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OCUFA, CUPE Ontario, and LUFA appeal CCAA court’s decision to seal vital communications between Laurentian University and government

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Today, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario (CUPE Ontario), and Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) filed an appeal to unseal correspondence between Laurentian University and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities that relates to the insolvency being claimed by Laurentian University.

The Laurentian University insolvency engages a number of public policy issues concerning public university education in Ontario. Laurentian is an access university, providing higher education to many students who are the first in the families to attend university. It services Northern, Indigenous, and Francophone students with specialized courses that reflect the needs of these communities.

Laurentian’s filed materials in this insolvency do not say much about the position of the Government of Ontario, which is the major funder of Laurentian. However, the university’s President filed an affidavit with two sealed exhibits, one from the Ontario government to Laurentian and the other from Laurentian to the Ontario government. These documents are sealed and not available to the stakeholders, the public, or the media.

The court’s Sealing Order raises vital questions about the transparency of Ontario’s role and its commitment to its public universities.

OCUFA, LUFA, CUPE Ontario believe it is vital that stakeholders and the public have full, transparent access to this court-supervised insolvency and to all relevant files and materials, including the two sealed documents.

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.

CUPE Ontario is the political wing of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canada’s largest union, representing over 280,000 public sector workers.

Founded in 1979, LUFA represents over 400 full-time and over 300 part-time professors at Laurentian University, the University of Sudbury, Huntington University, and Thorneloe University. For more information, visit the LUFA website at www.lufappul.ca.

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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Ben Lewis, OCUFA Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca
Daniel Tseghay, CUPE Ontario Communications Representative at 647-220-9739 or dtseghay@cupe.ca
Fabrice Colin, LUFA President at 705-698-6763 or fcolin@lufappul.org

From across Ontario, faculty, students, and staff call on Ross Romano to provide more funding for Laurentian University

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Members of the Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition (OUCC), of which OCUFA is a member, are calling on Ross Romano and the Ontario government to provide Laurentian University with the necessary funding to secure the future of the university.

Students, staff, and faculty should not have to pay the price for the poor governance practices of an underfunded public institution. Ross Romano knew about Laurentian’s difficulties for six months, more than enough time to avoid this crisis. He knew what was coming and chose to do nothing, putting Laurentian’s future at risk.

Read the full statement.

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 ugly side of performance-based funding for universities
By Marc Spooner, University of Regina
“With the economic and labour disruption wrought by COVID-19, for a time it seemed Ontario and Alberta had realized the folly of judging their universities’ performance against metrics over which the universities themselves had little or no control. Refreshingly, both provinces made an about-face…”

Short-term anti-racist training is not enough to counter systemic racism in Canadian education
By Jerome Cranston, University of Regina
“Over this past pandemic year, I’ve spent a lot time listening to educators from across Canada who are struggling to support their students. As someone who has researched how administrators can better support teaching staff and teacher education and leadership, and in my role…”

Distance learning: How to avoid falling into ‘techno traps’
By Louis-Etienne Dubois, Ryerson University
“As another virtual university semester unfolds—the second or even third for some since the beginning of the pandemic—fatigue and declining satisfaction with this remote format seem to be increasingly felt on both sides of the screen. On the one hand, there are students…”

How to be a mindful anti-racist
By Karen Ragoonaden, University of British Columbia
“These times of uncertainty, anxiety and overwhelming information, mean that many of us are seeking to find a sense of calmness. On top of that, the global upheavals of a virulent pandemic, a very real climate crisis, the instability of economic and political powers and…”

Universities have thrived despite past disruptions and could grow even stronger after COVID-19
By Thomas Klassen, York University
“In the past century, universities have risen to occupy a central place in the knowledge economy, from fostering innovation to attracting promising international students and researchers, and being an anchor for regional and national economic development. Universities are integral to public policy. Never before have…”

OCUFA Grievance Committee stands in solidarity with faculty members at Laurentian University

