The Star: September 08, 2016

12 Thursday September 8 2016
follow us on facebook.com/riseupchristchurch
The Star
News
Lincoln University: ‘Dead’ in a year
• By Shelley Robinson
LINCOLN University’s vicechancellor
Professor Robin
Pollard has refused to elaborate
on why he reportedly said the
university would be “dead” in a
year.
On August 8,
Prof Pollard (left)
told staff at a
meeting “we have
one year to get to
surplus or we are
dead”.
The comment
was raised in Parliament by NZ
First MP Tracey Martin last
month.
Ms Martin asked Tertiary
Education, Skills and Employment
acting minister Louise
Upston whether she was aware
Mr Pollard had made the “dead”
in a year comment to staff.
The university has been under
dire financial pressure, after a
recorded $6 million loss in the
last financial year.
It is looking to slash “unpopular
courses’’ in a bid to save
millions.
In response to Ms Martin, Ms
Upston said there were challenges
in “returning to profitability”
for the university.
Prof Pollard did not deny he
made the comment but said it
“was taken out of context”.
He refused to clarify what he
meant and how it had been taken
out of context. He would only
say it was made “in the context
of the university’s need for transformation”.
“Financial viability is important
but any suggestion that
Lincoln University only has a
year to achieve viability is superficial
and taken out of context,”
he said.
Prof Pollard said he wanted
the university to “flourish well
into the future” and to make it
financially viable, costs had to be
reduced and revenue increased.
There have been a series of
UNDER
FIRE:
Lincoln
University’s
vicechancellor
Prof Robin
Pollard is
staying
tight-lipped
on why he
told staff
“we have
one year
to get to
surplus
or we are
dead”. ​
high-profile resignations, with
five deputy vice-chancellors
resigning this year.
Prof Pollard’s lack of
communication has been
slammed by the Tertiary
Education Union.
TEU organiser Cindy Doull
said it had sent six letters to
Mr Pollard asking for more
information on the definition
of an “unpopular course”, how
it would return to surplus and
impact on staff.
He has not replied to any of
the letters.
“He just ignores them. We feel
like we are talking to ourselves.
He just doesn’t respond,” she
said.
Ms Doull said it would be
upsetting to staff to hear the
comment without Prof Pollard
elaborating further.
“It is a nightmare for people
with so much uncertainty about
what is going on. We have seen
a significant increase in anxiety
levels and depressive illnesses
. . . this has been four years of
uncertainty on top of the earthquakes,”
she said.
•Yesterday, the university
announced that it has received
an $11 million partial insurance
settlement from Vero, for damage
caused by the September 4,
2010, earthquake.
The settlement covered 140
smaller buildings at the Lincoln
campus.
The pay-out means the university
can begin initiating its
campus master plan, including
refurbishments or creating new
buildings, said Prof Pollard.
Proud installers of
Get a Mitsubishi Electric GE42 5.4kW
Heat Pump including FREE installation* for just
$2,399*
*includes cost of back to back install only, conditions apply
Phone 0800 324 678
Call now for a free quote
JO HAYES
NATIONAL LIST MP BASED
IN CHRISTCHURCH EAST
Office
nOw Open at:
6/950 Ferry Road,
Ferrymead
P: 384 9459
Call to make an
appointment
www.national.org.nz
Elegant
Enduring
Eco Friendly
Easy to install
66C Kingsley Street,
Sydenham, Christchurch.
Phone: 03 352 3628
www.venusflooring.co.nz
Now from
$
66 / sqm
save $22/sqm
auckland
HomeShow
deals available
locally at ...
Christchurch
413 Tuam Street
03 343 6020
www.plumbin.co.nz
EXTRA
10%
OFF
PACKAGES
DEALS*
50% OFF ENGLEFIELD
ACCESSORIES with
bathroom packages*
50%
+ OFF +
LED MIRRORS*
50% OFF LED MIRRORS
with vanitypurchase*
50%
OFF
ACCESSORIES*
EXTRA
10% OFF
full bathroom
package*
T&Cs discounts apply to Alpha and Englefield bathroomware. Offer ends 24.9.2016.