As an editor, getting to be part of a union with academics and other professionals is unbelievably valuable. Because of my membership in AUFA, I have been able to pursue many professional development opportunities that I otherwise would have been unable to. I have been able to attend several editing conferences put on by Editors Canada because of my access to professional development funds and allotted days. By attending these conferences, I have been able to hone and expand my editing skills and knowledge, which correlates directly to the work I do editing courses for AU. I'm also able to share my knowledge with my colleagues, thereby increasing the impact my access to these professional development opportunities has for AU.

For the last two years, I've also served on the board of directors for Editors Canada, and I am currently the president of the association; again, I would not have the time or ability to volunteer in this way with access to the benefits afforded to me by being part of AUFA. My role as president has allowed me many opportunities to promote AU on the national editing stage, and I often speak about the benefits AU can provide to learners in Canada and around the world.

It is also extremely valuable to me that I am able to be in AUFA with academic colleagues; their point of view has taught me much during the last almost five years that I've been with AU. Being in AUFA with the academics has allowed me to create very positive working relationships with people who I otherwise may not be in much contact with. These relationships benefit AU in terms of better courses and a more efficient work environment.

My membership in AUFA is extremely valuable to me, and it is my fervent hope that I will be able to continue as part of this union for many years to come.

I remember a day when Athabasca University was named one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers, what a wonderful accomplishment! Starkly, what a sad commentary that in its 50th anniversary celebratory year this is now a distant memory. Among the many factors that made the university one of the Top 50 Employers was AUFA and the benefits it provides its members. The strong relationship between the university and AUFA provided a means to give back to all the members for their dedication and hard work to make the university what it is. Many examples include but are not limited to employee advocation, health and wellness benefits, pension plan and professional development. These are the very items I value as an employee of the university and it breaks my heart to know that this is no longer a reciprocal sentiment given the recent de-designation proposal. In fact, it feels like a bitter betrayal.

I fail to understand how the removal of professional development as an example, will benefit the university. We work in a culture of lifelong learning, where self-growth and enrichment is valued, and yet, without AUFA, where does that leave this notion? Why as an employee would I elect to stay if the institution no longer values my willingness to learn, or is willing to reward my dedication to the institution, when I can simply now go to any other workplace and receive the same treatment and probably for more money.

Athabasca University has given me an education, it has given me a chance to raise a family, to thrive, and to be part of something that is honorable as well as being a fruitful contributor to society, AUFA has protected those rewards and stood by me to make it all possible. Without AUFA, then Athabasca University becomes “just another employer”, who doesn’t value health, financial and family benefits, training and skills development, work atmosphere, financial stableness of retired employees, or similar forward-thinking programs.

I’d like to believe AU is better than that, especially given it’s current Imagine plan and its publicly stated I-CARE values of integrity, community, adaptability, respect and excellence. I ask AU’s leadership how these values play a role with respect to the affected members of AUFA, and AUFA itself, given the proposed de-designation changes. How does integrity, driven by ethics, honesty and fairness lead to de-designation? How does de-designation lead to a community of togetherness and foster the collaborative spirit? How is de-designation a sign of improvement, a stated aspect of adaptability? How is respect fostered through de-designation when it is clear the values of individuals may no longer be considered through the voice of AUFA? Finally, how does de-designation enhance the excellence in all that we do?

I plead that the two parties work together, I plead AU values its’ roots and realizes many of its’ successes are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of those you are about to cast off. Realize that AUFA has provided a stable and long-lasting workforce that ultimately benefits the university. I plead AU stops its adversarial stance against a large part of its workforce, why? To what end? The relationship between AU and AUFA should be collaborative and healthy, we know it works, it has benefited both the institution and its workers for more than 40 years!

My day-to-day work requires a wide range of technical competencies. In previous jobs, professional development was always "on my own time". The AUFA contract includes professional development as a given, something which I value highly. I would fear for the loss of professional development time and funding if I was de-designated from the Union. Whether lawful or not, de-designation certainly feels at cross purposes with the University's stated values.

Why I would like to stay in AUFA.

I am a full-time academic coordinator in the Faculty of Health Disciplines. I have been with Athabasca since 2012 and am tenured. I do not have a PhD but it was not required for my job at the time of hire.

