University College of the North Announces Administrative Staff Reductions to Meet the Manitoba Government’s 15% Reduction Target
July 11, 2018
University College of the North (UCN) is announcing a reduction in the size of its administrative staff to meet objectives established by the Government of Manitoba. Changes announced today are as follows:
- The position of Dean of Trades and Technology was eliminated in April 2018 after UCN had met all obligations to the former incumbent. Related duties were assumed by the Associate Vice President of the College of Trades and Technology.
- The Director of Career and Workforce Development position was eliminated upon the former incumbent’s retirement in June 2018. Duties associated with this position have been absorbed into UCN’s College of Trades and Technology
- The Human Resources and Training Coordinator position was eliminated in April 2018. The position was vacant at the time it was eliminated.
Earlier in 2017/18 UCN identified 20 administrative positions that would potentially achieve government’s agenda of increasing resources for direct service provision. Three positions were then identified to meet the 15% target. The reduction was achieved through not renewing a position at the end of a term appointment, upon a retirement, or where the position was vacant. Such actions helped to ensure that UCN did not incur additional costs associated with severance so as to ensure more resources were available for programs and student services.
“UCN fully supports directing resources to delivery of programming and services for students,” said Tom Goodman, Chair of UCN’s Governing Council. “I am pleased that UCN achieved this important objective in a manner that respected the outstanding service provided by the former incumbents in these positions.”
This is not the first time that UCN has sought to improve its administrative efficiency; other senior positions were eliminated in recent years. In 2014/15, the position of Dean of Business was merged with that of the Dean of Arts and Science, creating the Faculty of Arts, Business, and Science. Further, in 2014/15, the role of Dean of Student Development was discontinued and responsibilities were transferred to the Office of the Registrar. Again, these decisions were taken when the discontinued positions became vacant.
“Staffing decisions announced today are the continuation of UCN’s ongoing efforts to focus resources on the delivery of programming to Aboriginal and northern Manitobans,” said Doug Lauvstad, UCN’s President and Vice-Chancellor. “UCN is committed to focusing on its education and research mandate, and our ongoing reassessment of our human resources is an important part of ensuring that we continue focusing on that mandate.”
In addition to meeting its obligations with respect to the 15% reduction in administrative staff, throughout the 2017/18 academic year, UCN has been carefully managing vacancies and also made a voluntary separation incentive package available to all staff yielding the elimination of four additional staff positions. Resources freed-up through these processes are being redirected to manage budget reductions announced in 2018/19, to support programming, and to provide services to students.
The elimination of the three administrative positions and the staffing reductions achieved through voluntary separation have been fully implemented. UCN is further reviewing its administrative structure so as to focus better on achieving strategic objectives and additional organizational changes may be announced later in the 2018/19 academic year.
For more information, please contact:
Jim Scott,
Director
Communications Department
University College of the North
204-627-8244
jscott@ucn.ca
NT5
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