Carnegie Lemon closes ranks

Thursday, October 28, 2010 Source: InDaily Adelaide

Carnegie Mellon tight-lipped

DANIELLE FORSYTH

THE Carnegie Mellon University is refusing to answer questions about the future of its Adelaide campus.

The taxpayer subsidised university has been subject to persistent rumours of financial trouble, including possible closure next year.

Reports earlier this month claimed the university campus would close within 12 months due to declining enrolment figures, but Carnegie Mellon has declined to speak to Indaily about the allegations.

Since 2006, the American university has received more than $23 million in state government funding and $8 million from the federal government to establish and maintain the Adelaide campus.

This week, Carnegie Mellon continually pushed back an Indaily interview with executive director Professor Terry Buss before it was cancelled altogether.

The university instead provided a statement which said they were “committed to our programs in Adelaide and to the South Australian community”.

“There are no plans to close the operations in Adelaide and no truth that a closing in 12 months is imminent,” the statement said.

Premier Mike Rann has repeatedly defended the university against claims it is a waste of taxpayer money and this week said the allegations were made by people “jealous” of Carnegie Mellon.

Earlier this year, Professor Buss said the college would be able to operate without state government funding, and was now overseeing a restructure to offer more short-term courses which it hoped would succeed better than the current one- to two-year options.

Approximately 100 of the university’s 247 students since 2006 have been paid public servants on a 75 per cent government scholarship.