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OCUFA opposes Ontario government circumventing democracy and public debate on Bill 168

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Toronto, October 28, 2020—The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) is shocked that the Ford government has abused its power and circumvented democracy and public debate to ram through provisions of Bill 168, the Combating Antisemitism Act, through an Order-In-Council, which enshrines into law the flawed International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. This law will further conflate legitimate criticism of the policies of the State of Israel with antisemitism.

“OCUFA condemns antisemitism and all forms of racism and hatred in the strongest terms. However, we remain concerned with the IHRA’s flawed definition of antisemitism and its list of illustrative examples,” said OCUFA President Rahul Sapra. “The working definition, with its list of illustrative examples, conflates legitimate criticism of the state of the State of Israel with antisemitism and may compromise academic freedom at Ontario’s universities by promoting censorship on campus and beyond.”

The IHRA’s working definition and its list of illustrative examples restrict free speech and threaten academic freedom by limiting the ability of scholars to engage in pedagogy and scholarship that include critiques of a foreign state. The adopted definition and its application are likely to increase the ongoing intimidation, censorship, and attacks on scholars and academics who are critical of Israeli state policies.

This anti-democratic maneuver threatens the highly regarded principles of university autonomy and collegial governance. While the IHRA’s working definition is presented as “non-legally binding,” in the UK the government is requiring universities to adopt the IHRA’s definition and threatening funding cuts if they do not.

Bill 168, the Combating Antisemitism Act, was scheduled to go through public hearings this week and receive public submissions by October 30th. Ford’s heavy-handed move to ignore the democratic process and ram through provisions of this controversial bill demonstrates the government’s lack of respect for Ontarians and their rights to free speech and democratic engagement.

“We are alarmed that the government has bypassed the democratic process to push parts of this bill through. It makes one wonder whether the government was worried that this flawed bill would not hold up to public scrutiny or debate,” said Sapra. “We are equally concerned by the new Order-In-Council’s implications for Ontario’s universities and our members and will continue the important work of protecting academic freedom and free speech on Ontario’s university campuses.”

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

Jenny Ahn hired as next OCUFA Executive Director

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TORONTO, Oct, 22, 2020—Jenny Ahn will be the next Executive Director of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations. Ahn has worked with civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the labour movement across Canada and internationally. She joins OCUFA after having spent over two decades in leadership roles with Unifor and its predecessor, the Canadian Autoworkers Workers union.

“The impressive experience and remarkable skillset that Jenny Ahn brings to OCUFA will be an incredible asset for Ontario’s faculty and academic librarians,” said Rahul Sapra, President of OCUFA. “The organization will benefit immensely from her knowledge and strategic leadership.”

Jenny Ahn’s long history of working in the Canadian labour movement has provided her with expertise in multiple areas, including collective bargaining, government relations, and advocacy work. Over the course of her career, Ahn has built a reputation for creativity, collegiality, integrity, and vision. She has a long-standing commitment to issues of social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

“I look forward to joining OCUFA during this critical time that will shape the future of higher education in Ontario,” said Jenny Ahn, incoming Executive Director of OCUFA. “By building on our strengths, we can protect the quality of Ontario’s public postsecondary education system, advance the interests of the province’s university faculty and academic librarians, and ensure that every academic job is a good, secure job.”

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:
Manisha Aggarwal-Schifellite , Communications Lead at 416-306-6033 or manishaas@ocufa.on.ca

Government must change course on decision to give university status to Canada Christian College

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Following the alarming news that the Ontario government is trying to discreetly pass legislation that will give the Canada Christian College and several other private institutions university status and the ability to award degrees, OCUFA sent the following letter to Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano raising concerns about the legislation and urging the government to change course.

Hon. Ross Romano
Minister of Colleges and Universities
Ministry of Colleges and Universities
5th Floor, 438 University Ave
Toronto, ON M7A 2A5

October 22, 2020

Dear Minister Romano,

I am contacting you on behalf of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), which represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians across the province.

We are alarmed that your government is intending to discreetly pass legislation that would allow the Canada Christian College to call itself a “university” and award degrees. Broadly, we are concerned about emerging efforts to privatize postsecondary education in Ontario and to give private institutions degree-granting privileges that will undermine the quality and accessibility of postsecondary education in Ontario.

This is especially evident in the case of Canada Christian College where Charles McVety, who runs the college, openly holds deeply rooted Islamophobic, transphobic, and homophobic views. McVety has been embroiled in several controversies resulting from his discriminatory beliefs. See, for example, here, here, and here.

The Ontario government should not grant accreditation and degree-granting privileges to institutions that do not meet the anti-discriminatory and anti-hate speech principles outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code. It is imperative that the government protect religious minorities, the queer community, and other marginalized groups. At the very least, the government should do no harm. Allowing the Canada Christian College to call itself a “university” and to award degrees in our province would most certainly harm these marginalized communities and allow hateful and discriminatory speech to persist. Your Ministry must change course on this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Dr. Rahul Sapra,
President, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations
Associate Professor, Dept. of English, Ryerson University

CC: Laura Mae Lindo (Kitchener Centre), the Official Opposition’s Anti-Racism critic. LLindo-QP@ndp.on.ca
Chris Glover (Spadina—Fort York), the Official Opposition’s Colleges and Universities critic. CGlover-CO@ndp.on.ca
Kathleen O. Wynne (Don Valley West), Liberal Party’s Colleges and Universities critic. kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Mike Shreiner, Green Party of Ontario. Mschreiner@ola.org

Report sheds new light on harmful impacts of student questionnaire feedback

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In recent years there has been mounting evidence of the dubious validity and inherent bias in student questionnaires on courses and teaching (SQCTs), sometimes also known as student evaluations of teaching (SETs).

In 2018, OCUFA supported a study of the implications of open-ended student comments in these questionnaires and how they might affect faculty mental health, wellbeing, professional self-esteem, and pedagogical practise. Also supported by the Canadian Sociological Association (CSA), the results have been published in a new report. Among other results, Rachel La Touche, Lisa Kowalchuk, and Rochelle Wijesingha found that faculty from equity-seeking groups are more likely to receive comments that are pedagogically irrelevant, and are more frequently subjected to comments that are hostile or abusive. The negative impact on well-being is also higher for women and racialized faculty members. Negative professional self-esteem is also experienced at a greater rate by contract faculty.

The report, along with a webinar discussing the report’s findings, are available on the CSA’s website.

Solidarity with striking support workers at the University of Ottawa

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Today, the Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition, of which OCUFA is a member, sent the following letter expressing our solidarity with the support staff at the University of Ottawa. These workers, who are members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, went on strike today as they continue their efforts to resist cuts being demanded by the university administration.

Jacques Frémont
President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Ottawa
550 Cumberland, Room 212
Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
president@uOttawa.ca

October 19, 2020

Dear Jacques Frémont,

First and foremost, we hope that you and your family are doing well during these difficult times.

We write as representatives of the Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition (OUCC)—which represents over 435,000 faculty, staff, and students from every public postsecondary institution in Ontario.

We are writing to express our support for PSUO-SSOU, the certified Bargaining Unit for 1,300 administrative and support staff at the University of Ottawa. We are deeply concerned that your administration is trying to strip the health benefits of these workers during the pandemic as they work tirelessly to keep the university running during these unprecedented times.

Administrative and support staff are frontline workers who have been essential in keeping our institutions running during this pandemic. This is not the time to be stripping them of their benefits and supports.

We strongly urge your administration to respect workers’ rights, especially during the pandemic, and to come back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair deal with PSUO-SSOU. It is the right thing to do.

Sincerely,

The Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition

  • RM Kennedy, Chair – Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU)–College Faculty Divisional Executive
  • Rahul Sapra, President – Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA)
  • David Simao, Chair – Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)–Ontario University Sector
  • Harvey Bischof, President – Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)
  • Alex Silas, Regional Executive Vice-President – Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC National Capital Region)
  • Kella Loschiavo, Chair Universities Sector 9 OPSEU
  • Sébastien Lalonde, Chairperson – Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario (CFS-O)
  • Kayla Weiler, National Executive Representative – Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario (CFS-O)

Cc: Marcelle Desmornes, President of PSUO.
mdesmornes@psuo-ssuo.ca

It’s Fair Employment Week

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Every October the Canadian Association of University Teachers organizes a week where faculty across Canada take action on campus and social media to recognize the important contributions contract faculty make to postsecondary education and raise awareness about the challenges they face.

