Queen's principal says 'no risk' university will close, but fears remain

After months of anxiety about the future of Queen's University, a statement from principal Patrick Deaneon Friday reassuredworried staff and students that the institution is not facingimminent financial collapse.

"Let me be very clear that there is no risk that Queen's in any foreseeable future will close its doors," Deane said in the statement.

The principal acknowledged the unusual nature of his statement, but wrote it was necessary to "set the record straight."

His message followed weeks of meetings and debate about the university's budget, whichproposescuts meant to tackle a $48-million deficit, according to school officials.

Fears spiked duringa town hallmeeting in Decemberwhen,as student newspaperTheQueen's Journalreported,provost Matthew Evans said he was "concerned about the survival of this institution," adding: "Unless we sort this out, we will go under."

Mary Louise Adams, aprofessor with the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, said she was at the meeting and those comments "caused chaos" and national headlines.

She's part of a group made up of staff, students and faculty called the Queen's Coalition Against Austerity (QCAA), which has been raising questions about the budget and pushing back against cuts.

'Serious damage control'

Adams said the principal's statement onFriday was"serious damage control" andleft the groupfeeling relieved.

She saidthe harm caused by the provost's comments is "visible and significant" based on comments fromstudents considering Queen's, potential donors andalumni.

LISTEN | Her reaction last month:

All in a Day10:09Queen's faculty, staff and students share concerns about university's budgetary measures

We talk to Mary Louise Adams, a professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies about why she's concerned the university's budgetary measures could affect its quality of education.

CBC News requested interviews with Evans and Deane, but was told by a Queen's spokesperson the university would not be providing any comment beyond the principal's statement.

In it,Deanedid not directly refer to the provost's words. He did say administrators had been meeting with the school community and intended to be frank about the budget, but"unfortunately, certain comments have been used to unfairly depict the situation."

In the face of "limited resources," Queen's must carefully look at balancing its academic goals with long-term sustainability, Deane's statement reads.

He pointed to "chronic underfunding" from the government and caps on enrolment among the challenges that have strained the university's resources.

A Julybudget update shared on the Queen's websiteoffers a bit more detail. The university said theprovincial government's 10 per centtuition cut and freezehadcostQueen's$179.4 million.

Since then,updates shared by the universityshowahiring freeze, along withreductions to faculty and shared services budgets, have cut the projected deficit from $62 millionto $48 million.

However, the updatesalso made it clear thatcontinuing to rely on financial reserves to cover the shortfall is unsustainable and addressing the problem requires"significant efforts from faculties and departments across the university."

A warning for other universities

Adams said she appreciated the"measured tones" in Deane's message and his certainty that the university will continue.

QCAA remains concerned about cuts that would lead to job losses for part-time and contract faculty members who do much of the teaching at the university, she said.

The group continues to argue Queen's could be using some of its investment income and other financial resources to address the deficit.

"Hopefully, things will calm down a little bit, and we can just start actually having some really good community discussions about what does or does not need to happen going into the future," she said.

Adams also warnedotheruniversities in Ontario to get ready for a similar financial crunch, saying they're facing the same budgetary pressuresbut mostlack the same "cushion" as Queen's.

"If it's not happening therenow, it's going to happen," she said.