The University of Limerick Governing Authority has today given a recommendation that UL subsidiary Plassey Campus Centre Ltd (PCC), which manages the student residences on campus, return rental income to the students who left their accommodation on foot of the government’s decision to close the university campus in March.
UL’s Governing Authority held a Special Meeting today Tuesday during which the refund of student rents was discussed. It was noted that as Plassey Campus Centre Ltd (PCC) is the licensor and a separate legal entity to the University, this is a matter for decision by PCC and not the Governing Authority. Nonetheless, as PCC sought the views of Governing Authority on the matter of refunds, the view of Governing Authority is that the rents be refunded to the students.
University of Limerick has responded quickly to the COVID-19 crisis, placing all of its academic programmes online, supporting the HSE in its fight against the pandemic and providing residential supports to over 700 students who chose to remain on the campus during the lockdown.
The university sector was experiencing a funding crisis before COVID-19 and UL, like the other universities, is now facing extraordinary financial challenges. Losing summer and foreign student income will bring huge deficits and government support for the Higher Education sector will be needed so UL can play its part in any economic recovery.
Last month, in order to prevent costs from rising where possible and in line with most Irish higher education institutions, UL introduced a recruitment freeze. The recruitment freeze is expected to remain in place for the immediate future.