Weekly Update – March 19
March 19, 2021
Weekly Update – March 19
Ottawa Now in Red Zone
Ottawa has now moved into the red (control) zone for public health measures. As such, the University has announced that all employees are expected to continue to work remotely if they are not required to be on campus to perform necessary work.
The Library remains open, pre-approved on-campus research can continue, and CUASA members can continue to access their personal offices on campus with the appropriate approval. If you do plan to go to campus, you must complete the Daily Campus Access & Screening Form found here.
For more information, visit Carleton’s COVID-19 Response Framework page here.
Concerns on Returning to Campus in Fall 2021
Last week we wrote about the concerns we have been hearing regarding the potential return to campus plans for Fall 2021.
CUASA wishes to inform its members that we will be meeting with the Employer at the JCAA table next week, and that there will be a discussion happening on the plans for Fall 2021. We will pass on the concerns that we have been hearing, and we look forward to learning more about the University’s plans.
Should you have any concerns that you wish to share with CUASA on any plans for a potential return to campus, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
CUASA Business
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).
Carleton Updates
Welcome to My Online Classroom
Welcome to My Online Classroom is a workshop series led by instructors, for instructors, with a specific focus on sharing a wide variety of ideas, strategies, and approaches to teaching online. On Thursday, March 25, Dr. Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies will lead a session focusing on strategies that worked for her and ‘lessons learned’ regarding online teaching, with special attention to group work/interaction in an online context. For details and registration information, click here.
CUASA would also just like to take a moment to remind its members that any presentations, workshops, etc. that you facilitate through Teaching and Learning Services does count toward your service obligations to the University.
CUPE 910 Tentative Agreement
CUASA would like to extend its sincere congratulations to the members of CUPE Local 910, representing Skilled Trades and Maintenance employees in Facilities Management and Planning (FMP) at Carleton, on their tentative agreement with the University.
Call for Applications: OCUFA Awards
The Carleton University Teaching Awards Committee (CUTAC) is looking to nominate faculty for the 2021 OCUFA Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards, which recognize outstanding teachers and academic librarians in Ontario.
If you are interested in applying or if you would like to learn more about the nomination process, please contact at [email protected]. Draft applications must be submitted to CUTAC by April 10. Find more details here.
Academic Community Updates
Please join CAUT in showing solidarity with LUFA
Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario is the first public university to declare insolvency. Please take a moment to lend your voice by asking the federal government to step up. The federal government can assist through its support for Official Languages and Indigenous education, research and core operating funds. It can show leadership by working with the provinces to develop and fund a plan for post-secondary education as it has for childcare, housing and health care. Please take two minutes to sign this letter.
Update on support for the Laurentian University Faculty Association
As the Laurentian University administration continues its attempts to drastically restructure the university through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, OCUFA has increased its efforts to pressure Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano and the Ford government to step in and provide Laurentian with the funding it needs to secure its future.
Read the full update here.
No need for new stand-alone college nursing degrees
OCUFA believes that Humber College’s new stand-alone nursing degree program is unnecessary and short-sighted. Current university programs and joint university-college programs already provide a quality, well-rounded nursing education that is based on science and encompasses hands-on training and research. Like many of the Ford government’s postsecondary education initiatives, this is a solution in search of a problem developed without appropriate consultation.
To keep reading, click here.
Labour Community Updates
Mental Wellness While Working from Home
The Ottawa and District Labour Council and the Workers Health & Safety Centre are presenting “Mental Wellness While Working from Home” as part of the virtual health and safety information series.
The Zoom event will happen on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome, but advance registration is required. You can RSVP here.
Labour Council outraged by cold callous treatment of workers by Ottawa area employer during Pandemic
The Ottawa and District Labour Council is expressing outrage at the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel decision this week to terminate approximately 75 employees, members of UNITE HERE Local 261. Many of the workers at the Sheraton are women and some have worked at the hotel for over 30 years.
Read the full statement here.
