AUFA statement on Alberta's proposed anti-trans legislation

The Athabasca University Faculty Association condemns the recent policy proposals by the Alberta government which is a direct attack on the rights of Two-Spirit, transgender, non-binary, and gender non-confirming (2STNBGC) youths. As a union, our duty is a commitment to equity for all members, which includes fairness and justice in the way they are treated. As a faculty association, we are dedicated to the intellectual pursuit and the protection of academic freedom.

The recent policy proposals use the guise of parental rights to rob youths of their own right to live their lives peacefully and safely. It seeks to out people without their permission, deny proven medical treatments like puberty blockers, and exclude youths from engaging in healthy community activities like sports and athletics. It is also anti-intellectual, erasing decades of academic work to instead embrace a current moral panic, and hide this attempted social erasure behind a false veneer of concern. The creation and enforcement of these laws has encouraged violence against 2STNBGC youths, most recently in the death of Nex Benedict, who died at the hands of classmates after similar laws were proposed in Oklahoma.   

The Alberta government is our employer, and it is attacking our children.

AUFA calls upon all interested members to sign the Trans Action Alberta petition, write their political leaders to express their condemnation of these policies, and to attend rallies in their communities. In addition, please watch our provincial organization CAFA, for their forthcoming statement.

Additional links:

Trans Rights Yeg for attending rallies in Edmonton.

Queer Citizens United for attending rallies in Calgary.

Alberta Federation Labour statement.

Write your Members of the Legislative Assembly:

Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

Glenn Van Dijken, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Athabasca-Westlock-Barrhead

AU Transfer Credit Boycott - Explained

At a recent Connect with the President session, Neil Fassina commented on the transfer credit boycott claiming he did not understand the boycott, and that it was unrelated to the Designation as Academic Policy. There seems to be some confusion about this, so here is some clarifying information.

What is the transfer credit boycott?

Since August, several faculty associations from universities across Canada have contacted Athabasca University. Their letters indicate that if members are removed from AUFA without consent, they will instruct their members to stop recommending AU for transfer credit.

Currently, there is no active boycott. There is the potential for a boycott if AU proceeds with removing members from AUFA.

Why is AUFA doing this?

AU recently passed a new Designation as Academic Policy. This policy can be used to kick members out of AUFA through de-designation. If removed from AUFA, our members could lose protections and pay, and they could be removed from their pension plan.

Representatives from AUFA, AUPE, and CUPE participated in six months of consultations about this policy and raised many concerns. AUFA members are extremely grateful to AUPE and CUPE for their remarkable solidarity in opposing this new policy. AU, however, forged ahead with passing the policy despite not providing any rationale for why it is necessary or articulating what benefit it might bring to AU.

Now that the policy is live, AUFA faces the potential of complete destruction by AU. In an effort to fully represent and defend our members, we reached out for assistance to our sister associations across the country. AUFA has no desire to negatively affect students or enrolment growth at AU, but we have an obligation to do whatever we can to protect our members and prevent the destruction of our union.

Is it working?

Yes. Shortly after the potential boycott was announced, AU made last-minute changes to the policy that softened its immediate impact. To date, no members have been removed from AUFA, though it is still within AU’s power to do so.

We believe that if the potential boycott remains a concern, AU is less likely to remove our members. As such, we will continue to solicit commitments to boycott from other faculty associations. If AU agrees to not remove members from AUFA without consent, we will instruct all associations to stand down and the potential boycott will be off the table.

Why did Neil say he does not understand the boycott?

It is not clear why President Fassina would discuss this potential boycott in the way that he did. He would have had access to all the letters from our sister associations and was present at a half-hour presentation AUFA gave to the Board of Governors about designation. That this potential boycott is not yet active—and that it is within AU’s power to prevent it—should be very clear to him.

Any AU staff members (not just AUFA members!) with questions about AUFA’s actions are encouraged to contact AUFA.

David Powell

President, AUFA

Letter from AUFA President regarding post-secondary funding model

In response to the announcement of new performance-based funding for Alberta post-secondary institutions, AUFA President Jolene Armstrong has written the following open letter on behalf of AUFA.

Letter to Premier Kenney Regarding Dr. Melanee Thomas

“Alberta Legislature 2” by is licensed by daryl_mitchell under CC BY 2.0

This past Monday, Premier Jason Kenney made disparaging remarks about University of Calgary professor Dr. Melanee Thomas on the floor of the legislature, questioning her objectivity in her academic work. AUFA views this attack on the independence of Albertan academics and the right of academic freedom. Below is a letter from AUFA President Dr. Jolene Armstrong to Premier Kenney on this issue.

Clarification on AU's Election Communication

As you may be aware, VP Kristine Williamson sent an email regarding communications during the election period. Some members have expressed confusion and concern about the possible limitations. AUFA has sought information from Ms. Williamson, Elections Alberta, the Ministry, and sister organizations to clarify this communication.

Last month, the Government of Alberta published its Election Communication Policy, which restricts “government advertising and other communications activity to ensure that governments neither involve themselves in nor influence elections.” Universities are specifically mentioned as an entity that is to comply with this policy which is available online.

The Elections Act allows the University to continue with communications that are “continuous and “required” but the institution must ensure its communications are in step with provincial requirements during the writ period. The policy is not intended to limit or interfere with academic freedom and does not preclude staff members from engaging with political parties, their candidates or other political party representatives in conducting teaching and research.

Some key guidelines:

1. Athabasca University cannot make contributions (money or donations in-kind) to any political party or candidate running in an election.

2. University funds cannot be used to cover the cost of attending partisan political fundraising or campaign events.

3. University resources cannot be used to promote partisan political events or campaigns.

4. This would include using your AU email address for partisan political purposes, including distributing campaign information, forwarding campaign materials received in your AU email inbox, or using university mailing or email lists to distribute campaign materials.   

5. Election signs and posters for candidates may only be placed on the publicly available bulletin boards inside university buildings.  Signs placed elsewhere may be removed.

AUFA will reiterate that the University must recognize the right of students, employees, and professional and academic staff members to participate as individuals in the political process provided they do not use university resources to do so. The pursuit of academic activity related to the election is an important and acceptable activity, subject to applicable legislative frameworks. 

If you are planning an event or meeting during this time where you would normally consider extending invitations to provincial elected officials, please contact your supervisor first.

AUFA Executive Statement on New Zealand Terror Attack

AUFA expresses deeply heartfelt condolences to all affected by the recent mass shooting in New Zealand, followed by the shooting in the Netherlands on Monday. AUFA joins in the mourning of the victims of this terrorism. In this time of sorrow, AUFA reaffirms that it strongly condemns racism, discrimination, and religious intolerance of any kind and urges anyone who experiences threats to contact the AUFA office.  AUFA would also like to remind its members that if dealing with any distressed students, Athabasca University has a Counselling Services Unit that they can approach to address matters of a personal or sensitive nature. 

—Jolene Armstrong, AUFA President