The Nomination Period for College Elections began on March 2 at 9 AM and will close on March 15 at 11:30 PM! As we’ve recently seen, faculty voices have a vital role in College Governance. Some of you may remember my blog post, “Why should you care about Academic Governance?” which explains how important it is to have strong faculty representation on our Educational Council and … [Read more...] about Notice of College Elections: Spring 2025
Academia & Education
PD Funding Still Available for your PD Activities!
Submitted on behalf of Martha McAlister As you are aware, the college has been put under an "Essential Spending Mandate". You will have been told that nonessential spending includes "Optional or deferrable conferences". NOTE: This does NOT apply to CCFA funded PD activities! These funds are entirely at the discretion of the CCFA. So please, keep applying for funds to … [Read more...] about PD Funding Still Available for your PD Activities!
Faculty Professional Development Funding
Submitted by Martha McAlister, Professional Development Committee Chair Did you know that ALL CCFA faculty members have access to funding for professional development activities? Below are some general highlights, but you will find detailed guidelines and all the forms on the CCFA website. Contact Martha McAlister, the Chair of the CCFA PD Committee (ac.nusomac@mretsilacm), … [Read more...] about Faculty Professional Development Funding
Camosun Science Book Club
Submitted by Martha McAlister All are welcome! Students, staff, faculty – anyone who wants to read and discuss a fun and fascinating book about science! Fall 2024 book: I Contain Multitudes, by Ed Yong Meeting dates: For more info or to sign up, email Jen Giuliani (Biology): ac.nusomac@JinailuiG Copies of the book generously supplied by the CCFA-PD fund. Sign … [Read more...] about Camosun Science Book Club
Thinking about completing a Professional Development activity?
Submitted on behalf of Martha McAlister The 2024-25 PD application submission deadlines are now available. Professional Development funding is available through the CCFA for both Continuing and Term faculty! You can be reimbursed for course registration fees, conferences (and travel to them), textbooks, workshops, or other educational activities. You will find … [Read more...] about Thinking about completing a Professional Development activity?
Faculty Feature: Library Single Search Gets a New Look
A new look for the Library’s Single Search submitted by Robbyn Lanning Hi colleagues! Here's a friendly FYI regarding a library system that is changing soon, Single Search, the key research interface/discovery system. Hopefully, this message helps reduce the number of instructors who may be surprised in the fall by the change. The library’s Single Search tool (EBSCO … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: Library Single Search Gets a New Look
Faculty Feature: The History of Scheduled Development
Re-published from Jan 2020 Confluence, Vol 9 - Issue 3, by Mark Kunen with edits & updates by Lynelle Yutani Next spring, the CCFA Negotiating Committee will enter a new round of bargaining that may, in some unpredictable ways, change the collective agreement that defines our salaries, benefits, and, to a large extent, our working conditions. The collective agreement is … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: The History of Scheduled Development
Faculty Feature: Blended Learning
Blended Learning: What are the Rules? Submitted By Robin Fast, Derek Murray, & Emily Schudel Do you or have you been considering offering a course in a blended-learning mode? Have you heard conflicting messages about what blended learning is, how the course needs to be configured, and who determines the format? Here are some key pieces that we hope will help … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: Blended Learning
REMINDER! Notice of Spring 2024 Ed Co Elections
Once again, it's Spring Elections time and there are three open Faculty seats on Education Council. Some of you may remember my blog post, “Why should you care about Academic Governance?” which explains how important it is to have strong faculty representation on our Educational Council and maybe you read a suspiciously similar post called "Notice of Upcoming 2023 Spring … [Read more...] about REMINDER! Notice of Spring 2024 Ed Co Elections
CCFA Endorses the FPSE Call for the Immediate Resignation of the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
The Camosun College Faculty Association endorses the following FPSE statement and actions. The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) joined today with our national partners, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), in writing to Premier David Eby to call for the immediate resignation of Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education … [Read more...] about CCFA Endorses the FPSE Call for the Immediate Resignation of the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
Warning! Predatory Conferences
Martha McAlister and the PD Funding Committee would like members to beware of SCAM conferences. There has been an increase in fake "Predatory Conferences" Before you seek funding to attend a conference, please ensure it is a reputable organization. It can be very hard to detect and a number of us have been fooled. Keep an eye out for some of these red … [Read more...] about Warning! Predatory Conferences
CAUT Grievance Handling Workshop
This is another callout for CAUT Grievance Handling– which is being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT). CCFA Members, through our membership in the Federation of Post Secondary Educators (FPSE), are eligible to enroll for this free training! This is an ideal course where you'll learn a little bit about the grievance and dispute … [Read more...] about CAUT Grievance Handling Workshop
CAUT Organizing School 101
WE WANT YOU! To go to Organizing School 101– this is a great, FREE course being offered in conjunction with the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) as part of our FPSE affiliation. This is an ideal course to learn how & why ongoing organizing with our members is critical for successful collective bargaining as well as promoting diversity equity, and … [Read more...] about CAUT Organizing School 101
Camosun Showcase 2024: Professional, Scholarly, & Creative Activity
Submitted by Deidre Murphy Call for Submissions Are you interested in sharing your stories of innovation, research, and creativity with the college community and beyond? Are you interested in highlighting the relevant and important work that you have done individually or collaboratively with colleagues, students, or community? If so, consider contributing to Camosun … [Read more...] about Camosun Showcase 2024: Professional, Scholarly, & Creative Activity
Policy Feedback: Academic Concessions
