RAAS Report
Friday, June 28, 2024
Ann Dennis, Editor
PRESIDENT’S UPDATE
Just a few brief comments from me, this time, as we start to ease into a summertime change of pace. This will be the last RAAS Report until September.
Good news: Universities are now excluded from federal creditor protection under the CCAA and BIA
In case you have not yet heard, the university sector’s efforts to have universities exempted from the provisions of Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) and Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) — stemming from the Laurentian debacle — has succeeded. Legislation excluding universities from the CCAA and BIA, which was introduced to parliament last fall, got royal assent last Thursday (June 20). Read more here.
Implications of Ontario Bill 166, Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports
The Ford government’s Bill 166 has passed into law in May this year, but is not being accepted without resistance. Among other things, the law empowers the Minister of Colleges and Universities to issue directives and intervene in universities in ways that represent an unprecedented level of political intrusion into university governance. At a special meeting on Monday, June 24, 2024, the OCUFA board passed a motion (from St. Jerome’s University) directing the organization to reject any directives that come out of this law on principle and encouraging member organizations (like RAAS) to do the same. Please see the attached OCUFA briefing note for more background and details.
Big Transitions
As this is the last RAAS Report before the end of her term as President of Renison, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Wendy for her 10 years of leadership of our institution. In relation to RAAS in particular (which Wendy will soon join as a member), I want to make sure everyone is aware of the respectful, collegial and supportive approach Wendy has taken with RAAS from the outset and throughout our existence thus far. Wendy was explicitly supportive of our early explorations of forming a faculty association in 2017, even suggesting that we form an ad hoc committee to look into it. Yes, there have been conflicts, particularly in the negotiation process, but ultimately we found our way to two very reasonable Collective Agreements under Wendy’s leadership. Wendy has met with me monthly since I became president of RAAS, as she did with Kristina Llewellyn before me, to exchange notes, share information and concerns, and head off (or contextualize) emerging conflicts. In those meetings Wendy has always been warm, collegial, and candid with me, regardless of how close or far apart our positions or specific matters might be, and in our conversations, she has unfailingly expressed care for all of us, our programs, and our institution as a whole.
So, it is with gratitude that I want to wish Wendy joy and fulfillment in her next chapter, and some peace and decompression in the meantime.
I look forward to working with our incoming president, Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry, with whom I had the pleasure of spending some time in my role on the President Search Committee.
Fond Farewells
Sadly (for us), we will be losing three amazing colleagues (and RAAS members) this summer — all of whom are moving on to exciting new adventures.
After two years in our School of Social Work, Chizuru Nobe-Ghelani is moving on to a position at TMU. Thank you for your many contributions to our community in your time here, and congratulations on the new position.
After 21 years at Renison, Pat Skinner will be retiring at the end of the summer. In her time here, Pat has taught pretty much every EMLS undergraduate course, supported thousands of students, mentored dozens of new instructors, and committed time, passion, and expertise to numerous Renison committees and initiatives. I learned at her retirement celebration, for instance, that the raised vegetable beds next to the parking gate were a donation from Pat. I know I speak for all of your colleagues when I bid you congratulations and wish you a wonderful retirement. (Please see “CA Highlights” for another part of Pat’s legacy).
Last, but not least, Kristina Llewellyn will be leaving Renison at the end of July. Kristina has been one our most productive and celebrated scholars, a passionate, popular and effective educator, a fierce advocate, and an extraordinary colleague. It was Kristina’s leadership than rallied us to form RAAS in the first place, and it was her insight, intellectual leadership, and energy that enabled us to assert our collective priorities through two rounds of collective bargaining. I have had the great pleasure of working closely with Kristina on RAAS matters since before the formation of our association in 2018. I have learned a great deal from Kristina, and I am awed by her many talents, her productivity, and her commitment to fairness and the common good.