I do research, publish papers, contribute to textbooks, speak at conferences (international and local), sit on University committees and am active in my own professions association. I have contributed greatly to all the courses in our program and have created two more that bring in money for the faculty. I never refuse added work or a change of teaching assignment. I work beyond the expectations of my job description. It is interesting that AU doesn’t think I am an academic.

Do I really have to give up so much of what contributes to and encourages my investment in my academic role? I have worked very, very hard for the faculty and the university. How can I not take this personally? This proposal removes me from a position of status, makes me a little less than an equal member of the academic team, and has the potential to significantly affect my pension, pay and benefits.

I signed a contract with AU that includes all of the benefits inherent in the AUFA contract and I feel AUFA has represented my interest very well. To be demoted from academic standing to something closer to a sessional instructor is, as I see it, a demotion. (No disrespect implied)

In 2003, I started working at AU as a professional staff member. As part of AUFA, I have had many opportunities to develop myself professionally by attending conferences and taking several courses and certificates. The professional development fund and days along with research and study leave have all made this possible. Not only has this helped me develop professionally but it has also benefited AU. Coming back from conferences or finishing a course I have always been excited to share and apply what I have learned. Currently I am in the process of applying the MBA. I am very concerned with what that means to me as an AUFA member. Will I have the same benefits in order to see this degree to fruition? This has been weighing heavily on mind on whether I should be pursuing an MBA degree at this time. AU’s mandate has been to remove barriers for students. Students are the core of why AU exists. If AU’s can’t remove these barriers for staff how is it possible for AU to remove barriers for students.

I’ve always appreciated the insights I’ve gained by being in the same union as Faculty members. It allows us to work together and understand the needs of AU and the needs of one another.

Personally, I have been treated unfair due to the lack of leadership and management in my division. AUFA has always had my back. If I had not been part of AUFA, I am not sure that I would’ve had the support to protect me against the discrimination and harassment I have continuously had to deal with. My supervisor has tried to wrongfully discipline me. Along with HR they have messed up royally by not following process. HR has left it to my supervisor to deal with. A supervisor who has told me he has no clue on how to deal with conflict management. I was given a letter of expectation that went like this …. This is not a discipline letter. However, we are going to keep this letter on file. Not with your employee file but with your performance assessment. This letter does not have a time limit so at any point depending on the mood of my supervisor I could be disciplined as a result. No recourse to correct any perceived behaviours that are of concern. Due to the sensitive nature of this I cannot include my name in this testimony.

It is evident how strong AUFA is. I believe that is one of the biggest reasons why the Executive want to bust our union. I do not feel confident that the Executive have thoroughly thought this change through and its affect on staff and in turn, our students. In my opinion, morale and the climate at AU has plummeted at an all time low.
Have I thought of leaving AU? Hell yes. However, after being here for almost 17 years you form bonds, camaraderie and solidarity. You also realize you are not getting any younger and that you have been contributing to a pension. I care about AU and I want the best for AU. I strongly feel that removing professional from AUFA is a very bad decision. Yes, this needs to be voted by the BoG but essentially this change is being initiated by the Executive. An Executive that seems to have no real clue on what they are doing to our University.
Times were good when I started at AU and as time has passed there has been ups and downs but over the past few years it feels like its been a steady downward spiral. Many people I talk to seem to feel the same way. Many are dealing with stress that is affecting their health. I feel this is partially due to the fear of losing our pension, job security, wages, workload, benefits, leaves, professional growth, and morale.

In solidarity!

As I move into my 30th year employed at AU I’m disheartened at the thought that with the proposed de-designation that I’m may be no longer seen as an “Academic” in my role as an Academic Coordinator. The propose de-designation is based on introducing a specific definition of an “Academic” that would exclude me because I have no official research duties outlined in my position. However, Academic Coordinators are responsible for teaching, revising and developing new academic courses among other duties. Being able to stay current within one’s discipline is dependent on accessing AUFA Professional Development and Research and Study leaves to attend conferences and conduct research. My research during these leaves has been important to begin developing a course on Issues in Global Justice. Moreover, my research in the area of Academic Integrity is beneficial to the university in many ways. The Academic Integrity Report was shared with the Deans and Centre Chairs across the university. I provide evidence-based feedback on Academic Integrity policy development. I was invited and participated on a panel on Academic Integrity at our FHSS 2020 symposium. Finally, I have been asked to submit a proposal for a book chapter on Academic Integrity from a Canadian perspective. As a faculty member of AU this also elevates and makes more visible AU’s position as committed to Academic Integrity. The reason I choose AUFA is because it provides the means to perform my duties effectively.

I have taught in the graduate and undergraduate program for 11 + years now, written various AU courses at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and conducted and published research. I have also served on various committees in my time here. Ironically, the one thing I do not do is coordinate courses, despite my job title. As a graduate instructor, course author and researcher, I consider myself an academic, but according to my job title, I am not one, and now face possible de-designation. My sense is that this sort of issue is faced by many of us here at AU -oftentimes, our actual employment duties do not accord with our job titles or descriptions, or our job titles do not encompass the scope of what we actually do. Many academics coordinate courses in addition to other duties, at least some coordinators do not coordinate, but do teach and conduct research. In attempting to separate us into distinct employment categories and break up our union, the upper management of AU is making things very complicated for those who will be tasked with sorting out who does what and the degree to which actual job titles are relevant to what services employees perform. Separating the tangled threads will be no easy matter, and I wonder if those pushing for this proposal have any realistic sense of what implementing it will involve in terms of logistics.

The fact of job titles not always reflecting duties performed is a serious issue here, but for me, it is far from the only one. Although I have been here for a considerable period of time, I was only granted continuing status recently, after AUFA won a grievance. Since then, I have felt more valued, respected and secure. I have not had to worry about my family and I losing much needed health benefits, nor have I had to worry that fluctuating enrolments might see me unable to pay the bills. For the first time in my employment here, I have had a sense of dignity. AUFA won that for me. AUFA is the reason I am currently able to qualify for a pension, drug benefits, professional development funds, research leave, and many other things which are so very important to living well and performing my duties to the best of my ability. Employees who feel valued and appreciated do their best work -it's common sense. Membership in AUFA has ensured me that. That is what AUFA means to me. I choose AUFA.

AUFA has been an incredible service to me in my time at AU. The organization has always been full of wonderful people that provide counsel and material support when I've needed it. It has at times provided a social and logistical value that AU has been unable or unwilling to provide, and has stood up for issues that are dearly important to me.

Our contract and the support given to it by AUFA staff and volunteers have helped me to grow as a professional, expand my skills and knowledge, and move my career forward. It's helped me connect with and understand the academic community, and as a result I've been better at my job as a professional. I'm also 6 credits from the end of an AU master's degree, something I never would have considered without our contract, support, and connections through AUFA.. Even more urgently, they protected and supported me when my personal life has been difficult, most importantly when my wife suffered from cancer, and when my own health has failed.

AUFA is essential to AU.

I didn't know what a union was when I got my job after I'd completed post-secondary. With that said, I knew AU was a community because I previously had the opportunity to work here at a relatively young age - and that's a big reason why I came back home. It's mostly AUFA and AUPE members that I interact with on a day to day basis.

I got to know the AUFA office staff over the years due to their proximity at AU and social media has strengthened the bond (despite AU's efforts to distance our representatives from us). We're not lazy, and we still meet. I realize now that the sense of security and pride that I feel is the result of the camaraderie we share.

We are living through angry uncertain times. Resentment of the elites is growing. We hope for the best but we plan for the worst. We stay many steps ahead because we have more legs. Together we're taller than the pyramid, and we know how to navigate it - because we are the ones who built and continue to support it.

Lots of us have devoted the best young years of our lives to AU and for those of us who are passing milestones, time is all the more fleeting. Knowledge and experience leads to efficiency, and we can't be replaced with voices or computers playing Telephone through IP. We want to work, enjoy our leisure time, strengthen the base framework of the structure, and eventually enjoy the thanks for a job well done - our retirement.

Thank you, AUFA!

I cannot believe that AU leaders would consider Academic Coordinators as "non-academics". Then why naming the job title as "Academic Coordinator" when AU leaders intend to designate these positions as non-academic? Does AU want to change the job title for Academic Coordinators to reduce some of the benefits like sabbatical leave? Here I would suggest some: Student Support Manager, Teaching Specialist, Course Coordination Manager, and the list could continue to remove the term "academic". Even our Tutors have now the title as Academic Experts.

