Hundreds of professors, instructors and librarians at Acadia University walked off the job on Monday, the second strike at the school in three years.

Contract talks between the university's faculty association and board of governors broke off Sunday night, prompting the university to cancel classes.

The dispute leaves thousands of students wondering what will happen next.

"They both are very stubborn right now," fourth-year student David Emmett said. "I think they're not quite as willing to negotiate as they should be."

A 12-hour meeting Sunday was a last-minute attempt to avert a strike after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on Friday.

"We're obviously disappointed that we weren't able to get a deal. We'd all rather be in our offices and classes and labs, but we're committed to the principle of preserving high-quality education at Acadia," said Andrew Biro, a faculty association spokesman.

The association says the outstanding issues include wages, benefits and the number of full-time faculty jobs.

A spokesman for the university, Scott Roberts, said the association did not present a proposal that was within the school's budget.

No further contract talks are scheduled, and Biro said he fears this strike could last much longer than the two-week walkout in 2004.

Roberts said he worries that Acadia is becoming known for contract disputes.

"Our reputation is extraordinarily important to us and a labour disruption certainly causes parents, students and others to wonder a little bit about the institution," Roberts said.

Classes are cancelled, but the gym, library and cafeteria remain open.

Almost 3,400 full-time students attend the university in Wolfville, in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley.