FNUC President Makes Trip To Ottawa For Funding

FNUC President Makes Trip To Ottawa For Funding

Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 15:21

 

 

The president of the First Nations University is in Ottawa today to present INAC Minister Chuck Strahl with a business plan.

 

Dr. Shauneen Pete says she will request the $4.2 million in federal funding currently being withheld, as well as funding for restructuring the university.

 

She says the plan looks at five areas to restructure — including academic renewal, enrollment and recruitment.

 

Pete says, as the president of the FNUC, she must remain hopeful for the return of the funding.

 

She adds the morale of the FNUC is being challenged by the restructuring efforts, because Pete says the restructuring will mean more staff layoffs.

 

The Canadian Association of University Teachers has published a letter with hundreds of names supporting the First Nations University.

 

CAUT executive director James Turk says they plan to present Prime Minister Stephen Harper with the letter.

 

Turk says that Harper can reverse the government’s decision to pull funding — but adds the Prime Minister will only change the decision “when he feels enormous public pressure”.

 

Turk says the federal government knows the jeopardy they have put the institution in by only offering a portion of federal funding.