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OCUFA Submission warns of threat to shared governance in regulations proposed in Northern Ontario School of Medicine University Act

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Ontario faculty are concerned with the government’s proposed provision regarding the power of Senate at the new Northern Ontario School of Medicine University (NOSMU). The wording used in the Senate section of the NOSMU regulations would undermine the fundamental principle of shared bicameral governance at the new University, by subjecting the Senate’s power to “determine and regulate the educational policy of the University” to the Board of Governors’ approval. This language is inconsistent with what exists in the other Ontario public university acts where the Board’s approval is only sought with respect to the expenditure of funds.

Shared collegial governance, carried out through the bicameral system, is a fundamental tenet of Canadian universities. Granting the Board of Governors additional powers, as the current language in the regulations implies, would undermine collegial governance at the newly formed NOSM University from its inception.

OCUFA has made a submission to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities recommending an amendment to the NOSMU regulations in order to protect collegial governance at the institution and to ensure the new university is truly based on a collegial bicameral model of governance. The amendment limits the Board’s approval power over the Senate’s decisions on the educational policy of the institution to matters related to expenditure of funds only.

This important change would ensure that the governance at NOSM remains consistent with all other universities in the province.

Read OCUFA’s full submission here.

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities is accepting submissions regarding this legislation until December 2, 2021. Individuals and organizations interested in making their own submissions in support of the NOSMFSA can download a template here and make their submission to the Ministry here.

OCUFA supports college faculty bargaining for better working conditions

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TORONTO, Nov 10, 2021 – The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), which represents 17,000 securely and precariously employed faculty, academic librarians, and other academic professionals at Ontario’s universities, stands in solidarity with college faculty across the province as they work to negotiate a new collective agreement.

Represented by the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU), the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology-Academics (CAAT-A) bargaining team has a strong mandate from its members to seek improvements on workload, working conditions, equity, Indigenization, and intellectual property rights. These concerns are shared by OCUFA’s members and must be adequately addressed by Ontario’s College Employer Council (CEC) to ensure a high-quality, accessible postsecondary education system in Ontario.

Full and partial-load college faculty have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to continue offering high-quality educational experiences to students across the province. Improvements to faculty working conditions and workload mean better learning conditions for students— a central priority for our postsecondary education system.

It is disappointing that strong equity provisions and recognition for Indigenous ways of learning, research, and teaching are not a priority for the CEC. It is equally concerning that the individual currently mediating negotiating doesn’t believe these are reasonable priorities for college faculty. These improvements are long overdue in the postsecondary education sector and are an essential part of the province’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

Stronger protection for intellectual property maintains the integrity of the learning experience by preserving good jobs and recognizing the labour and knowledge of faculty who have spent years developing courses, research, and educational materials. We know that these innovations are shared with and greatly benefit the broader community. OCUFA members will continue to support their colleagues at Ontario’s colleges and urge the CEC to negotiate a fair deal that adequately addresses OPSEU CAAT-A’s biggest concerns.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty, academic librarians, and other academic professionals in 31 member associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

OCUFA stands in solidarity with the University of Manitoba Faculty Association

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TORONTO, Nov, 8, 2021 – The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) stands in solidarity with the members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association (UMFA) who are on strike to demand fair wages that address retention and recruitment issues at the university.

OCUFA, which represents 17,000 faculty, academic librarians, and other academic professionals in 31 member associations across Ontario, supports our colleagues at UMFA as they call for the university to agree to a fair deal that enhances the quality of education at the institution. OCUFA is also concerned by the Manitoba government’s history of interfering in collective bargaining.

“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at UMFA as they bargain for fair wages,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “But a fair bargaining process must be free of political interference and any attempt by the Manitoba government to arbitrarily cap wage increases. It’s not OK in Manitoba and it’s not OK in Ontario, where we have taken the Ford government to court over its wage restraint legislation.”

OCUFA urges the University of Manitoba administration to come to the table with a fair deal that addresses the existing pay gap between faculty at the university and faculty at comparable universities across Canada. Ensuring competitive faculty compensation will lead to greater retention and recruitment and, by extension, enhance the quality education at the University of Manitoba. Further, OCUFA calls on the Manitoba government to remove any conditions it may have placed on the University of Manitoba’s administration that interfere in a free and fair bargaining process.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty, academic librarians, and other academic professionals in 31 member associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

New article supported by Fellowship in Higher Education Journalism examines mental health crisis facing postsecondary students

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“Inside the Mental Health Crisis Facing College and University Students” examines the causes of psychological distress amongst postsecondary students, the ways in which the higher education system exacerbates these issues, and outlines ways postsecondary institutions can reorient their approaches to supporting students with their mental health needs.

