Articles

A Message from the Chair

Hello everyone. I have just finished writing our next issue of Collectively Speaking. It is a message from me to USFA members about TransformUS and the deficit senior administrators keep talking about. You will be receiving a hard copy in the next few days. It’s also available on the USFA website at the following link.… Continue reading A Message from the Chair

A Message from USFA Chair Doug Chivers

A pdf is available here. Dear Members: There is much discussion with respect to opinions being expressed about TransformUS and the action, or inaction, of the USFA. Based on the many emails I have been receiving from members, I think it is clear that there are a few misconceptions. First let me say that the… Continue reading A Message from USFA Chair Doug Chivers

STOP THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL INTRUSION INTO ACADEMIA! (Part Two)

We have had a bounty of submissions this year to VOX and we hope that it continues. It is important for all of us to be actively involved in dialogue about issues of relevance to the U of S. While at times it takes courage to put our views in writing, we have a responsibility… Continue reading STOP THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL INTRUSION INTO ACADEMIA! (Part Two)

VOX and the USFA

VOX is an arm’s length publication sponsored by the USFA. VOX has an independent editorial board and the USFA Executive does not evaluate nor endorse the articles appearing in VOX. VOX allows members of the University community to express their views regarding issues and topics related to the University and our profession. The opinions and… Continue reading VOX and the USFA

STOP THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL INTRUSION INTO THE ARTS AND SCIENCES! (Part One)

Whether public or private, the single most important defining characteristic of a university is its faculty. Faculty transform both the university and the generations of students they teach by means of the advancement and dissemination of shared knowledge. As is the case at many universities, some faculty at the U of S were educated here,… Continue reading STOP THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND POLITICAL INTRUSION INTO THE ARTS AND SCIENCES! (Part One)

Collegial Governance and TransformUS

The USFA has recently been asked to endorse an open letter expressing dissatisfaction with the TransformUS process and to pass a motion of non-support for the TransformUS process because of its perceived inadequacies.  The position of the Executive is that these issues should be addressed and resolved through collegial governance via University Council and the… Continue reading Collegial Governance and TransformUS

Open letter to the President of the University of Saskatchewan

Many people are concerned about the TransformUS process as a means of academic decision making at the University of Saskatchewan. The model on which TransformUS is based is being implemented, or being considered for implementation, at several Canadian Universities and many at those institutions are likewise concerned (http://ocufa.on.ca/wordpress/assets/Dickeson-Right-for-Ontario-Craig-Heron.pdf, http://www.academicmatters.ca/2014/01/doing-the-ppp-a-skeptical-perspective/). At the U of S the… Continue reading Open letter to the President of the University of Saskatchewan

TransformUS and the Financial Crisis

“The goal for TransformUS is to obtain $20-25 million in permanent annual savings, or approximately five per cent of the university’s total operating budget. In addition, $5 million will be reallocated to top priority programs and services that would benefit from increased resources.” (Provost and Vice-President Academic Fairburn, report to University Council, January 2014) The… Continue reading TransformUS and the Financial Crisis