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?
Confluence Blog (Digest)
FPSE Climate Action Standing Committee Speaker Series
The CCFA is proud to announce that the inaugural FPSE Climate Action Standing Committee Speakers Series will be held September 23rd, 2022 at 10 AM. Scott Saywell, Superintendent of BC School District 68 and Joan Brown, CAO of the Snuneymuxw First Nation will share their organization’s approaches on sustainability and climate issues with an emphasis on applying traditional … [Read more...] about FPSE Climate Action Standing Committee Speaker Series
Announcing the 2022 CCFA Charity Fund Recipients
Each year, the CCFA allocates $1500 to make donations to various charities nominated by our members. It is never an easy decision deciding how to split such a small sum among so many in need. This year, our decision was harder than ever, with many, many deserving charities submitted we relied on a guiding principle that we would fund charities where our own faculty and … [Read more...] about Announcing the 2022 CCFA Charity Fund Recipients
Bargaining in the shadow of BC’s Public Sector Employers’ Council
Have you heard the news? BCGEU: The votes are in and nearly 95% of BCGEU's public service members voted in favour of strike action, in their fight for a fair deal that includes #COLA! This is a big day for BC's labour movement. Read on to learn more about why this matters and how important it is for Collective Bargaining. Union Power in BC has been suppressed for over … [Read more...] about Bargaining in the shadow of BC’s Public Sector Employers’ Council
Honouring Our Commitments to Reconciliation on National Indigenous Persons Day
It is so important to uphold and promote good works that others do. Amplifying and sharing with respect and gratitude isn't always appreciated in our colonialized educational system. So, today rather than creating my own blog post on Indigenous Persons Day, I am sharing a wonderful Newsletter from the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council that I received through a sign-up … [Read more...] about Honouring Our Commitments to Reconciliation on National Indigenous Persons Day
Pride & Labour: There Might Not Have Been One Without the Other
This week kicks off a week of PRIDE celebration events here in Victoria, B.C. and while my heart soars that after a two year hiatus, queer and straight alike will once again have the opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principle that LOVE IS LOVE, together and in-person. My joy is overshadowed by the growth of hate speech and the threats of violence against queer … [Read more...] about Pride & Labour: There Might Not Have Been One Without the Other
Your Labour Makes It All Possible
This past week, as thousands of Camosun graduates crossed the convocation stage at the first in-person graduation ceremony since the beginning of the Pandemic, I wanted to extend my awe and gratitude to all of our members for a job well done. Covid-19 robbed us of so much, like the hundreds and thousands of uncompensated hours of labour you supplied to make it possible for … [Read more...] about Your Labour Makes It All Possible
Select Committee on Finance for the 2023 BC Budget
On behalf of the Camosun College Faculty Association, I once again provided recommendations to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services Committee for the 2023 BC Budget Consultation. On June 7th, I presented to the Committee as part of a panel of presenters across Post Secondary, who spoke on similar topics. Panel 2, Advanced Education - Tuesday, June … [Read more...] about Select Committee on Finance for the 2023 BC Budget
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
Ginger Goodwin Was Murdered & Why You Should Care
Contributed by J. Hunt: If you have driven up island to the Comox Valley area, you will likely have noticed the “Ginger Goodwin Way” signs on a stretch of the Island Highway. Although you may have heard of Ginger Goodwin as a B.C. labour activist, you may not know many details about his life. Albert Goodwin, commonly known as “Ginger” for his red hair, was born in a … [Read more...] about Ginger Goodwin Was Murdered & Why You Should Care
Know Your Rights: Right of First Refusal
We recently won an important arbitration about your rights. It pertains to the first level of job security that term faculty members can obtain (right of first refusal—see article 1.02 (g) in the Local Agreement). Right now, we need your help to monitor whether the College will honour this ruling. We don’t always know when members are having trouble exercising … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Right of First Refusal
My Personal Indigenization Statement – Lynelle Yutani
Indigenization and Decolonization are processes, not just goals. I choose the path of reconciliation and cross-cultural healing with great intention. I work for it (inside myself) and try to model it for others. I intentionally check my privilege and attempt to be as generous (in heart as well as in other ways) as possible. I try to walk with respect for my … [Read more...] about My Personal Indigenization Statement – Lynelle Yutani
The Union Reel: Films about Work
Norma Rae 1979 Directed by Martin Ritt It will surprise no one who knows me that the protagonist of Norma Rae was one of my heroes when I was seventeen. It was 1979, and popular culture had developed an earthy, working-class aesthetic. Punk rock had reached its peak. TV shows like Taxi and Alice were cheerfully gritty. Films about poor people, like Mean Streets, Dog Day … [Read more...] about The Union Reel: Films about Work
Know Your Rights: Getting Our Houses (Departments) in Order
Deans may come and go, but for most of us, our department is our home. That’s where our closest colleagues are, it’s where the most important discussions take place, and, if we are lucky, it’s where we find our best support. It’s also where collegial governance begins. I want to encourage you to take charge of some key areas in your department. If you organize … [Read more...] about Know Your Rights: Getting Our Houses (Departments) in Order
Towards Fairness
The Union Reel: Films about Work
Kelly Pitman Nomadland 2020 Directed by Chloé Zhao Even at their most earnest, Hollywood films often tend toward artifice rather than authenticity. Then comes a film like Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland, a fictional drama, inspired by a nonfiction book, about a woman who takes to the road after her husband dies and the 2008 recession takes her house, the … [Read more...] about The Union Reel: Films about Work
How learning to be a President is a lot like learning to knit
For my first Confluence article ever, I thought I would share something more personal and fun. Last week I bombarded you with listserv messages trying to bring awareness to the plight of Term and Contract Academic workers as part of Fair Employment Week… but guess what? Before this past week, I hadn’t really paid that close of attention to what Fair Employment Week was all … [Read more...] about How learning to be a President is a lot like learning to knit
Camosun College Climate Coalition
Just over a year ago, FPSE created a Climate Emergency Ad Hoc committee. A meeting of several interested presidents and reps from each of the locals was convened. The purpose was to find out what meaningful climate action initiatives were taking place at the locals and how FPSE could support them. Our president, Chris, called a meeting at our local of interested … [Read more...] about Camosun College Climate Coalition
Organizing Action (aka 2 white women continue the journey of sitting with discomfort) Part 2
In the June 2021 issue of the Confluence, we embarked on personal & professional anti-oppression journeys and invited members of this community to join us. We prepared ourselves to sit in discomfort as we set out to understand more about systemic and institutional racism, and how we might contribute to the dismantling of white supremacy in our professional practices. In our … [Read more...] about Organizing Action (aka 2 white women continue the journey of sitting with discomfort) Part 2
