Steady progress in a season of change

When I moved to Newfoundland and Labrador last summer, I was told that – notwithstanding the predominance of rain, drizzle and fog – the province experiences more moderate winter temperatures and less snow than Ontario. Instead, February brought more than 170 cm of snow over a period of mere weeks – a reality that upended daily routines and brought the city of St. John’s to the brink of an emergency. Enduring those snow days, however, taught me a lot about this province and its resilience: when familiarity disappears under a drift of snow, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians simply bundle up, get to work, and help each other dig out. It’s tiring but purposeful work that restores access and connection.  

Transformation at a university feels much the same. When conditions shift, we steady ourselves, assess what’s in front of us, and clear the next stretch together. Progress comes from moving with care and purpose to uncover our path.  

Since joining Memorial on August 11, 2025, I’ve been struck by how deeply people care about our university. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador express reverence for our origins, pride in our impact, and a shared desire to see Memorial thrive. It is a powerful reminder of our special obligation to people and place.  

With that obligation comes the responsibility for stewardship. Most of our revenue comes from tuition paid by students or from a provincial grant funded by taxpayers. How we expend resources is of consequence to the people of this province, who expect us to remain squarely focused on academic quality, research intensity, and the student experience.  

Like universities across the country, we are facing pressures: decreasing enrolment, declining revenue, increasing costs, aging infrastructure, a changing labour market, and mass disruption.  

In the Atlantic region specifically, undergraduate enrolment is down in Nova Scotia, PEI and up slightly (1.1%) in New Brunswick, while graduate enrolment is down across the board (Atlantic Association of Universities, 2025). On top of enrolment challenges, the provincial government in New Brunswick is contemplating a variety of proposals aimed at cutting $35-50M from its post-secondary institutions.  Last year, Nova Scotia introduced legislation aimed at enhancing oversight, strengthening financial accountability, aligning institutions with provincial priorities, and adjusting governance expectations for university boards. 

The pressures we’re facing are real, but not insurmountable. They do, however, necessitate deliberate choices about what we want to do, what we need to do, and what we can sustainably afford. 

Memorial Evolve is a coordinated approach designed to transform our university with transparency, purpose and courage. It commits to a focus on three interconnected priorities: contracting with care, evolving around students, and strengthening with purpose.  

In early January, for example, we announced a reduction in the number of vice-presidents from seven to three, creating a smaller and more focused executive team that aligns with comparator universities. This was a contraction that also strengthened our administrative governance. This redesign will reduce siloes, clarify accountability, accelerate prioritization, and position the university for the work ahead.  

Evolving around students includes reshaping pathways so undergraduate and graduate learners can move through the university with confidence and momentum. It demands that we simplify application processes, reduce processing times, and communicate more effectively with interested and admitted students. We also need to be laser focused on improving retention rates among current students and accelerating time to completion. 

In service to Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial must remain a comprehensive university committed to academic excellence, research intensity, and a high-quality student experience. To that end, our academic programs must respond to a changing world and shifting expectations. Strong, informed academic decision‑making comes from thoughtful, discipline‑rooted conversations within units. This is the foundation of collegial governance and the best way to ensure that our path forward is grounded in evidence, good pedagogy, and, most importantly, the needs of our students. 

To ensure our long-term sustainability, programming also needs to be delivered in the context of available resources and infrastructure.   

The challenges we face are significant and complex; the decisions ahead won't be easy or universally agreed-on. They will, however, be informed by evidence, shaped by input from our community, and aligned with our mission. In the interests of transparency, the Memorial Evolve website will continue to be a public source of information and data.   

Memorial, like most universities in Canada, is undergoing the most significant transformation in its history. Change brings uncertainty but it also spawns possibility. This winter reminded us that, in the face of adversity, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are capable and resilient. Step by step, section by section, and together -- we’re clearing the way for a strong, vibrant and sustainable Memorial for generations to come.