Staff at the University of New England will be provided with more information about the restructure that will see $20 million job cuts.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The university staff will gain access to draft plans for the new organisational structure, while UNE says there will be a consultation period.
UNE has called the release of the plans, and the staff consultation phase, as Phase 2 of the Time for Change process announced by UNE Vice-Chancellor and CEO, Professor Brigid Heywood, in July.
On Thursday afternoon, Professor Heywood will provide an update on the announcement of the 20-day formal consultation process to allow the university's staff to have input into the re-design of the institution. UNE says that is the day staff will receive the information.
Two months ago UNE announced a massive restructure to cut $20 million in wages annually. It came as the university was facing a $25 million loss this year, and a similar forecast for next year.
Shortly after that announcement on July 22, union members at the campus demanded the university open its books to justify the proposed 'restructure' of the university, a right they say was included in their enterprise bargaining agreement.
Spokesperson Dr Bea Bleile, a senior lecturer in mathematics, said staff at the meeting responded with "alarm and dismay".
Elsewhere, there was less surprise.
Read also:
The writing had been on the wall for a long time coming according to two suspended Armidale councillors.
After UNE released its 26-page document explaining the cuts titled 'Time for Change' in July, Dr Bleile said it didn't fulfill the EBA requirements, and demanded more information and justification for the proposed cuts to jobs at the university.
As part of the restructure, which is planned to be completed over the next six months, Professor Heywood outlined in July where money would be diverted to.
More than $2 million will go towards a new precinct for science and technology courses at the Armidale campus, while money will also go towards getting its planned Tamworth facility operating, and some changes at its Parramatta campus.
There will be new portfolios in the organisational chart to focus on areas such as technology and working with businesses. Another portfolio will have the responsibility for finding savings in their operational costs.
Professor Heywood said there would also be a major investment in a new online learning platform.
The savings will start with the voluntary redundancy program and the VC said UNE were seeking expressions of interest from academic and professional staff.
