Laurentian University remains silent on the future of its programs

Laurentian University will not make an announcement this week on the restructuring of its programs, according to sources who spoke with CBC News andRadio-Canada, and more will be revealednext week.

On Tuesday, members of the university's senate met behind closed doors to assess the recommendations of a six-membersubcommittee

The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association, (OCUFA) says the restructuring plan includes the termination of certain programs and departmental re-organizations at Laurentian. Specific details remain under wraps and the senate has been bound by confidentiality imposed during the CCAA process. The school, which declared financial insolvency Feb. 1,has been in the process of restructuring.

During the day-long meeting, senate members learned, for the first time, of the of recommendations.

Laurentian University continues to refer all inquiries to itswebsite.

Meanwhile, OCUFAdenouncedthe way in which the restructuring is being carried out.

"It's unacceptable thatthe university's senators were asked tomake significant decisions about the future of programs at theirinstitutionunder duresswith no time to properly consider the matter or consult their constituents," said OCUFARahul Sapra.

"Asking the senate to consider and vote on an omnibus programming package, without input on the academic criteria andin the span of a single dayduringan in-camera session is a clear violation of collegial governance, the senate's mandate andthe responsibility of a public institution to the community it serves."

Sapra said Laurentian's financial crisis is "in a largepart, a direct result of failed public policy and eroding levels of public funding for the post-secondaryeducationsector. Yetthe Ministry of Colleges and Universities has decided to not step in,but allowapublicUniversity to go through a restructuring process designed forthe private sector, cutting jobs, programs and services that are essential to the University community in Sudburyand the broader northern Ontario region."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities says ithas appointed a special advisor, Alan Harrison, to provide independent advice and recommendations to the ministryregarding the financial situation at Laurentian.

The scope of the special advisor's mandate will extend beyond financial analysis, and include an examination of other factors underlying the situation at Laurentian. It has not publicly said exactly when that report will be released.