Federal government attacks on higher education have hit the University of Wollongong. In early December, the university confirmed that $23 million in funding will be cut over four years.

The announcement comes on top of vice chancellor Paul Wellings’ five-year plan to “restructure” the university. Wellings’ grand scheme is an excuse to cut jobs and services for students and staff.

This year, the university’s 11 faculties were reduced to five. Administration and IT services have been centralised. Tasks that once required a quick chat can now take days of laborious emailing and paperwork. The mood in the corridors is not concern about if jobs will be cut, but when.

The money is there to restore and improve important services. The university is sitting on a fat $17.5 million surplus. And while management is tight lipped about the current vice chancellor’s salary, Wellings’ predecessor took home a cool $855,000 every year.

Further cuts of $23 million will push already overworked staff to breaking point and have serious ramifications for the quality of education for students.

[Chris is a research student and member of the Wollongong branch of the NTEU]