FNUC Financial Crunch No Surprise To Ex-Dean

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 13:58

 

 

An Aboriginal professor says she’s glad questions are being asked of the First Nations University of Canada.

 

Members of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada are scheduled to meet in Saskatoon today.

 

They will be discussing recommendations made by a panel of experts who reviewed the governance model at the FNUC last year. The panel’s findings are expected to be made public tomorrow.

 

Dr. Winona Wheeler says she isn’t surprised to hear reports the school is fighting a deficit situation, especially given the turmoil that has surrounded the school the past two years.

 

The former dean adds she’s not sure how FNUC administrators are going to dig their way out of this apparent financial crisis.

 

According to documents leaked to the media, the school is dealing with a financial shortfall of over $1.5 million.

 

A report of a recent board of governors meeting suggests services could be cut if Indian Affairs and the provincial government are unwilling to provide emergency funding to the FNUC.

 

Wheeler says the situation won’t be resolved until politicians quit interfering with the direction of the school.