McMaster was smart to choose you to join their new Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement, Kristina. As much as we hate to see you leave Renison, your new appointment is a well deserved recognition of your accomplishments and your talent as a scholar and academic leader. Also, McMaster’s faculty association has not yet been certified with the Ontario Labour Board, so…
Rob Case
RAAS President
EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE
This is the final report for the RAAS equity committee. We have had a number of planning conversations about how to begin mapping out the development of an equity-informed Collective Agreement for our next negotiation process. This mapping work will include finalizing the RAAS equity statement, learning from other efforts, and sharing the insights we will gather along the way. As a committee, we agree that equity work considers actions that need to take place, but also the worldviews that form the foundation of the actions. This is a process that will be slow but deliberate, in order to do this important work well.
Have a wonderful summer. Please consider joining our mapping process for the next academic year!
Warmly,
Trish, Edwin, Brenda, Arshi
Trish Van Katwyk
RAAS Representative
BOARD UPDATE
The final Board meeting of the academic year took place virtually on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Here are four key highlights:
Revised Budget. The 2024-2025 budget, which includes a non-cash deficit, was approved after a detailed discussion. Concerns were raised about the sustainability of the current financial model. Deferring positions to balance the budget was mentioned as a temporary solution, not a sustainable practice. There is a need to develop a more sustainable financial model moving forward. The Board agreed to have a more detailed discussion in September once the final audit results are available.
Capital Budget. The revised 2024-2025 capital budget was successfully approved. The Board agreed on the planned capital projects for the upcoming year and acknowledged that these necessary investments would be made without compromising financial stability.
Reserve Fund Policy. The Board approved a new Reserve Fund Policy to consolidate various small reserves into structured funds with two main objectives:
institutional development: to support strategic initiatives outside the operating budget, such as consulting for the strategic plan and planning for a new president; and
teaching, research, and learning: to enhance student experience and strengthen teaching and learning programs, including new program development and international experiences. The policy will be updated annually, with funds allocated according to the new policy after the audit in September.
Chancellor. The Board recommended that Jodey Porter no longer serve as a member of the Board or as its Chancellor. The Governance Committee is reviewing the need for a Chancellor and will report back in November 2024.
NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting will be in-person on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 6:00 pm in the Dunker Family Lounge.
Respectfully submitted,
Edwin Ng and Jeff Wilson
Faculty Board Representatives
SERVICE TO RAAS
RAAS is happy to announce that Craig Fortier will be serving as the new FAUW representative for this upcoming academic year. We want to thank Craig for his involvement and also to Kristina Llewllyn for her leadership and engagement as the interim FAUW representative for RAAS.
We are also happy to announce that Vinh Nguyen has agreed to serve as our Grievance Officer, beginning July 1, and that Denise Marigold and Manaal Syed Fahim have agreed to serve with him on the Grievance Committee. We are all grateful to you for agreeing to serve in this capacity and for the support and guidance provided by Colleen during her term.
SATIRE
Elmer’s Unveils New Super Sticky Glue Park
June 19, 2024, The Onion
The excitement around the long-awaited opening of the Elmer’s Super Sticky Glue Park in Westerville, Ohio will have you glued to the edge of your seat!
CAUT NEWS
You can find the latest CAUT updates here.
OCUFA NEWS
RAAS is a member of the Ontario Confederation of University CAUT Associations (OCUFA), a province-wide association of our peers.
University of Waterloo sues pro- Palestinian encampment for $1.5M
June 27, 2024, Mark Douglas, City News
The University of Waterloo is suing the participants and organizers of the pro-Palestinian encampment on its main campus for $1.5M.
Brescia University graduates make final walk in school history
June 17, 2024, Brent Lale, CTV News
It was a day full of emotion as the final graduation class in the history of Brescia University College (BUC) walked from the school, to the convocation ceremony at Western University.
Quebec to offer financial incentives to universities for programs where more labour is needed
June 11, 2024, La Presse Canadienne
Quebec will offer financial incentives to universities for registration of students and their graduation in sectors where the province is experiencing a labour shortage.
Canadian universities now use AI to diversify and improve international student acceptance rates
June 6, 2024, Matthew Hanick, The National Post
Because new federal rules on international student mean spots are limited, Canadian schools need to be more selective when accepting candidates
Mark Your Calendars!!
| Item | Key Date |
|---|---|
| OCUFA Conference: Bargaining Stronger Together | September 25th & 26th - see registration details below. |
| Sabbatical Applications | 12-month sabbatical: October 15 6-month sabbatical beginning July 1: October 15 6-month sabbatical beginning January 1: March 15 |
| CAUT Dedicated Service Award Nominations | Nominations are ongoing throughout the year using this form. |
OCUFA Conference
Register now! Go here for information and registration.
CA HIGHLIGHTS
Article 43 Reduced Workload to Retirement (aka the “Pat Clause”)
Did you know that our CA enables those approaching retirement to request a workload reduction of up to 50% for up to three years before retirement, without losing pension credits?
To be eligible, you must be at least 52 and you must have worked at Renison for at least 10 years. An application must be made to the VPAD by January 1 for a workload reduction beginning at the start of the subsequent academic year (i.e., September).
During the negotiation of our first CA, Pat Skinner alerted us to UW's Policy 59, on which our Article 43 is based. A 'reduced workload to retirement' provision was not on the radar of our negotiating team at all before Pat mentioned it, so thank you, Pat, for the heads up! Informally within the negotiating team, this article of our CA has become known as the “Pat Clause.”
BEST WISHES
Pat Skinner
Congratulations to Pat Skinner on her retirement in August. Pat’s contributions over the years have been inspiring to the entire Renison community. Her passion for teaching coupled with her enthusiasm and positive energy towards students and colleagues earned her the respect and accolades from those around her. Pat, as you start your next chapter, we wish you endless fulfillment and may this next phase be filled with exciting adventures and cherished moments. Thank you for everything that you have done for Renison University College. Happy retirement!
Chizuru Nobe-Ghelani
Chizuru Nobe-Ghelani has been a valued member of the RAAS community, and we are sad to see her go, while excited for her in her new position at TMU. Chizuru is deeply engaged in relational, restorative, and socially just teaching, service, and scholarship that visualizes a wide web of connections that spread like the roots of trees. Thank you, Chizuru, you will be missed!
Kristina Llewellyn
It is with a mix of gratitude and sadness as we bid farewell to Kristina Llewellyn as she moves onto her new adventure at McMaster in July. Kristina’s dedication, hard work and unwavering commitment to RAAS has made an enormous impact, and her absence will undoubtedly be felt by all of us.
Kristina is one of the founding members of RAAS. From the very inception of RAAS, Kristina has been a pillar of strength and a driving force behind our successes. As RAAS President, she laid the groundwork for our union, helping to shape it into the organization that it is today. Her relentless pursuit of fairness, equity and justice has inspired us all and set a high standard for what we can achieve together. Through countless hours of hard work, Kristina showed an extraordinary commitment to our collective cause. She led the way in addressing key issues with administration such as tenure and promotion, leaves, workload renumeration and some RUC COVID protocols during one of the most unprecedented times that we have ever faced. Her ability to rally and unite us during challenging times like COVID has been truly impressive.
It is never easy to say goodbye to a colleague who has become a friend. Kristina, please remember that you will always have a community here at Renison. Our doors are always open, and you will forever hold a special place with us and know that your legacy here is deeply appreciated. We wish you nothing but success and happiness always!
One Last Thought…
Let’s give a toast to this academic year,
It’s hard to believe the end is here.
The papers are graded, the books are stacked,
All getting prepped for the final act.
We reflect on a year of success and change,
RAAS’ goals always in close range,
The Negotiations team answered the call.
With a new CA that stands so tall,
Here's to Rob and team, so dedicated and true,
Whose hard work brought the vision through,
With fairer terms and brighter days,
Our future shines in countless ways,
To our RAAS Exec, we thank all that you do,
Rob and Trish are back for term two!
Joined by the always dedicated Amir
Colleen’s term is done, but she’ll still be near!
With thanks we honour Kristina and Colleen,
Their devotion to RAAS was felt and seen,
Kristina, your passion is a beacon so clear,
In every endeavour, you hold RAAS dear.
Colleen, your strength is a comforting guide,
With empathy and compassion, you stand by our side,
We thank you both for your wisdom and might,
For making RAAS’ journey so brilliant and bright.
So, here’s to the end of the academic year,
A time of reflection will soon be near,
In gardens, beaches, mountains or streams,
May you find your peace, your own summer dream.
