He also confirmed asset sales were being considered as the financially troubled university tries to get its books back in the black.
Pollard said discussions on the future of the south Otago farm training campus had not been detailed.
Since 2010 Lincoln has delivered certificate and diploma courses to the 110 students studying at the 1000ha sheep, beef, dairy and deer campus near Balclutha. A trust owned the farm.
Courses were delivered to a similar number of students studying remotely throughout the country.
Pollard said any decision on the future of the campus depended on the application for funding from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), which was contestable for sub-degree courses and should be known by late October or early November.
“It is stressful for staff at Telford and the Telford community and other stakeholders,” he said of the uncertainty.
The review of Telford’s future was part of a wide-ranging Refreshing Lincoln initiative to address successive financial deficits and a static student role.
Costs were being closely managed and Pollard said next year’s budget was being prepared with the aim of meeting TEC financial indicators.
“To some extent all we have signalled is a resolve but it is a very serious resolve and we are planning every day to achieve better outcomes.”
Asked whether the 14 farms it owned, leased or were in trust to the university, would be sold, Pollard said it was an option still being looked at.
“Some farms are very important and some we would never want to see go.
“On the other hand others are not used for research and perhaps we would make better use of those for our balance sheet.”
“Some farms are very important and some we would never want to see go.”
Robin Pollard
Lincoln University
Lincoln’s asset base was complex with some farms and assets held in trust but ultimately any decision to sell would have to be made by the university council.
Rumours Lincoln could become a Massey University campus were just that and no decision had been made on Lincoln’s future, he said.
Accountability with department heads was being strengthened by making them aware of the financial implications of decisions such as the cost impact on student-staff ratios from new courses.
“I wouldn’t say you can’t run a course because there will only be three students, I am inclined to say ‘as you run your faculty resources you should do so to maximum effect’.
“It’s a new style of management for Lincoln.”
That was part of management’s response to an Ernst Young report on Lincoln’s performance.
But the changes could not tarnish students’ experience at the university.
He hoped to enhance that experience by making better use of the internet to help deliver courses and papers.
The planned science hub, an initiative between Lincoln, AgResearch, Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and DairyNZ, would broaden student access to education by getting scientists to assist with student education and expose students to science and research.
That could also extend to research staff having a role supervising Lincoln PhD students.
“Having everyone co-located in a new building and the spirit of goodwill will be something genuinely unique, a world-class and very exciting development for the university because universities tend to be closed off at the institutional level.”