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In response to the events unfolding at Laurentian University, OCUFA’s Grievance Committee passed the following motion of solidarity while calling on the Ontario government to provide immediate funding to the university.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the OCUFA Grievance Committee declares its solidarity with the Laurentian University Faculty Association – l’Association des professeures et professeurs de l’Université Laurentienne (“LUFA-APPUL”) and its members.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the OCUFA Grievance Committee deplores Laurentian University’s application for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, its attempt to abridge the right of LUFA-APPUL to bargain on behalf of its members freely under the statutory conditions of the Ontario Labour Relations Act, and its attempt to abridge the rights of LUFA-APPUL members through extraordinary means for resolving outstanding grievances.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the OCUFA Grievance Committee calls upon the Government of Ontario to issue a declaration immediately that it shall provide sufficient immediate funding to Laurentian University/l’Université Laurentienne to address the university’s current solvency circumstances, and that it shall provide additional permanent funding to secure the financial sustainability and to preserve the bi-lingual, tri-cultural, public character of the university.

As Laurentian’s funding crisis continues, Ministry of Colleges and Universities refuses to take action

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TORONTO, Feb 23, 2021 — As part of a week of advocacy, faculty and students from across Ontario have been meeting with dozens of MPPs to demand the provincial government take responsibility for the underfunding of Laurentian University and provide the institution with the necessary resources to secure its future. Despite the damage that would be caused by the severe cuts being planned for Laurentian, Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano and Ministry representatives continue to refuse to stand up for the people of Northern Ontario and provide vital funding for the public university.

Instead, at a meeting with OCUFA, Ministry representatives said the government intends to wait until after the university has been dramatically restructured through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) to determine its next steps. Faculty and students contend that the position taken by Romano is irresponsible, threatens jobs, essential programs, student education quality, and will do irreparable harm to the university and Greater Sudbury community.

“What was communicated to us is that Romano and the Ministry are essentially OK if their inaction causes dozens of program closures, hundreds of job losses, and thousands of students to reconsider where they want to study this fall,” said Jean-Charles Cachon, Secretary-Treasurer of the Laurentian University Faculty Association. “The wounds these impending cuts would cause to our local Indigenous and francophone communities are difficult to overstate. Both Minister Romano and Minister of Francophone Affairs Caroline Mulroney have refused to meet with us. We feel we have been abandoned by the Ontario government.”

As was recently revealed, Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano has known about Laurentian’s worsening fiscal situation for more than six months. It is astounding that he knew that Laurentian was heading towards the edge of a fiscal cliff and chose to do nothing. It is shocking that even now, when a public university is in free fall, he continues to stand by and watch.

“For years we have been warning about the government’s chronic underfunding of Ontario’s universities and the negative impact it would have on students and education quality,” said Rahul Sapra, President of OCUFA. “Laurentian University is a public institution, not a private-sector corporation. This government has a responsibility and obligation to provide the funding needed to secure Laurentian’s future.”

Despite the Minister’s position, many MPPs have expressed their concern with the disregard the Progressive Conservative government has shown for Laurentian, Greater Sudbury, and the people of Northern Ontario—especially the region’s vibrant Indigenous and francophone communities. In meetings with MPPs, faculty and students have emphasized the harm the Minister’s inaction is causing the community and damage it will cause to education quality, jobs, and the local economy.

“Statements from this government that they are concerned about students ring false and hollow,” said Darius Garneau, a student in the Department of Mathematics and Computers Science at Laurentian. “The Ford government and Laurentian administration have repeatedly attempted to silence student voices. If they respect students, they should step up, do their jobs, and ensure Laurentian University is properly funded.”

This week faculty, staff, students, and concerned community members have also taken to social media. They are using the hashtags #FundLU and #HumansOfLU to share stories of the contributions Laurentian has made to their lives and appeal for the provincial government to provide the university with the funding it needs. In addition, an ongoing letter-writing campaign has seen almost 6,000 emails sent to Minister Romano and Premier Doug Ford asking them to properly fund Laurentian University, both in the short- and long-term.

