Why Dawn Chooses AUFA
Athabasca University is proposing carving 67% of members out of the faculty association. This testimonial is one of a series wherein AUFA members explain why membership in the faculty association is important to them.
I echo the comments of my colleagues regarding the Academic Coordinator title. In actuality, the word academic is the only accurate description of what I, and my AC colleagues in nursing, do. We develop the curriculum, write, and revise all undergraduate courses, participate in AU committees, including APPSC and GFC, are active in scholarship (presenting at and attending local, national and international conferences; writing for publication; co-supervising and committee members for our masters’ students; and some are involved in research), and teach theory and clinical courses each term. In fact, scholarship is required for our external accreditation. We DO NOT coordinate courses. Yet this work is not considered to be academic by the AU administration.
Being a part of AUFA is critical to my work with AU. AUFA ensures that we are best positioned to operationalize the mission and values of AU and to provide a world-class learning experience for our students. We are a distributed group and AUFA is our community for sharing and partnering in our academic work. Without AUFA, and the benefits, particularly related to professional development, research and study leave, and pension, I question our ability to offer quality nursing education. We need the support to remain current with the rapidly changing healthcare system, especially when our workload above means so much is completed beyond paid work hours. How will we attract master’s prepared nurses to join AU and teach clinical if the salaries and benefits are below that are offered at other institutions and our healthcare partners; particularly if they will not be recognized for their clinical, teaching and scholarship expertise?
I have been feeling devalued and demoralized since reading AU’s administration proposal. Furthermore, it is difficult to feel celebratory about our 50 year anniversary and to remain hopeful during so much change needed for our Imagine plan. I urge the administration to reconsider their proposal and to demonstrate the I-CARE values with meaningful consultation with AUFA.