The University of the West Indies, Mona is to adopt a number of initiatives aimed at minimising the impact of the recent cut indicated in the Budget Estimates submitted to Parliament by the Government of Jamaica. The initiatives include accelerating the pace of transformation into a more agile and self reliant campus, the introduction of new academic programmes, an increased focus on long-term programmes that would be attractive to international students,  and a focus on units that are capable of generating income.  Administrative reform was also high on the Agenda of the campus.

The measures were announced by Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Gordon Shirley, at a Town Hall meeting with members of staff on Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Assembly Hall.  .  He pointed out that because the Campus had anticipated the budget cut, it had already begun a programme to aggressively transform itself into an institution capable of greater self sufficiency. 

Among the initiatives highlighted by Principal Shirley with respect to the administration of the Campus were:
•    a freeze on vacancies and a more cost-effective manner of  handling replacement of staff on leave
•    elimination of overtime
•    Elimination of Sale of Leave
•    Reduction in security and utility costs
•    A review of the expenditure on overseas travel with a view to reducing this.
Professor Shirley told the gathering that there were already several projects underway to address some of these initiatives. 

New Academic Programmes
The Principal told staff that the Mona Campus would also be introducing new academic programmes in Dentistry and Agriculture as well as an expanded programme in Law. He pointed out that not only were these programmes highly supportive of national development, but that there was also a strong unfilled demand for them. These  programmes were to be offered in combination with a number of existing areas of academic focus to enhance the relevance of existing programme offerings. 

Self-fiinancing Programmes
The Campus was also reviewing the management of self-funded programmes in order to streamline these offerings and bring them into a more formal structure. Additionally, Professor Shirley proposed that there were a number of units which had income generating capabilities. These included the Mona Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), Mona Geo Informatics Services (MGIS), Caribbean Institute of Genetics (CARIGEN), the Mona School of Business (MSB), the  Business Development Office (BDO) and the Mona Institute of Applied Sciences.  Other units such as the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), Laboratories in the Faculties of Medical Sciences (such as, Pathology, Microbiology and Haematology) and Pure and Applied Sciences, as well as the Language Unit in the Faculty of Humanities & Education, all had income earning potential that needed to be explored.

In this respect he pointed out that the Campus would be moving to take advantage of the income generating potential and intellectual property right opportunities of path breaking projects developed by academic staff of the Campus such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) developed by Mona GeoInformatics, and the Cardiac Simulator developed by academics in the Departments of Surgery and Computing.  Such projects placed Mona in an excellent position to garner international research grants.

Physical Expansion Projects
Professor Shirley brought the staff up-to-date with respect to projects which were intended to meet the demands of the expanding student intake and to support income generating activities. 

Recently concluded projects which were highlighted were:
•    the expansion of the UWI School of Nursing ,
•    the establishment of the Western Jamaica Campus,
•    renovation of, and addition to  the Campus Bookstore, to enhance its  income generating mandate , and
•    the refurbishing of the Library, and the expansion of the Postgraduate facilities (the
Postgraduate Learning Commons in the Main Library)

Construction Projects yet to be started include:
•     new student housing facilities to accommodate 800 undergraduate and 200 graduate students.  These would be entirely self-financing
•    The  Basic Medical Sciences Complex (which would enable the release of facilities currently used in the delivery of the MBBS programme)
•    A multi-purpose Sport facility capable of seating 6000 persons and which was to be used for Convocation exercises as well as an Examination Centre.  The Facility would also be used for the staging of major sporting and entertainment events on an income generating basis.

In highlighting the Campus’ continued commitment to addressing student needs, the Principal reminded the staff that the Library was now accessible by students on a 24-hour basis and remarked that  over two hundred additional computers had been provided to the Library in order to  increased the Library’s capacity to serve student needs.  Hot Spots had also been established across the campus, thus making it possible for on line access virtually across the campus.

In closing, Professor Shirley said he was confident that the Campus could successfully transform itself while improving its capacity to contribute to national and regional development and committed to maintaining dialogue with staff using the Town Hall approach.