Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union (SMUFU) has voted 91% in favour of a non-confidence motion against SMU President Robert Summerby-Murray and Board of Governors Chair Alan Abraham. The union pointed to a lack of transparency surrounding financial issues and concerns about declining enrolment rates as key rationale behind the vote. In a press release, SMUFU added that they had secured external financial experts, who determined that the university’s deficit is the result of “mismanagement of enrollment projections [and] increased spending.” SMU issued a statement noting that the university is facing similar challenges to other postsecondary institutions and explaining “we have assured [the union], our faculty and staff that we will work collectively to take action to place the university on a course for sustainability.”