Contract faculty have been some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are not being compensated for the additional time, energy, and emotional labour they are spending to ensure that their courses are shifted online. Many also lack the access to resources and equipment available to their tenured colleagues. Still others have not seen their contracts renewed.

That’s why it’s more important now than ever for tenure-stream faculty to work hand-in-hand with their precariously employed colleagues to demonstrate the importance of good jobs at Canadian universities and colleges.

Join us! It’s not too late to register for some of this week’s fantastic events.

OCUFA announces recipients of the 2019-2020 Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards

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TORONTO, Oct, 5, 2020 – 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.

“Faculty are at the heart of Ontario’s vibrant universities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, their dedication and boundless energy continues to inspire students to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Rahul Sapra. “This year’s distinguished award recipients are all dedicated and passionate teachers and mentors. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

The 2019-2020 Teaching Award recipients are:

  • William Cluett, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto
  • Joel Faflak, Professor in the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University
  • Kim Hellemans, Instructor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University
  • Shoshanah Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph
  • Aaron Langille, Master Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Laurentian University

This year, recipients of the 48th annual TALA awards were 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 William Cluett receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 5, 2020 – William Cluett, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry 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 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award for his outstanding contributions to improving the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“William Cluett ensures that his students appreciate that engineering is not about memorization but about understanding. He genuinely cares about their education and encourages them to engage with and ask questions about the course content,” said Professor Judy Bornais, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “William fosters an inspiring atmosphere that promotes learning and growth.”

The other recipients of a 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • Joel Faflak, Professor in the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University
  • Kim Hellemans, Instructor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University
  • Aaron Langille, Master Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Laurentian University
  • Shoshanah Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph

“Faculty are at the heart of Ontario’s vibrant universities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedication and boundless energy demonstrated by faculty like William Cluett continues to inspire students to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Rahul Sapra. “This year’s distinguished award recipients are all dedicated and passionate teachers and mentors. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

This year, recipients of the 48th annual TALA awards were honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. 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

Western University’s Joel Faflak receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 5, 2020 – Joel Faflak, a professor in the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). He is receiving a 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award for his outstanding contributions to improving the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“When developing his courses, Joel Faflak centres self-discovery and experiential education, inspiring students to embrace the idea of life-long learning.” said Professor Judy Bornais, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Being a dedicated educator, Joel has influenced colleagues at universities across Ontario.”

The other recipients of a 2018-2019 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • William Cluett, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto
  • Kim Hellemans, Instructor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University
  • Aaron Langille, Master Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Laurentian University
  • Shoshanah Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph

“Faculty are at the heart of Ontario’s vibrant universities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedication and boundless energy demonstrated by faculty like Joel Faflak continues to inspire students to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Rahul Sapra. “This year’s distinguished award recipients are all dedicated and passionate teachers and mentors. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

This year, recipients of the 48th annual TALA awards were honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. 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 Kim Hellemans receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 5, 2020 – Kim Hellemans, an instructor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience 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 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to improving the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Through her infectious enthusiasm and innovative approaches to teaching, Kim has increased the motivation, engagement, and performance of the students in her program,” said Professor Judy Bornais, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “Kim’s impact further extends into the broader campus community and the university is a better place because of her efforts.”

The other recipients of a 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • William Cluett, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto
  • Joel Faflak, Professor in the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University
  • Aaron Langille, Master Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Laurentian University
  • Shoshanah Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph

“Faculty are at the heart of Ontario’s vibrant universities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedication and boundless energy demonstrated by faculty like Kim Hellemans continues to inspire students to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Rahul Sapra. “This year’s distinguished award recipients are all dedicated and passionate teachers and mentors. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

This year, recipients of the 48th annual TALA awards were honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. 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 Guelph’s Shoshanah Jacobs receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 5, 2020 – Shoshanah Jacobs, an associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). She is receiving a 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award for her outstanding contributions to improving the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Shoshanah Jacobs challenges old practices and drives forward a new culture of teaching by creating safe learning environments that allow her students to take risks in a way that fosters their personal growth and professional development,” said Professor Judy Bornais, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “She’s a teacher who places diversity and inclusion at the centre of her teaching philosophy and students at the centre of their learning experiences.”