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 or to arrange an interview, contact:
Ben Lewis, OCUFA Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca

Renison Association of Academic Staff ratifies its first collective agreement

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OCUFA would like to congratulate members of the Renison Association of Academic Staff (RAAS) on achieving their first collective agreement. Members voted in favour of the agreement after a successful certification drive, more than two years of negotiations, and over 45 bargaining sessions. For more details on the agreement, visit the RAAS website: www.renisonassociationofacademicstaff.org

Wilfrid Laurier University faculty member honoured with OCUFA’s Award of Distinction for advancing and promoting equity

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Dr. Ciann Wilson, an Assistant Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, has won the 2020 Equity and Social Justice Committee Award of Distinction, presented by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). The award, sponsored by OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee, recognizes faculty whose work has improved the lives and working conditions of academics who are Indigenous, women, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, living with disabilities and/or belong to other historically marginalized groups.

“Ciann has dedicated herself to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout her academic life,” said Kathryn Trevenen, Chair of OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee. “She has a vision for community transformation and racial justice that informs her teaching, research, and mentorship that motivates everyone around her to increase their own efforts towards racial and social justice.”

Ciann’s contributions to Wilfrid Laurier University and the Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association are laudable. She has revised curriculum development with the aim of attracting and supporting racialized students and, through the university’s Diversity and Equity Strategic Planning process, she has held the administration accountable for creating a safe and welcoming space in which faculty and staff can teach and work. Ciann is also engaged and active in the broader community, consistently using her position to support and magnify BIPOC voices.

“OCUFA is committed to advancing and protecting the personal, professional, and academic interests of members of the academy who identify as Indigenous, women, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, living with disabilities and/or belonging to other historically marginalized groups,” said Rahul Sapra, President of OCUFA. “That is why we are so thankful for Ciann Wilson’s dedication to this work, and so proud to present her with this honour for her exceptional commitment and contributions to the struggle for equity.”

Wilson will receive her award at a virtual ceremony hosted by OCUFA in Toronto on February 20, 2021.

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 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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To arrange interviews or for more information, please contact:
Ben Lewis, OCUFA Communications Lead
416-306-6033 | communications@ocufa.on.ca

OCAD University faculty member honoured with OCUFA’s Award of Distinction for advancing and promoting equity

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Min Sook Lee, an Assistant Professor at the Ontario College of Art & Design University, has won the 2020 Equity and Social Justice Committee Award of Distinction, presented by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). The award, sponsored by OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee, recognizes faculty whose work has improved the lives and working conditions of academics who are Indigenous, women, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, living with disabilities and/or belong to other historically marginalized groups.

“Min Sook Lee has shown a tireless commitment to equity in her academic, documentary, and service work,” said Kathryn Trevenen, Chair of OCUFA’s Equity and Social Justice Committee. “This was recently demonstrated by her work helping to organize Scholar Strike Canada, an initiative that gathered widespread support and provided nationally broadcast teach-ins opposing police brutality and violence towards Indigenous and Black members of our communities.”

During the pandemic, Min Sook worked to improve the lives of precarious workers on the OCADU campus by negotiating a $650 payment for all sessional instructors teaching online—a substantive gain for contract faculty working in uncertain times. When concerns were raised about the university’s budget, she led a coalition of faculty, staff, and students who proposed their own alternative budget that prioritizes student learning experiences, academic integrity, and working conditions for everyone employed at the university.

“OCUFA is committed to advancing and protecting the personal, professional, and academic interests of members of the academy who identify as Indigenous, women, racialized, LGBTQ2S+, living with disabilities and/or belonging to other historically marginalized groups,” said Rahul Sapra, President of OCUFA. “That is why we are so thankful for Min Sook Lee’s dedication to this work, and so proud to present her with this honour for her exceptional commitment and contributions to the struggle for equity.”

Lee will receive her award at a virtual ceremony hosted by OCUFA in Toronto on February 20, 2021.

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 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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To arrange interviews or for more information, please contact:
Ben Lewis, OCUFA Communications Lead
416-306-6033 | communications@ocufa.on.ca

Queen’s University professor honoured with Lorimer Award for outstanding work advancing faculty rights

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The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) is pleased to announce that Queen’s University Professor Elizabeth Hanson is the recipient of the 2020 Lorimer Award. This honour recognizes individuals who have worked to protect and promote the interests of Ontario’s academic staff through collective bargaining.

“For more than two decades, Elizabeth Hanson has been central to the Queen’s University Faculty Association’s work to bargain for improved working conditions for their members,” said Rahul Sapra, President of OCUFA. “Her nuanced and principled approach to collective bargaining has resonated across the province, benefiting us all.”

The Lorimer Award was established in honour of Doug and Joyce Lorimer, who were instrumental in advancing faculty association collective bargaining in Ontario. Winners of the award all share the Lorimers’ commitment to advancing Ontario’s university system through strong faculty associations and fair collective agreements.

A confident and inspirational leader, Elizabeth was instrumental in negotiating special consideration in personnel processes and evaluations for Queen’s University faculty impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work has ensured the university recognizes the dedication and sacrifice made by faculty and academic librarians to keep the institution running in incredibly challenging circumstances. Her lengthy list of accomplishments includes winning improvements to online course authorship, revision, and teaching language; helping to build the foundations of the University Pension Plan; and improving how student questionnaires on courses and teaching are used at Queen’s University.

“OCUFA is very proud to celebrate those exceptional individuals whose commitment to collective bargaining advances the interests of faculty and other academic professionals,” said Sapra. “Quality education and vibrant campus communities are built on the foundations established by these collective agreements. Through the Lorimer Award, we recognize the outstanding contributions and leadership of those who work tirelessly to ensure that faculty and academic librarians have the protections and resources they need to thrive.”

Hanson will receive her award at a virtual ceremony on February 20, 2021.

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 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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To arrange interviews or for more information, please contact:
Ben Lewis, OCUFA Communications Lead
416-306-6033 | communications@ocufa.on.ca

Ontario’s postsecondary staff, students, and faculty support paid sick days for all

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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.

The postsecondary education sector, like other parts of the economy and community, also needs paid sick days for all its employees. Many members of our campus communities, including casual and precarious workers—some of whom are maintaining the health and safety of campuses, do not have access to paid sick days and are at risk of contracting COVID-19. Community spread also impacts many students who are working low-wage jobs without paid sick leave. At many of Ontario’s colleges and universities, vocational and lab-based classes are continuing, even during the pandemic, and the faculty and staff who teach and support them need paid sick leave to prevent the spread. The call for paid sick days is necessary for the safety of students, workers, parents, and the broader community.

Read the full statement.

Act now: Demand the government provide the necessary funding to secure the future of Laurentian University

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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.

Erosion of governance and public funding cause of Laurentian University financial crisis: Minister must provide long-term funding

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TORONTO, Feb 2, 2021 — The Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) and Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) are concerned to hear that Laurentian University is filing for court protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement due to financial challenges it is facing as a result of poorly considered and reckless administrative decisions and the erosion of public university funding. While there are some important questions to be asked, Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano has a responsibility to step up and 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.

It is concerning to see the Minister only referencing the wellbeing of students in his statement. The province’s obligation extends beyond ensuring the institution’s students are able to continue their studies uninterrupted, but to protecting the jobs of those working at the university—jobs that are vital to the Greater Sudbury community.

As to how Laurentian got itself into this mess, LUFA has repeatedly raised concerns about the increasingly secretive and non-consultative approach the university administration has taken to making important financial decisions.

“At Laurentian, and at other universities across Ontario, more and more decisions are being made behind closed doors, in clear violation of university acts and their own constitutions, circumventing existing democratic governing bodies that include faculty, staff, and students,” said Rahul Sapra, OCUFA President. “Crises such as the one that Laurentian University finds itself in are bound to happen again and again across the sector so long as the community-based and collegial model of university governance is eroded in favour of a corporate and secretive managerial model.”

