Acadia University academic staff sent a strong message to its University leadership this month. During the spring meeting of its Faculty Council, Acadia’s faculty members voted 89 per cent in favour of a motion expressing "no confidence" in the senior administration's ability to continue leading the university.

Multiple ongoing issues of significant concern led to the introduction of this motion, such as the Acadia University Faculty Association’s (AUFA) month-long strike in February 2022. Other issues of concern include student protests, a lack of consultation and flexibility regarding COVID protocols during the 2021-2022 year, an ongoing administrative disregard for collective agreement processes and collegial governance, and the poorly executed roll-out of a new registration system that resulted in subsequent resignations in the Registrar’s Office.

Acadia’s Faculty Council, established by the University Senate in 1992, gives Acadia’s Faculty a formal position within the structure of the University, with specific rights and duties. It meets twice a year and during this latest meeting in early May, one of the professors moved to hold the non-confidence vote.

AUFA members went on strike at the beginning of February and picketing ended a month later when both sides agreed to binding arbitration, which is now underway. The union is seeking to increase the number of tenure-track faculty to meet rising student enrolment, make hiring and working conditions gains for precariously employed and Indigenous faculty, and keep salary improvements in line with cost-of-living increases.

AUFA members have been without a contract since July 2021. They voted to authorize a strike last November, with 94 per cent voting in favour.