University of New Brunswick students will begin their semester this week after being locked out of classes due to stalled contract negotiations between the university and it’s faculty association.
Last Monday provincial post-secondary education minister Jody Carr ordered both sides back to the table with a mediator. By Thursday a tentative deal was struck.
Some details of that deal came out Friday, including the big one for many students: March reading week will be canceled to make up for lost class time.
The university also announced classes will likely extend until April 17, and the exam period will now be from April 22 to 30. Previously classes were taught up to April 9, and exams wrapped up April 26.
The deadline for paying tuition is Feb. 7, eight days after news initially broke of the strike’s end. Many students chose not to pay their tuition until the strike was resolved, as advocated by their students’ union.
UNB administration says they are looking forward to a return to the “vibrant UNB campus life,” that has been almost non-existent in January.
“With this settlement in hand, we can now turn our attention back to our students and focus on improving on our stature as one of Canada’s great universities,” UNB president Eddy Campbell said in a statement.
The university assures students their return to class will be as seamless as possible, and details will be released as soon as possible through the UNB labour website. The AUNBT will be releasing information through their website as well.
