To keep up the pressure in the fight against these program suspensions YUFA is asking everyone concerned with these program suspensions at York University – faculty, students, alumni, parents, community members, and the broader academic community – to send a letter to the York University Board of Governors calling on them to rescind the enrollment suspensions.
This is the first of what will be regular grievance corner blogs, intended to provide insight into the work of the grievance committee, and grievance processes more generally. As a first entry, I want to provide context to the work of the committee, by reviewing what is and is not a grievance, and what you should do if you think that you have experienced something that should become a grievance.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is warning that the Trump administration is undermining the integrity and independence of academic research conducted in Canada.
The Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA) stands in solidarity with the striking members of Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901 at Queen’s University.
The TFA has reached out to all candidates for the Board of Governors faculty positions, asking them to provide answers to three questions to help inform our members about their positions on key issues. Find out more.
The TFA condemns the unprecedented suspensions to programs at York University and call for York University to rescind these enrollment suspensions. Even in the face of shrinking government funding, these suspensions have been made without proper academic consultation and directly hinder diverse and inclusive educational offerings available to students and broader mandates, such as Truth and Reconciliation calls to action.
The Ontario provincial election is less than a week away. OCUFA has produced an analysis of each party’s commitments to the post-secondary education sector and their voting record. We encourage members to use these resources to inform their decision at the polls.
We encourage TFA members to read the platform and raise these issues with candidates. Showing support for strong sectoral funding, long-term investments for Northern universities, removing barriers to domestic student enrolment, fairness for contract faculty, and increased student aid at all Ontario’s universities will be key to strengthening public universities in Ontario.
Over the span of their careers many TFA members will experience a process conducted by HRS – whether as a witness, complainant, or respondent. This session will provide members with the information they need to know about engaging with HRS and provide an opportunity to ask questions.
The TFA’s proposed new article that was rejected would have required that (largely department driven) procedures be followed to define the duties and responsibilities, minimum qualifications, selection criteria, appointment process, compensation, term, and evaluation of the positions of Assistant/Associate Chairs/Directors, Program Directors, First Year Program Director, Practicum Director, Zone-Practicum Director, Co-Op Director, Graduate Program Directors.
During the negotiating committee’s preparation for bargaining, TFA members’ feelings of physical insecurity on campus and the unhygienic and slovenly nature of our campus, as well as the inadequacy of much of the equipment and teaching environment were raised with a resounding regularity.
Improving student-to-faculty/librarian ratios at University of Ottawa would be a crucial step in the right direction for bargaining at universities across the province.