A proposal to reduce costs at Lincoln University could result in the loss of 30 jobs at the Canterbury campus, and more at the Telford division near Balclutha.

Tertiary Education Union president Sandra Grey said Lincoln University vice-chancellor Robin Pollard announced the proposed cuts on Wednesday.

In a media statement, Pollard said the Canterbury-based institution had been looking at ways to make courses more attractive to students, updating teaching methods, and reducing costs.

MARY-JO TOHILL/FAIRFAX NZ The Telford Campus near Balclutha in South Otago.

Consultation would take place with affected staff and the union over the next four weeks.

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Grey said it was gratifying to see the vice-chancellor "fronting up finally" to address the unease and rumours surrounding Lincoln University's future.

The proposed staffing cuts would also affect the Telford Campus.

Grey said Telford staff were angry about the announcement.

"They are very loyal to students and the local community and determined to ensure best for the institution".

It was not yet known how many staff or which courses would be affected by the proposed changes.

It was the first time the union had been given a clear indication that Telford could not only lose staff, but detach from Lincoln University as a tertiary organisation, she said.

This would be discussed further at a meeting on Thursday.

She said it was an anxious time for staff and the community, who could be faced with further upheaval following the Lincoln University-Telford merger in January 2011. The merger caused Lincoln's roll to swell to about 3600 equivalent full-time students, up from 2700 the previous year.

Pollard said while he was impressed with the university community's response to improve its financial performance, underlying costs had to be addressed, "and that involves reducing the total cost of salaries, and to eliminate positions that are no longer required".

Deans and managers had identified areas where the university did not need so many staff, he said.



Areas most affected would include administration and the Telford campus, where sub-degree provision was being reduced.

"It made very little sense for Lincoln University to pursue sub-degree students up and down the country taught through complex arrangements with third-party operators."



He said Telford was heavily subsidising its on-campus delivery with much lower cost delivery by "correspondence" and through partnerships.

"However, Lincoln University has been compromised by the low cost activities, and that is not acceptable."

There had been a sharp drop in sub-degree enrolments, from 1300 in 2012 to 500 in 2016, he said.

Pollard indicated the best prospects for sub-degree agricultural training "probably lie in areas outside Lincoln's core competencies through a sub-degree provider with capacity to deliver a high-quality blend of online content mixed with real-time student interactions and some on-campus activities".

"We are working with alternative providers, and industry training arrangements should also be set up."