A public forum to discuss Sir Wilfred Grenfell College's Reporting Structure will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 7 p.m. at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

Memorial University President Dr. Axel Meisen in April commissioned Dr. George Ivany, Memorial alumnus and former president of the University of Saskatchewan; Dr. James Greenlee, a long-serving faculty member and former division head at Grenfell College; and Dr. Jack Strawbridge, a long-serving faculty member and current director of Faculty Relations at Memorial University, to study the reporting structure that currently exists between the university and its western Newfoundland campus.

The commissioners will determine if the present reporting structure, wherein the principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College reports to Memorial University's vice-president (academic), should be changed so that the principal reports to the president of Memorial University. After that question has been addressed and answered, the commissioners will examine if there are benefits in making other changes in the reporting and organizational structure of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College and, if so, what are those changes?

“We believe the present reporting structure does not reflect the needs of our college, nor does it take into consideration the significant growth we have experienced and the maturity we have achieved,” explained Dr. John Ashton, principal of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. “We feel our students, our faculty, our staff and our supporting community would be better served under a new structure.”

The commissioners met with Dr. Ashton, faculty and staff at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College on May 19-20. “People within the university community were given the chance to express their views on this very important matter,” Dr. Ashton added. “The public forum gives our partners outside the university, including the general public with whom the college has developed unique relationships, the opportunity to make their thoughts known.”

The commissioners will also review any relevant background information before reaching consensus and submitting a single report outlining their responses to the two questions. If consensus cannot be achieved, the commissioners are expected to prepare separate reports. Draft copies will be presented to Dr. Ashton, Dr. Eddy Campbell, Memorial's vice-president (academic), and to the university president for discussion before they are finalized. It's expected the commissioners will complete their work by June, 2005.

The public forum will be held in Room 375, Arts and Science Building, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.