After years of perseverance by Karen Harper and other CUPE 3912 members (like Philip Bennett a few years ago, and Isabel Fearon and Erica Fischer more recently), the SMU Senate bylaws have finally been amended to allow Part-Time Faculty to run and vote for a seat on Senate.
We would like to thank CAUT for their support as well as Jason Grek-Martin (Senate Chair), Roby Austin (Chair of the Senate Bylaws Committee), Lucie Kocum and other members of the Senate Bylaws Committee for their work on these amendments. Having all members of the university represented on Senate is important to provide all perspectives in academic governance, particularly at a time when we need to work together to address issues raised by Bill 12.
We are waiting for the bylaws to be updated and published to be able to provide more details. We are also working to provide more information about academic governance to interested members. In the meantime, we can tell you that PT Faculty members who have taught at least ten courses (5 FCEs) and have taught at SMU in the last two academic years, are now eligible to vote and run for a seat on Senate. There’s currently a by-election to fill a vacancy. Nominations are closed, unfortunately, but voting is still open. If you are eligible you will be receiving a ballot from Shannon Morrison, the Secretary to Senate to vote.