Weekly Update – February 12
February 12, 2021
Weekly Update – February 12
CUASA Office Closure
The virtual CUASA Office will be closed on Monday, February 15, for Family Day. The office will reopen on Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00am.
Student Experience Questionnaire to Replace Student Evaluation of Teaching
In a message sent this week, Carleton Provost Jerry Tomberlin announced that a new Student Experience Questionnaire will replace the previous Student Evaluation of Teaching forms.
This new questionnaire arose from our last round of collective bargaining, and is a result of the work of the Joint Subcommittee on Teaching Evaluations.
As noted in the Provost’s message, the revised survey reflects a variety of facets of teaching effectiveness, such as learning, organization, assignments and exams, group interaction, etc. One notable change is that it does not include a summative question about overall teaching effectiveness.
To read the Provost’s full message, and see a preview of the new questionnaire, click here.
Join the Waitlist: Anti-racism and Oppression Training
CUASA’s Chair of Equity, Dawn Moore, has contracted a facilitator to provide anti-racism and oppression training for CUASA’s Executive and Council. We are also building a waitlist for Association members who may be interested in this training, should some extra spots be available.
Workshop Name: Building resilience, anti-racism & oppression training for CUASA Council
Duration: The workshop will be split over 2 days so attendance to both sessions is critical.
If you are interested, please email [email protected] and indicate if you are available to attend the full training block:
- Thursday, March 11, 1:00 – 3:00pm
- Thursday, March 18, 1:00 – 3:00pm
We will add names to the waitlist and contact those persons if spots become available. Note: If you are not able to attend this block, there will be more opportunities for this training in the future.
Call for Expressions of Interest: CUASA Caucuses
CUASA is seeking expressions of interest from the membership in forming a women’s caucus, an LGTBQIA2S+ caucus, and a disability caucus. We also welcome other suggestions for caucuses. If you are interested and/or have a caucus suggestion, please email our Chair of Equity, Dawn Moore, at [email protected].
Nominations for Steering Positions
We are still accepting nominations for the following Steering positions (click on the title to read the position description):
Information on the nominations process can be found on our How to Volunteer page. The work of the Association continues, despite the current environment we find ourselves in. Remember that our Association is only as strong as its membership, so we count on the time and commitment of our members to achieve our goals. Some of these positions come with a course release subject to the availability of funds (please ask if interested).
Retired Representatives on Council
CUASA council has two positions for retired persons representatives. The terms of both positions expire on March 31, 2021 and accordingly the Carleton University Retirees Association (CURA) has been mandated by CUASA to fill these positions. It should be noted that these positions are ‘voice but no vote’. That is, one can speak to any issue but not put motions or vote for motions. This is open only to CUASA members who have retired.
It is expected that the representatives attend the usually two-hour long, monthly council meetings, this year on Zoom.
If you wish to stand for election for the CUASA rep position please send your name and former CUASA unit to the CURA president: [email protected]
Depending on the response, elections will be held. Since this is the first time this approach is being used, please inform the President of CURA before March 1, 2021 so that the next step can be organized.
Carleton Updates
President and Vice-Chancellor Reappointment Committee
The Carleton Board of Governors has launched a reappointment process for President and Vice-Chancellor Benoit-Antoine Bacon.
The initial step is assembling a 13-person advisory committee. The committee will begin its work in March and make their recommendation to the board at the June 1, 2021 meeting.
The Senate is currently accepting applications for THREE people from among tenured faculty members and professional librarians. Click here for more information.
Academic Community Updates
Act now: Demand the government provide the necessary funding to secure the future of Laurentian University
In a surprising move, Laurentian University has filed for court protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) due to financial challenges it is facing as a result of reckless administrative decisions and the erosion of public university funding.
Laurentian University is a public institution, not a private sector corporation. As such, it is the responsibility of government to ensure sustainable operating funding. This funding would put an immediate end to Laurentian’s financial challenges and prevent inappropriate and costly legal proceedings.
Together, we need to put pressure on both the provincial and federal governments to provide Laurentian with the funding it needs, not just to survive for a few more months, but to secure the public institution’s long-term future.
Make your voice heard: Click here to send a letter demanding the provincial and federal governments intervene to protect this vital public institution.
Click here to read OCUFA’s statement on the situation at Laurentian, and click here to read CAUT’s statement.
Ontario’s postsecondary staff, students, and faculty support paid sick days for all
Members of the Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition (OUCC), of which OCUFA is a member, have put out a statement supporting the Decent Work and Health Network’s call for seven permanent, paid sick days for all workers and an additional fourteen paid sick days during public health outbreaks. Click here to read more.
Call for submissions: 2020-2021 Annual OCUFA Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards
Each year, OCUFA is proud to celebrate outstanding achievement in teaching and academic librarianship at Ontario universities. Through the Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards, we recognize those individuals whose pedagogical leadership and support have made a positive and enduring difference to their students and colleagues. The deadline for nominations is May 28, 2021. For more information and award guidelines, click here.
CAUT calls for review of security agency activities on campus
CAUT is calling for a review of protocols regarding RCMP and CSIS activities on campus following recent instances of surveillance of students and academics, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair. Click here to read more.
Labour Community Updates
Over 40 Ontario unions take next steps in lawsuit against Ford government’s wage restraint legislation
From the OFL: “A Coalition of over 40 Ontario unions has formally filed evidence in a lawsuit to repeal legislation which severely limits wage and benefit increases for public sector workers, a move the Coalition says violates bargaining rights enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.” To keep reading, click here.
