Why does Memorial University have a space management problem?

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When the Office of the Auditor General released the findings from its audit of Memorial University’s management of its facilities, it found the institution had a serious mismanagement problem, especially when it came to its footprint and the amount of space it’s actually using.

The report, released on Jan. 21, found that from 2012 to 2023, Memorial University’s footprint had grown by 35 per cent while its enrollment had dropped by 1.4 per cent. 

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A freeze had already been placed on any university expansion by the provincial government, but during that period, additions to Memorial’s footprint included the Core Science Facility, Macpherson College, the Emera Innovation Exchange and the Johnson Geo Centre. 

That’s on top of leased space, as well as its other campuses around the province. 

According to the report, between January 2022 and March 2024, Memorial’s St. John’s campus had an unoccupied space rate of 74 per cent, while Grenfell in Corner Brook sat at 75 per cent and the Marine Institute was at 62 per cent. 

“I think it’s about deciding, does Memorial need a five million square footprint?” said Auditor General Denise Hanrahan. “Does it need to have faculties that are fundamentally owning space that we know they’re underutilizing? 

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“I think it’s about getting all of the information together and once you have that, making a decision in a timely manner with respect to the choices of where you put your resources and what decisions you make for your faculty.” 

According to the audit, the university could not provide the total space it occupies or the amount of space it was leasing. 

Why is the new science building a problem?

At the heart of Memorial’s space management problem may be its newest building. 

The Core Science Facility, which opened in 2021, was intended to replace much of what the old science building was being used for. 

However, the audit found not only was the new science facility without shared classrooms or laboratories, but its utilization rate was only 16 per cent. 

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“We haven’t yet closed the old science building, and the long-term plan is to bring down at least three wings of the old science building,” said Memorial University president Dr. Neil Bose. “There is still work to do and further investment needed before that move can take place completely.” 

Meanwhile, in March 2024 it was found the original science building still only had a usage rate of 49 per cent – 11 per cent for the Faculty of Science and 38 per cent from other faculties. 

During the 2024 winter semester, usage of shared classrooms in the old science building was up to 59 per cent, while non-shared classrooms had dropped to six per cent. 

One of the reasons for the large discrepancy comes from the lack of a large lecture theatre in the new Core Science Facility. 

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It is expected that it will remain a crucial part of the university’s plans going forward. 

“Parts of that building are still shell space that needs to be developed,” said Bose. “That’s part of the plan to move, for example, psychology out of its current premises into the new premises … and the other is in the terms of scheduling labs, and labs scheduling is always lower than, say, classroom scheduling.” 

What impact is changing demographics having on MUN?

Another piece of the puzzle is student demographics. MUN vice-president Lisa Browne said the university has seen an increase in graduate students, and they likely use more lab space, which can make a difference. 

“So, the space that was typical when I came to university is not the same space we would expect and want to use today,” she said. 

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The audit supports this in a way. It found that between 2012 and 2023, the undergraduate student population had decreased by nine per cent and the graduate population had risen by 39 per cent. 

What do students have to say?

In a prepared release on Jan. 21, the MUN Students’ Union (MUNSU) said that the report confirmed “the atrocious mismanagement of student funds by the leadership at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.” 

The union wrote that the audit shows a lack of responsibility from the university on many levels and shows the decisions being presented as something to benefit students is really “covering up gross misspending that is not does not benefit students.” 

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Nick Keough, MUNSU executive director of external affairs, is calling on the provincial government to step in. 

“MUNSU is calling on the reinstatement of government funding to Memorial University to provide the access to high-quality education that this province deserves.” 

What’s next?

The Auditor General recommended that going forward, Memorial develop a plan that would address the space issues while also updating current policies and procedures. 

The audit found that the university was lacking in space planning policies in many of its buildings, including the Harlow campus in England. 

There were nine recommendations put forth by the audit, all of which were accepted by the university. Some of those recommendations have already been acted upon. 

“We’ve already been approaching changes in how we deal with infrastructure,” said Bose. 

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