Jamaica: UWI Can’t Make Payroll Amid Tuition Slump

Jamaica Gleaner – Plunging receipt of tuition fees has forced The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, to delay the traditional early payment of salaries a week before Christmas.

Staff at the university were advised on Wednesday that they would not get their scheduled Yuletide payout this Friday.

“We regret to advise that salaries will be paid on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. This delay is due to the difficulties we have been experiencing collecting tuition fees,” read a circular issued by Donovan Stanberry, registrar of the Mona Campus, on Wednesday.

“We crave your patience and understanding, and we regret any inconvenience caused.”

Speaking with The Gleaner on Wednesday night, Stanberry confirmed the delay, citing the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic as the main factor.

Stanberry said that although this academic year’s enrolment of 18,000 was on par with 2019 numbers, that data set alone did not capture the true picture of the university’s finances.

While enrolment in postgraduate degrees has risen, for example, Stanberry disclosed that registration in high-priced self-financing programmes like engineering and medicine had fallen.

He declined to state the gap in projections for overall tuition revenues or fee payments in specific programmes.

“Generally speaking, the collection of tuition fees has been impacted by COVID-19. People have lost jobs … . Cash flow would not be as healthy as in other times,” the registrar told The Gleaner.

Stanberry said that The UWI had offered a number of concessions, including a downward revision of payment plans from 25 per cent to 15 per cent.