Media release: "Universities are not corporations that also happen to teach" says TEU.

A restructure of Massey University senior management (SLT), announced this week would weaken academic representation and ignores the real pressures facing staff, says the union for university, polytechnic and wānanga staff, the Tertiary Education Union (TEU).

The proposal would reduce academic roles at SLT and create an additional academic management layer while creating new roles including a "chief of staff" and "chief people and culture officer". A proposed Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise role would not be required to have a doctoral qualification or an established academic research profile.

Associate Professor Sean Phelan, TEU Massey University Branch Academic Representative, says the proposal weakens academic voice at the VC's table.

"Universities are not corporations that also happen to teach. Their public value depends on independent scholarship, robust academic governance, and the protection of academic freedom. Any structural change must strengthen, not weaken, these foundations."

Massey University union staff are also currently negotiating a new collective agreement and say the announcement, while the university refuses to meet staff claims for a real salary rise and secure work feels like a slap in the face.

TEU Massey University Co-Branch President, Te Awatea Ward, says that the staff who teach and support students every day of the week are the people who the university’s reputation relies on.

"Our workloads have increased enormously due to previous staffing cuts, and the cost of living is hurting us all. We just want our employer to see what we do and value us for it.

"It is appalling that the Vice-Chancellor appears more focussed on reshuffling senior management than investing in the staff that teach, research, and keep the University running. Professor Venter needs to value his staff and recognise the purpose of the University."

ENDS