Financially stressed, traumatized, and worried about their futures, the article brings life to some of the harrowing experiences students face as they attempt to navigate through higher education. It demonstrates how the services available on many campuses are not meeting students’ needs and can often increase anxiety and depression.

Published in The Walrus, the article was written by journalist Simon Lewsen and features photos by documentary photographer Chloë Ellingson. This is the second article published with the financial support of OCUFA’s Mark Rosenfeld Fellowship in Higher Education Journalism. The Fellowship is designed to support those wishing to pursue in-depth investigative reporting on higher education in Canada.

The Fellowship was recently renamed to recognize Mark’s formative work as OCUFA’s Executive Director. It was during his tenure that the Fellowship was created. Mark understood the crucial role that investigative journalism plays in highlighting important issues and informing public policy discussions, especially as they pertain to postsecondary education.

Read “Inside the Mental Health Crisis Facing College and University Students” in The Walrus.

Take action to avoid a strike at Ontario Tech

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The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and intensified numerous challenges faced by faculty and students. As a result, many at Ontario Tech are facing burnout due to overwhelming workloads and an ongoing lack of support and resources from their administration.

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology Faculty Association (UOITFA) cares about the issues affecting faculty and students. The UOITFA is currently working hard to negotiate a fair collective agreement to make Ontario Tech a more respectful, equitable, and transparent place to work that supports the teaching and research vital to the university and students.

Unfortunately, the university administration has refused to meaningfully address these issues at the bargaining table and faculty have been left with no choice but to vote in favour of going on strike to show their determination to improve working and learning conditions

To avoid a strike, we must put pressure on the Ontario Tech administration and remind them that faculty members and the students should be their first priority.

Click here to send an email to the Ontario Tech administration that asks them to negotiate a fair deal that prioritizes high-quality education and helps avoid a strike at Ontario Tech.

National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism focused on building solidarities

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The National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism: Building Solidarities will bring together students, staff, faculty, and academic leaders, as well as community partners, to engage in a timely and open dialogue about anti-Asian racism in Canada’s postsecondary education sector. Hosted by Ryerson, this free two-day event will build on the important work initiated by the University of British Columbia at its inaugural National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism this past June .

Taking place on November 9 and 10, the virtual forum will feature live panel discussions, moderated conversations, interviews, keynote remarks, and engaging breakout and workshop sessions.

Learn more and register here: https://www.ryerson.ca/national-forum-on-anti-asian-racism/

New articles from Academic Matters

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There is more to Academic Matters than just the print issue. New articles are being added to the Academic Matters website every week. Here are some recent articles you might find interesting:

The art of good teaching
By John Oughton
“After I retired from a decade of leading faculty orientations and workshops at Toronto’s Centennial College, I wondered what to do with my insights about what new faculty should know to begin teaching. I emptied my ageing brain into a concise, practical manual that…”

Want to decolonize education? Where classes are held matters
By Shauna MacKinnon, University of Winnipeg and Kathy Mallett
“Murray Sinclair, who was chair of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has made clear the importance of “forging and maintaining of respectful relationships” in the process of truth and reconciliation. At the department of urban and inner-city studies at the…”

Reckoning with the truths of unmarked graves of Indigenous children, education systems must take action
By Lisa Korteweg, Lakehead University; Pauline Tennent, University of Manitoba, and Tesa Fiddler
“The education system needs to help teachers address, repair and heal education towards and beyond reconciliation. ’It’s clear that there will be more unmarked graves found at residential schools, but what are we (educators) supposed to do? How are we supposed to fix this?’”

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation: Universities and schools must acknowledge how colonial education has reproduced anti-Indigenous racism
By Lisa Howell, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; Kiera Brant-Birioukov, York University, Canada, and Nicholas Ng-A-Fook, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
“As we move towards Sept. 30, many schools and universities will be talking about observing the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Many schools formerly observed this day as Orange Shirt Day to acknowledge the intergenerational impacts of the residential schooling system…”

Western University and other schools should cancel frosh week to stop rape culture
By Treena Orchard, Western University
“Fear and frustration hang over London, Ont., where many people are discussing four formal allegations of sexual violence reported to Western University and sharing unconfirmed rumours about wider sexual assaults. Members of the Western community say they feel unsafe, especially young women and other vulnerable…”

