THE
AUFA PRESIDENT COMMUNICATES
Another semester is now over and we are all looking forward to the holiday season. The early winter storm and resulting power outage that affected all of us in the Valley (some for several days) was admittedly a trial for many, but also an event that resulted in a great deal of community spirit. On behalf of the AUFA membership, I would like to extend a note of thanks to the local fire departments, churches, and municipal agencies that worked so hard to help those in need.
Overall, I believe that this was a very successful and relatively calm term on Acadia’s campus—something everyone desperately needed. Many members of the executive and its related committees have been active this semester on your behalf. In particular, I would like to thank Jim Sacouman and Sonya Symons for their work on the Joint Committee; Richard Sparkman and Ian Hutchinson for their work on the Triennial Review Committee; Mark Ramsay and Mary MacLeod for their efforts on the Intellectual Property Committee; and Darlene Brodeur and Lance LaRocque for trying to get the Daycare Committee moving.
There were two instances in which the AUFA executive worked with Ralph Nilson (the Vice-President Academic) in order to smooth over issues that were of concern for many of our members. The first dealt with Article 17.31 and particularly the issue of moving to a 3:2 workload. I wrote a letter to the Vice-President stating AUFA’s interpretation of this article and noting that the decision to move to 3:2 is clearly a departmental decision. The second issue revolved around the issue of class scheduling. Richard Cunningham (Vice-President of AUFA) and Janice Best (Past President) met with the Vice-President and successfully negotiated a compromise solution for this year. This solution was that the Heads and Directors would again submit a schedule of their department’s offerings for the 2005-2006 academic year, and that this schedule would be the one implemented. In addition, Heads and Directors would have their faculty members complete and submit revised course timetabling forms to the Registrar who will then run a test of the university’s new scheduling software. The results of this computerized effort to construct a timetable will then be compared to the schedule constructed by the Heads and Directors. I must say that I am pleased that the administration is working with AUFA in order to rebuild bridges and to make Acadia a better university for all concerned.
There are still a number of concerns on campus, however, about where Acadia may be headed in the future. In particular, there appears to be a great deal of suspicion and trepidation concerning the university’s strategic planning initiative—particularly how curriculum changes (if indeed there will be any) will be implemented. I encourage everyone to become involved and engaged in this issue, and to make your opinions known. The Vice-President has repeatedly said that the administration wants ideas to ‘bubble up from below.’ I know that there is a great deal of gas on campus just waiting to be released, so don’t hold back.
On behalf of the executive I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday, and for those members who will not be returning in the new year, thanks for being part of Acadia’s community and our lives. See you all in 2005.
Bob Perrins