behalf of all the people and all the students in one province, is a really major advantage," Meisen said.

But Ashton said the status quo is not an option.

"That would be totally unacceptable to Sir Wilfred Grenfell College and I believe it would be totally unacceptable to the people of the region, and I will be communicating that to the board and also to the government, as well."

Ashton said he does not understand why the board is taking so long. He added the time for deliberation and consultation is over.

Grenfell was built in the mid-1970s to offer introductory university courses, primarily to benefit families living on the island's west coast.

Over time, though, the campus has grown and now offers courses including some full-degree programs to more than 1,400 students.

Faculty and staff have complained that the college's needs are not well served by administrators based in St. John's, about 700 kilometres away.