Why Margaret 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.
Athabasca University course coordinators and professionals have heard a statement that a policy written in 1983, which designates the employees who are eligible for inclusion in AUFA, must be revised because it was written in 1983. I would argue that while the means of how we produce courses at AU have changed in 37 years, the principles remain the same. Faculty and professionals at Athabasca University publish courses.
At our institution, a professor does not arrive in the classroom hoping that IT fixed the projector so they can run the PowerPoint slides they made themselves. Athabasca University publishes courses, and because AU publishes courses, there are inherent issues unique to publishing that we account for in every course produced. These include but are not limited to adherence to copyright, fact checking, timely and accurate revision cycles, collaborative enhancements to address for diverse learning styles, and the selection and maintenance of a learning management system.
AU's courses are world class because professionals work collaboratively with academics to create excellent learning materials. There are many faculty, staff, departments, and service units who work together to produce these materials that help students achieve their goals, and the professionalism of all AU employees is integral to student success.
With the immediacy of online publishing, the issues are more relevant than ever. The mistakes we make are aired in social media and damage the reputation of the university. I wonder if management clearly understands the nature of our coursework and why our collaboration is crucial to the institution’s success.
On a personal note in support of my professional designation, AU has granted me research and study leave three times in over 30 years of service to the institution. For each leave, I wrote a proposal for my research activities and a report when I returned to regular work that documented how research and study leave was beneficial to Athabasca University. My last leave was eight months in 2018, and the outcomes were beneficial to the larger Athabasca community as well as the university. While the principles of my work haven't changed, the technology and the way I do my work has. I wouldn’t have been successfully employed for over 30 years without institutional support for my professional growth, and I believe this is true for many of my coworkers.