On May 28, OCUFA held its final Board of Directors Meeting of the 2020-21 academic year. The virtual meeting focused on continuing developments at Laurentian University, university reopening plans for fall 2021, and saw the election of a new OCUFA Executive for 2021-22. Financial crisis at Laurentian University The collapse of Laurentian University under the […]
TORONTO, June 9, 2021 — Ontario’s university faculty and academic librarians were deeply disturbed to learn of the recent attack and murder of a Muslim family in London, Ontario—Madiha Salman, Salman Afzaal, their daughter Yumna Afzaal, and Salman’s mother. Madiha and Salman’s son Fayez remains in hospital, recovering. The family was targeted because of their […]
TORONTO, May 26, 2021 – The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) is pleased to announce that the recipients of this year’s Henry Mandelbaum Graduate Fellowships for Excellence in Social Sciences, Humanities, or Arts are Amy Shawanda from Trent University for the doctoral level of study and Laura Paolini from the University of Ottawa […]
The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) is alarmed at the detrimental impact the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) process is having on Indigenous studies, faculty, students, and the community in the Greater Sudbury area. As part of the CCAA process, the Indigenous Studies Department, its programs, and its faculty have been terminated. For […]
The mediation phase of the proceeding with the Laurentian University Faculty Association and Senate has ended. As a result, 110 Laurentian faculty members lost their jobs and 69 programs were cut at the institution (please refer to the end of the email for the list of programs). The next few weeks will determine whether the […]
TORONTO, April 12, 2021 — Following news that approximately 60 programs have been cut at Laurentian University and that over 80 faculty members have lost their jobs, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations is calling for the resignation of Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano. These devastating cuts are the direct result of […]
Political action The Save Our Sudbury community group of faculty, students, labour unions, and community members held a hugely successful car rally. Over 100 participants came together in spite of rain and snow to demand the province provide funding. You can watch pre-recorded speeches from students, faculty, politicians, and union leaders speaking about why Laurentian […]
This Saturday, March 27 the OFL will be hosting the first ever Education Assembly to unite workers, students, and parents from child care through postsecondary education. COVID-19 has made navigating education systems more difficult than ever. This Saturday’s discussion will focus on developing education systems that keep everyone healthy and safe. OFL Education Assembly Saturday, […]
TORONTO, Mar 17, 2021 — OCUFA believes that Humber College’s new stand-alone nursing degree program is unnecessary and short-sighted. Current university programs and joint university-college programs already provide a quality, well-rounded nursing education that is based on science and encompasses hands-on training and research. Like many of the Ford government’s postsecondary education initiatives, this is […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nominations are now open for the Henry Mandelbaum Graduate Fellowships for Excellence in Social Sciences, Humanities, or Arts. The fellowships are awarded annually to two full-time graduate students who are exceptional leaders, engaged community members, and promising academics. One Fellowship worth $2,500 is awarded at the master’s level and one at $5,000 is awarded for […]
TORONTO, Nov 24, 2020 — University students, faculty, and academic librarians are struggling with social isolation, stress, and a lack of institutional support according to the results of a new poll which finds that those working and studying at Ontario’s universities believe the shift to online education has negatively impacted quality. Without immediate action from universities and the Ontario government to […]