I have worked for AU for 14 years and I have contributed substantially to the development of my courses and enrollments for these courses in the manner that resulted in likely one of the heaviest workload at AU in terms of number of courses, tutors supervision, and most important, the number of students enrolled in these courses. In all these 14 years I have performed like a real academic (except the research) by accomplishing all academic duties as membership to AU (formet Academic Council) , FST, and Centre academic committees, AU teaching pilot projects, Bachelor degree director, Bachelor degree review committee member, etc. So, why now we are seen as non-academics when in the past AU leaders have considered transforming these positions to Assistant Professor. All traditional universities have positions similar to AU's Academic Coordinator with duties similar and no research (lecturers, teaching professors, instructors).

I definitely support that all AU's Academic Coordinators continue to be part of AUFA. We are academics with all we do and will continue to do at AU - some likely perform research, some are Program Directors, some are members of AU's academic committees, and all continue to contribute to the success and the prestige of Athabasca University.

I have worked as an Academic Coordinator at AU since 2010. I have been responsible for teaching, revising, and developing many of AU’s Philosophy courses. This abrupt de-designation proposal, such as it has been outlined, appears to run counter to basic intuitions concerning academic credibility and good organizational management. If the academics responsible for revising and developing the content and structure of AU’s courses are not considered “academics” then it would appear as though the academic legitimacy of our courses become questionable. From an organizational standpoint, the proposed de-designation would moreover appear to corrode and undermine relations of trust, morale and communal strength. Given such considerations, it is difficult to understand how such a proposal could remain consistent with AU’s IMAGINE strategic plan and AU’s I-Care values, especially if it is implemented without following proper and reasonable consultation channels.

AUFA has stood up for me in the past and has been a pillar of support. I enjoy working at AU and AUFA has been an important stabilizing force in my employment. Knowing that I belong to a strong and united association such as AUFA allows my family and I to securely plan for our future. I strongly urge the Executive to re-consider their proposed de-designation or, at the very least, engage in constructive consultation to ensure that any such de-designation would not undermine the morale and communal support at AU, which is essential for effectively realizing AU’s IMAGINE strategic plan.

I echo the comments of my colleagues regarding the Academic Coordinator title. In fact, 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.

I am proud to be a professional member of AUFA. Belonging to the Athabasca University Faculty Association is extremely important to me and to my role at the University. I have been able to further my education and was able to grow professionally while in AUFA.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind de-designation. I am worried about what will happen to my pension. I have worked at AU for over 20 years and for the first time I truly feel very undervalued for the service that I provide to students and the university as a whole. I am now looking at my position moving, being eliminated or being repurposed.

One AU for who?

I have been a member of Athabasca University (AU) and of the Athabasca University Faculty Association (AUFA) since 1998.

In that time, the leadership of AU (i.e. the University President and their management team) has changed many times.

With each change, the relation between management and the workers changed.

The one stabilizing influence in the relations between workers and management has been the unions.

And now this de-designation policy is threatening one of our unions.

Destroying the unions may serve the short term interest of the current administration.

But for the long term viability of Athabasca University itself, a strong CUPE, a strong AUPE, and a strong AUFA will be needed.

Please do not destroy the future of Athabasca University for current political gains.

P.S. On a personal note, I have been helped out several times by AUFA in navigating AU policies when the AU leadership itself seemed unable to do. This was a benefit to AU delivered by AUFA.

Being a professional member of the faculty association has been incredibly valuable to me. I have benefited tremendously from the support I've received to pursue professional development opportunities. Incorporating this learning and growth into my daily work has made me a more effective and productive member of the course development and production team.

I feel strongly that being in the same association as my academic colleagues facilitates the development of more collaborative and collegial working relationships than might otherwise emerge if we were working under substantively different conditions of employment. It is well established that developing distance courses is best undertaken as a team effort, and the diversity of AUFA's current membership is a reflection of this.

At a time when the university administration is going to great lengths to articulate the value of AU's unique model to external bodies, it is extremely disappointing that it would simultaneously seek to enact a policy that is out of step with many of the most valuable and forward-thinking features of our university. The proposed designation policy, with its unnecessarily narrow definition of academic staff, is a step backward.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile the rhetoric of the university administration with their actions. Withdrawing or amending this policy to maintain current AUFA membership would be a long overdue gesture of good faith toward the association and its members. It's time we're shown some of this respect we've been hearing so much about.