Beyond Zoom, Teams and video lectures — what do university students really want from online learning?
By Dilani Gedera, Auckland University of Technology; Ashwini Datt, University of Auckland; Cheryl Brown, University of Canterbury; Dianne Forbes, University of Waikato, and Maggie Hartnett, Massey University
“As any university student, lecturer or tutor can attest, the pandemic has turned learning and teaching upside down. So it’s important we understand what happens for students when their learning shifts online with little to no warning. Since 2020, there’s been a growing…”

Read the student survey responses shared by academics and you’ll see why Professor Hambling is justified in burning hers
By Pema Düddul, University of Southern Queensland
“If you’ve watched the Netflix sitcom The Chair you’ll remember the scene in which Professor Joan Hambling burns her student evaluations, after admitting she hadn’t read any of them since the 1980s. Many of us in academia whooped in delight when Professor…”

Hit hard by the pandemic, Australian researchers expect its impacts to linger for years
By Sora Park, University of Canberra; Jennie Scarvell, University of Canberra, and Linda Botterill, University of Canberra
“The impacts of COVID-19 on Australian university researchers are likely to have consequences for research productivity and quality for many years to come. According to an online survey of academics at the University of Canberra between November 2020 and February 2021, they have deep…”

OCUFA announces recipients of the 2020-2021 Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards

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TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its prestigious Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards. Since 1973, these awards have recognized the exceptional contributions faculty have made to improving the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The 2020-2021 Teaching Award recipients are:

  • Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
  • Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University
  • Mairi Cowan, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
  • Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
  • Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo
  • Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

Carleton University’s Melanie Adrian receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – Melanie Adrian, an Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Melanie Adrian challenges conventional pedagogy in the interest of empowering her students. She encourages students to explore those areas of their studies that they are passionate about, inspiring them to improve as scholars and as people,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Through her dedication, she has transformed and empowered her department and her students.”

The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University
  • Mairi Cowan, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
  • Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
  • Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo
  • Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

Ryerson/X University’s Annette Bailey receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 21 2021 – Annette Bailey, an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Annette Bailey embodies the best qualities a teacher and scholar can have,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “She is dedicated to her students, endlessly innovative, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.”

The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
  • Mairi Cowan, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
  • Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
  • Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo
  • Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

University of Toronto Mississauga’s Mairi Cowan receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – Mairi Cowan, an Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Mairi Cowan loves to teach and students praise her for respecting them as collaborators in the classroom,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Her passion for history, attentiveness to the needs of her students, and her creativity exemplify the effectiveness of her approach to education.”

The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
  • Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University
  • Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
  • Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
  • Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo
  • Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

McMaster University’s Rosa da Silva receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – Rosa da Silva, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rosa da Silva has taken a hands-on and innovative approach to teaching by packaging and delivering biology lab teaching kits to over 2,000 students enrolled in McMaster’s biology program,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “This is a shining example of Rosa’s commitment to quality education, which is driving pedagogical innovation at McMaster University.”

The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
  • Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University
  • Mairi Cowan, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
  • Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo
  • Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

University of Toronto’s Dragana Obradović receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – Dragana Obradović, an Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Dragana Obradović’s vibrancy and creativity create a classroom that is welcoming, thought-provoking, and engaging,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Her teaching style fosters an intellectually stimulating environment that connects the study of the structure of language to its social and political usage.”

The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
  • Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University
  • Mairi Cowan, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
  • Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo
  • Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

University of Waterloo’s Kathryn Plaisance receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – Kathryn Plaisance, an Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“One of the qualities that set Kathryn Plaisance apart as an educator, is that she sees students as key stakeholders in their own learning,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “She creates a safe and inclusive learning environment where students are encouraged to take risks, share their vulnerabilities, and integrate an understanding of their own identities and beliefs into their work.”

The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
  • Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Ryerson/X University
  • Mairi Cowan, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
  • Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
  • Micah Stickel, Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

University of Toronto’s Micah Stickel receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 21, 2021 – Micah Stickel, a Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). He is receiving a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award for his outstanding contributions to the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Micah Stickel’s dedication to students is inspiring. He carefully considers the feedback of his students and provides them with opportunities for active learning,” said Associate Professor Edmund Pries, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Through his teaching and research he has made a huge impact well beyond the classroom, across the university campus, and throughout the community.”

The other recipients of a 2020-2021 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Melanie Adrian, Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University
  • Annette Bailey, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at RyersonX University
  • Mairi Cowan, Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga
  • Rosa da Silva, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University
  • Dragana Obradović, Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto
  • Kathryn Plaisance, Associate Professor in the Department of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo

“The work of Ontario’s university professors and academic librarians touches the life of every student who pursues a university education in Ontario and inspires them to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Sue Wurtele. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients have distinguished themselves through their dedication and boundless energy. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The recipients of the 49th annual TALA awards are being honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 professors and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca