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Teaching staff seek disclosure

The Canadian Association of University Teachers is demanding university administrators make their finances transparent.
The association is proposing this plan in hopes university budgets and financial information will be open for inspection and analysis.
“If universities say there’s a serious financial problem, they have to make their records available,” said Jim Turk, CAUT’s executive director. “These documents should be available for public scrutiny.”
CAUT is not the only association to have concerns with the transparency of university finances. Sessional faculty members led by the Canadian Union of Public Employees picketed McMaster University’s annual convocation ceremonies last week in response to McMaster’s restructuring plans.
The university’s plans include the elimination of all sessional faculty positions — leading, in turn, to cutting courses and increased class sizes.
“University budgeting procedures seriously lack transparency and democracy,” said Mary-Ellen Campbell, CUPE president. “The budget documents that are made available to the public often gloss over significant details that are brought up in unit or faculty budgets, which can show more clearly how restructuring plans affect the resources available to faculty, staff and students.”
Concerns have arisen that administrators are exploiting the current economic climate to justify lay-offs and cutting courses.
“Students and workers should question decisions made in the name of ‘economic crisis,’” Campbell said. “[They] should realize their common stake in a transparent, democratic and truly public university.”
Although CAUT and CUPE maintain the accessibility of university finances and budgets can be improved, this opinion is not shared by all. Some administrations insist university books are easily accessible for students and staff alike. Furthermore, inadequate budget transparency is not a problem that can necessarily be generalized across all universities in every province.
Western in particular takes pride in its financial process. The school’s budget goes through all senates and boards for approval, with full documentation posted on the university website for complete access.
“Operating, capital — all aspects of university finances are included on the website,” said Ruban Chelladurai, associate VP institutional planning and budgeting at Western.
“I believe we have the most detailed budget document of all Ontario universities.”
The Council of Ontario Universities also disagrees with CAUT’s recommendation. COU believes university finances are completely open to anyone who is looking for them.
“Information about the financial challenges of Ontario’s universities is readily available to students and everyone else in publications and data provided on the Council’s website,” said Paul Genest, president and chief executive officer of the COU.
“Moreover, the Council provides regular analysis and commentary to many different groups including government businesses and media. Our member institutions are also very transparent about their financial situations through websites and public meetings with members of their communities,” he added.
However, CAUT insists although budgets may be available for viewing online, universities should be open to having their books audited and available for more in-depth analysis.
Nonetheless, all organizations agree student and staff accessibility is essential to a functioning university community.
“Transparency and collective input into how to address our challenges is indeed vital to sustainability and to enhancing student success at our universities,” Genest said.

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