How much do you know about the College's Policy Development Process? Surprised to learn that there is one? As a step towards reasserting faculty's role in collegial governance, I've worked to promote the opportunities faculty have to provide feedback on Policy, Strategic Planning, and Educational Initiatives. It's important that as many of us as possible provide quality … [Read more...] about Policy Feedback: Academic Concessions
Draft 2023 Education Plan and “Camosun Advantage” Consultation Sessions
submitted by Martha McAlister Did you see this announcement in CamNews? It was easy to miss and only sent once in the October 3 issue. So, just in case you missed it: Your opinion matters! But only if you know & GO! We want to make sure you don't miss this opportunity to have your say. The College is seeking feedback on their new Education Plan and holding … [Read more...] about Draft 2023 Education Plan and “Camosun Advantage” Consultation Sessions
Faculty Feature: Parental Involvement Project
Submitted by: Jane Gair Has your teaching been influenced by parental involvement? The Parental Involvement Project is a research study that asks the question: How is parental involvement in university and college student education perceived and dealt with by faculty members? Data for the Parental Involvement Project is presently being collected from UVic, UBC, and U … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: Parental Involvement Project
Notice of Fall 2023 Ed Co By-Elections
Dear Members, Once again, I am writing to notify you about another upcoming by-election for Education Council representation. Some of you may remember my blog post last fall, “Why should you care about Academic Governance?” which explains how important it is to have strong faculty representation on our Educational Council and maybe even a suspiciously similar post … [Read more...] about Notice of Fall 2023 Ed Co By-Elections
CCFA Stands in Solidarity with the University of Waterloo Community
The Camosun College Faculty Association expresses its heartfelt condolences for and solidarity with the University of Waterloo community for the violent incident in a Philosophy of Gender class that left three students with serious injuries yesterday. Our classrooms and places of learning are precious spaces: students and workers should always feel safe within … [Read more...] about CCFA Stands in Solidarity with the University of Waterloo Community
PD Fund Update: 2023 Travel per Diem
PD Fund Update As of April 1, 2023 the rates for travel per diems and mileage have increased! Please make sure to use the new updated travel claim form after your PD activity, which you can access off the CCFA Website. These amounts will be made retroactive to April 1 for any applications that have already been approved. We've also head from many faculty members that … [Read more...] about PD Fund Update: 2023 Travel per Diem
Important Minor Change to PD Application Timelines
Update from Martha McAlister, Chair of the PD Committee. Though still not up to pre-Covid levels, the PD committee continues to see an increase in applications, with more faculty travelling again and taking advantage of some very interesting learning opportunities. We recognize the application process can be challenging for some faculty, particularly if you haven’t done it … [Read more...] about Important Minor Change to PD Application Timelines
Know Your Rights: COVID-19 s.54 Settlement Re: “The Pivot”:
Hi Members, here's a little blast from the past! It's come to my attention that many of you have lost track of your COVID-19 Workload Complaint s.54 Settlement information. That's totally understandable as it was well over a year ago that we finally settled it. Fast in terms of how long it normally takes to resolve a grievance, but almost two years after-the-fact, none … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: COVID-19 s.54 Settlement Re: “The Pivot”:
First Notice of upcoming 2023 Spring Elections
Happy Friday, Members! I wanted to inform you all of the upcoming Spring Elections. Some of you may remember my blog post last fall, “Why should you care about Academic Governance?” which explains how important it is to have strong faculty representation on our Educational Council. Our organization has been systematically attempting to expand their managerial rights … [Read more...] about First Notice of upcoming 2023 Spring Elections
Fair Employment Week 2022
MAKING IT FAIR FOR CONTRACT ACADEMIC STAFF October 17-21 is Fair Employment Week, the Canadian Association of University Teachers' annual campaign to raise awareness about precarious employment on campuses and support local organizing to improve the working conditions of contract academic staff. For us here at Camosun College that's our many Term, Contract, … [Read more...] about Fair Employment Week 2022
Have You Seen the New 2023-2028 Strat Plan Draft for Camosun College?
I hadn't, and I'm usually pretty observant! So you can imagine my surprise when, during the October Board of Governor's (BoG) meeting, I learned that it was due to be approved next month for adoption in January. Hang on. What? That's right. The thing that will guide, direct, and affect each of our working lives over the next five years, that we were promised to be … [Read more...] about Have You Seen the New 2023-2028 Strat Plan Draft for Camosun College?
Camosun Showcase 2023: Professional, Scholarly, and Creative Activity – Call for submissions to share your knowledge and expertise
Are you interested in sharing your stories of innovation, research, and creativity with the college community and beyond? Are you interested in highlighting the relevant and important work that you have done individually or collaboratively with colleagues, students, or community? Are you interested in writing about your experiences in harnessing the ‘best of both worlds’ of … [Read more...] about Camosun Showcase 2023: Professional, Scholarly, and Creative Activity – Call for submissions to share your knowledge and expertise
Why should you care about Academic Governance?
Well, for starters, Education Council, or EdCo, is the one and ONLY governance committee at Camosun College that has MORE faculty than administrators on it. Well, that is, when all the elected seats are filled. When it comes to the Academic Matters of this institution, the Education Council are responsible for changes to student admissions, academic standards, and academic … [Read more...] about Why should you care about Academic Governance?
Faculty Feature: Reflecting on where we are today as a teaching institution
Contributed by Emily Schudle, reblogged from Camosun eLearning OpenEd: I was originally planning to write a reflection on the amazing faculty interviews I conducted over the past year and to look a bit at where we are all at now, almost 2½ years since we moved online due to a global pandemic. But last week an amazing thing happened. Our virtual Teaching and … [Read more...] about Faculty Feature: Reflecting on where we are today as a teaching institution