The other recipients of a 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • William Cluett, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto
  • Joel Faflak, Professor in the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University
  • Kim Hellemans, Instructor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University
  • Aaron Langille, Master Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Laurentian University

“Faculty are at the heart of Ontario’s vibrant universities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedication and boundless energy demonstrated by faculty like Shoshanah Jacobs continues to inspire students to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Rahul Sapra. “This year’s distinguished award recipients are all dedicated and passionate teachers and mentors. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

This year, recipients of the 48th annual TALA awards were honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. 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

Laurentian University’s Aaron Langille receives prestigious OCUFA teaching award

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TORONTO, Oct, 5, 2020 – Aaron Langille, a master lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Laurentian University, has been named one of Ontario’s most outstanding university teachers by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). He is receiving a 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award for his outstanding contributions to improving the quality of higher education at Ontario’s universities.

“Aaron Langille’s desire to connect his course content with real-world technological applications has had a far-reaching influence on his students and also faculty colleagues,” said Professor Judy Bornais, Chair of OCUFA’s Award Committee. “He is a tireless advisor and student advocate whose exceptional work inspires everyone around him.”

The other recipients of a 2019-2020 OCUFA Teaching Award are:

  • William Cluett, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto
  • Joel Faflak, Professor in the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University
  • Kim Hellemans, Instructor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University
  • Shoshanah Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph

“Faculty are at the heart of Ontario’s vibrant universities. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedication and boundless energy demonstrated by faculty like Aaron Langille continues to inspire students to embrace new ideas and build a brighter future,” said OCUFA President Rahul Sapra. “This year’s distinguished award recipients are all dedicated and passionate teachers and mentors. OCUFA is honoured to recognize them with teaching and librarianship awards.”

This year, recipients of the 48th annual TALA awards were honoured in a special video celebrating their achievements.

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in 30 faculty associations across Ontario. 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

Report shows majority of Ontario universities didn’t consult faculty or students about COVID-19 responses

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A new report, published by OCUFA’s University Governance Committee, highlights the concerning results of the “University Governance during COVID-19” survey.

The report is the result of a survey of 27 faculty and academic librarian associations across Ontario. Among its findings, it shows that an overwhelming 88 per cent of faculty association respondents considered their institution’s pandemic response to be top-down in nature. Further, at institutions where a COVID-19 task force or committee was created, in 73 per cent of cases, these bodies did not include any faculty or student representatives. The report also describes the degree to which faculty and academic librarians were involved in planning for the fall term, the role that senates and equivalent bodies played in responding to the pandemic, and how collegial governance processes were impacted by university pandemic responses.

Read the Report of the OCUFA University Governance Committee on the COVID-19 and governance survey.

OCUFA condemns Turkish detainment of Carleton University student Cihan Erdal

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On September 25th, 82 academics, politicians, and activists were detained in Istanbul, Turkey. Amongst those who have been detained is Cihan Erdal, a PhD student at Carleton University, who had been visiting the country at the time. No known reason has been given for the detainments, but it is believed they are related to a 2014 letter Erdal and the other individuals signed calling for the Turkish government to step in to protect a Kurdish town from ISIS attacks.

In response, OCUFA President Rahul Sapra has sent a letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemning the detainment and calling for Erdal to be released.

New Brescia Faculty Association agreement delivers big win for contract faculty

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The faculty association at Brescia University College in London, Ontario, has negotiated a new one-year collective agreement that contains two significant wins. First, the faculty association, which represents both tenure-stream and contract faculty at the institution, has secured language guaranteeing that all teaching at Brescia will be done by faculty association members.

Second, contract faculty now have right of first refusal for courses they have previously taught. One of the greatest challenges contract faculty face is a lack of job security. Even if they have been employed at the same institution for many years, there is no guarantee that their contract will be renewed for another term. Some contract faculty have been teaching with this uncertainty for decades. With the new right of first refusal terms negotiated by the Brescia Faculty Association, contract faculty now have much greater certainty about their short-term job security.