University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne has spoken to staff from its school of business over performance issues.
The Otago Daily Times understands concerns about the school, also known as the commerce division, included how it has fared in attracting government research funding through the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF).
An Otago University spokeswoman confirmed Prof Hayne and the school's dean met its staff last Friday.
''The vice-chancellor and the dean expressed their strong ambitions for the school and discussed some exciting possibilities for the future,'' she said.
The university did not answer questions on whether cutbacks were planned at the school or specify what aspects of performance there were concerns about.
It also did not say whether it was worried about a drop in student numbers in the division, which have fallen 14% from 3586 equivalent full-time students in 2009 to 3082 last year.
