This e-mail was sent today to the following individuals:
Dr. Lesley Lovett-Doust, President and Vice-Chancellor
Dr. Errol Aspevig, Vice President Academic and Research
Vicky Paine-Mantha, Vice President Finance and Administration
Connie Vander Wall, Associate Vice President Human Resources
Dr. Craig Cooper, Dean of Arts and Science
Dr. Rick Vanderlee, Dean of Applied and Professional Schools
Dr. Sharon Rich, Dean of Education
Dear Nipissing University Administration,
Hopefully I have included all required parties in this e-mail. This morning, all Nipissing University students received a brief update and first official word about a potential faculty strike here from the Vice President Academic and Research.
A strike or lockout situation would result in a very difficult one here at Nipissing and it would put students in a very awkward position. As you know, students are the backbone and the raison d'etre for any university. A potential strike and especially the lack of communication resulting from such is quite troubling to say the least.
Although it is difficult to reason what all possible outcomes may exist, students need to be made aware of this situation and what the administration has in mind regarding contingency plans should a strike or lockout situation occur. To my knowledge, there is nothing that has been communicated to students to this effect. No matter what the outcome may be, the administration should be planning for various contingencies and what would happen if some sort of labour disruption, prolonged or not, were to occur. Further to this end, I highly encourage you as an administrative team to develop contingency plans that would assist students in coping with a labour disruption at Nipissing University.
What amount of class hours, if any, would need to be covered in the event of a strike?
What form of financial assistance or tuition credit would students receive?
Particularly for education students, how would required class hours be recovered and required practicum days/weeks be adjusted or extended should a strike occur?
How would assignment extensions be granted and would course expectations and assignment weighting be changed?
Would students receive extra assistance, tutoring, or instructional time in order to cover required course hours?
Again, I encourage you as an administrative team, along with the University Management Group and any other body, to develop contingency plans that would be implemented for many outcomes of negotiations between university administration and FASBU. I strongly encourage the deans of the faculties to communicate these plans to students as soon as possible and to provide more information about the progress of negotiations as they continue.
It is extremely disheartening that students have been left in the dark about the strike issue and how the administration would plan to handle it should it come to pass.
Sincerest regards,
Ian Wassink
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I make similar questions about us Master of Education students who must be finished by this summer or loose a 3 year program (specifically the first full time program students, as we work against a timed deadline). Will we be granted an extension? Will the courses I pre-paid for require additional funding if I need to retake them?
ReplyDeleteThere are many departments, faculties and groups of students who all consider their needs important.
S.G