The Department of Geology is currently facing proposed staff cuts as part of the University of Otago’s drive to address their operating deficit.

We are facing cuts of 14.1 to 10.85 full time equivalent (FTE) for academic staff and 9.35 to 5.7 FTE for professional staff. These are cuts of 23% and 39%, respectively. This will lead to an unsustainable environment with worse research and teaching outcomes. These cuts constitute a severe dismantling of the Department which has been a foundational part of the University since 1878.

Our Geology Department covers a range of nationally and internationally significant topics both at the undergraduate teaching and research levels. These include hazard management and understanding (tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes), marine carbon sequestration, climate change, mineral extraction, structural geology, Antarctic studies, and many other fields of increasing importance in modern times. These cuts will be felt at many levels – present and future staff, students and collaborators will be impacted but there will also be consequences at a national level due to the impact on our research and reduced ability to educate students in a world where understanding earth sciences are increasingly important. This is particularly important in Aotearoa New Zealand which is at high risk to a range of natural hazards.

We are currently in the consultation phase on this proposal with submissions to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Sciences due by 12PM on Wednesday 16th August. While supporting this petition is helpful what really helps is if you make a submission to the PVC yourself. Submissions should be addressed to Prof. Richard Barker and sent to pvc.sciences.ea@otago.ac.nz. If you could copy in our fantastic head of department Andrew Gorman at andrew.gorman@otago.ac.nz we would really appreciate that.

Please include in your submission the following:

• Who you are
• What you do
• What your relationship to the department is (former/current student, university staff, external collaborator or even a citizen concerned about the impact on our nationally significant research capacity and programme, etc)
• Why you care about the department
• What consequences you are concerned about

We encourage you to write your own submission but we understand you are busy so feel free to use and customise this template:

 

Dear Prof. Richard Barker

My name is [INSERT NAME HERE] and I am [INSERT PROFESSION/POSITION HERE].

I am writing to you today to express my concerns regarding the proposed cuts to the Department of Geology at the University of Otago.

I am invested in the outcome and state of the Department because…

• I have spent time at Otago in the past/know someone that has
• The research outputs are nationally and internationally significant
• The Department engages in my community through outreach
• I employ graduates from the Department

I am concerned that the proposed cuts will…

• Lead to reduced appeal for future students
• Lessen the currently excellent reputation of the Department
• Reduce the quality of research

Thank you for taking the time to read my submission, I hope you reconsider the proposal and investigate other means to save money that won’t cause more damage to the Department and wider university.

Kind regards,

[INSERT NAME HERE]