Ross Romano says that perhaps the government should consider more oversight over university finances to ensure this does not happen again. OCUFA and LUFA would like to remind the Minister that he has four representatives on the Laurentian University Board of Governors—Laurentian’s highest decision-making body. Where were these representatives when faculty, staff, and students were trying to hold the university administration accountable?

“The challenges facing Laurentian University are not due to a lack of government oversight, but a lack of transparent and accountable institutional governance that allows for oversight and input by the university community,” said Fabrice Colin, President of LUFA. “Instead, government representatives, who should have been providing oversight and good governance, joined with other members of the senior administration and Board of Governors to cut the Laurentian University Senate and important stakeholders out of critical discussions around the university’s finances.”

For many years, OCUFA has highlighted the ongoing erosion of public funding for Ontario’s universities and the fact that the province provides the lowest per-student university funding in Canada, resulting in an over-reliance on tuition fees and private donors. The impact of this deteriorating fiscal foundation is especially acute at northern universities like Laurentian.

Therefore, perhaps Laurentian University’s move to claim creditors protection isn’t as surprising as it first seems. This is what happens when public institutions are not properly funded and when collegial governance gets eroded, with important decision-making processes moved behind closed doors.

This government has a responsibility to step in immediately and provide long-term funding to secure the future of Laurentian University so that no student’s education and no person’s job is needlessly lost. Laurentian University’s senior administration and its Board of Governors, including its four government representatives, should stop hiding behind closed doors, respect the university’s constitution and bylaws and start working with the university community so that important decisions are made in a transparent, accountable, and responsible manner.

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.

Founded in 1979, LUFA represents over 400 full-time and over 300 part-time professors at Laurentian University, the University of Sudbury, Huntington University, and Thorneloe University. For more information, visit the LUFA website at www.lufappul.ca.

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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Ben Lewis, OCUFA Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or communications@ocufa.on.ca
Fabrice Colin, LUFA President at 705-698-6763 or fcolin@lufappul.org

Winter 2021 operating plans for Ontario universities

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OCUFA has collected information about Ontario university and university-college operating plans and course delivery strategies for the winter 2021 term. We have compiled a database of university plans, including mode of delivery, faculty choice over delivery mode, access to research spaces and offices, faculty accommodations, and student questionnaires on courses and teaching.

Information was collected from university websites and additional data was collected by surveying OCUFA members between December 14, 2020 and January 12, 2021. Respondents had the opportunity to provide details about teaching, research, and course delivery for the term, as well as information about their faculty association’s involvement in their institution’s plans for the winter 2021 term. Respondents also shared successful actions taken by their associations to address issues related to workload, changes made to courses, and the inclusion of faculty voices in decision making. Of OCUFA’s 31 member associations, 21 submitted responses.

If you would like to provide additional or updated information to this database, please contact Martyna Siekanowicz at msiekanowicz@ocufa.on.ca.

You can find more OCUFA resources related to COVID-19 here.

Updated: February 1, 2021

Call for submissions: 2020-2021 Annual OCUFA Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards

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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.

Anyone within the university community can nominate a faculty member or academic librarian for an award, so long as the nominee is a member of an OCUFA affiliated faculty or academic librarian association. This year’s award guidelines include special nomination criteria for contract faculty to facilitate the nomination of historically marginalized members of the academy. Award recipients are selected by an independent OCUFA committee made up of faculty, librarians, and student representatives.

This year, the deadline for nominations is May 28, 2021. Guidelines for the award can be found here:

Nomination packages should be saved as a single pdf file and submitted online at: https://ocufa.on.ca/ocufa-awards/teaching-and-academic-librarianship-awards/

Join OCUFA for Campuses that Care Part 2: A discussion on safe working, learning, and living

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Next week, on February 2 at 7pm, OCUFA will be co-hosting a special webinar on building campuses that are safe for working, learning, and living. The webinar is also being hosted by the OFL, Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, and CUPE Ontario’s University Workers Coordinating Committee.

Panelists will offer different perspectives and renew the call for greater student and worker solidarity to make health and safety on campuses a priority during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

RSVP for the webinar today.