THE INSTRUCTOR FALL 2013

The Instructor (Fall 2013) is out!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Heads up! CUPE General Meeting Ahead……………1

Greetings from the new President…………………….  2

….and from the new Vice-President SMU…….……..  3

CUPE 3912 at CUPE National Convention …….….  4

Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Convention…….  6

Obituary for CUPE 3912 members Katherine Clough and Jennifer Grabove …………..  7

Click here for the pdf version:

http://3912.cupe.ca/?attachment_id=1267

 

Tales of Budget Cuts at Dalhousie University. Planning and Action by Faculty, Students and Staff in Response

Dalhousie Student Union is inviting students, faculty and staff to share how “cuts, fees and lack of student voice” has affected them:
Together, Dalhousie students, faculty and staff can create a more accountable, participatory and vibrant Dalhousie!
Make Your and Your Department’s Story Known
We all have problems at Dal. Sharing your issues is the first step to addressing them. Write a personal grievance about the way cuts, fees and lack of student voice have affected you, your department or an important service on campus. Did your favourite professor leave? Is your program on the chopping block? Are international student fees burying you in debt? Send submissions to dalunited@gmail.com and they will be posted (with anonymity if requested) on www.dalunited.ca and put on a “tombstone” for the Day of the Dalhousie Dead (see below).
Day of the Dalhousie Dead – An Action to Demonstrate the Scary Reality of Dalhousie
Thurs Oct 31st 11am-2pm, Dal Quad
Professors are leaving, programs are being cut and services are underfunded. Our education is being degraded as a result.
Join faculty, students and staff to grieve the loss of the things we value about Dalhousie. We’ll write the many things that we’ve lost on tombstones and arrange them into a graveyard on the quad for all to see.
Make your own tombstone with your own story or send to dalunited@gmail.com for it to be anonymously posted on online and made into tombstones if you can’t yourself.
 
Join the Conversation about Where to Go from Here
Thursday Oct 24th 5pm, SUB rm 218

Wednesdays Oct 30th 5pm, SUB rm 316

You’re invited to meetings of faculty, students and staff to talk about the results of budget cuts on our department, with our services and on our university. We’ll discuss how we can work together and how to make the university more accountable and representative of all of us. Bring input on the Bill of Rights that will represent our collective vision for how Dalhousie could be different. We’ll also plan some actions moving forward and make “tombstones for the 31st”. Email dalunited@gmail.com for meeting details.
Aaron Beale Vice President Academic and External
Dalhousie Student Union
6136 University Avenue Halifax, N.S. B3H 4J2
P: (902) 494.1275 C: (902) 237. 9291 F: (902) 494.6647

JOB POSTING – WEBMASTER

CUPE Local 3912

Part-time – One year renewable contract
Application Deadline: November 11, 2013.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3912 is seeking to fill the position of part-time webmaster for the duration of a renewable one year contract.

Hours: Five (5) hours per week.
Pay Rate: $21.52 per hour.

Qualifications:

  • Experience in website management.
  • Experience in mailing list management.
  • Familiarity with the WordPress content management system and MailChimp an asset.
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access an asset.
  • Familiarity with Facebook and Twitter an asset.
  • Knowledge of HTML an asset.

Responsibilities:

  • Managing the CUPE 3912 website.
  • Posting job announcements to website within 48 hours of reception.
  • Managing CUPE 3912 mailing lists.
  • Managing CUPE 3912 email accounts settings.
  • Send notices to membership pertaining to website, mailing list and social media functions.
  • Offer technical assistance to the Executive Council on matters pertaining to the above.

CUPE Local 3912 serving part-time instructors and teaching assistants at Dalhousie University; part-time instructors at Mount Saint Vincent University and Saint Mary’s University; and instructors at the TESL Centre at SMU.

How to apply: Send a resume and cover letter to Office Manager Renee Danker at cupe3912@dal.ca

Application Deadline: November 11, 2013.

Death of Jennifer Grabove

It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that Dr. Jennifer Grabove, a part-time instructor in the Department of History, died August 31 after a two-year battle with cancer. She will be missed by her colleagues who describe her as an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher, a congenial and generous colleague, and a wonderful person.

She received her Ph.D. in British Medieval History from the University of Hull in England in 2003 for a dissertation titled “Merlin: An Exploration of Prophecy, Magic and Sanctity in England in the Central Middle Ages.” Since 2004, she taught a wide range of History courses at the Mount, from the introductory HIST 1101 The West and the World to an advanced seminar on medieval myths, medieval truths and medievalism. She also developed the very popular HIST 2281 History of Childhood: The European Experience for distance education.

Jennifer’s father, Glenn Grabove, is planning a memorial service for her in late September or early October. Details will follow. He has said that Jennifer would appreciate donations in her name to support cancer research or any library, “as she loved to read and thought libraries a wonderful resource.”

Elizabeth Church, PhD
Vice-President Academic

Special Membership Meeting: By-elections

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Please be advised that CUPE Local 3912 will be having a Special Membership Meeting in accordance with Section 5 (b) of the Local Bylaws. The purpose of the meeting is to have by-elections for President and Communications Officer, positions recently vacated due to resignations.

The meeting will be held as follows:

Date: Friday, September 27
Time: Noon
Place: Dalhousie University, Student Union Building, Second Floor Council Chambers

Nominations for positions can be sent in advance to Sébastien Labelle at SLabelle@dal.ca or to Erica Fisher at fischersan@gmail.com

Please send inquiries about the by-elections or positions to be filled to Sébastien or Erica at the same adresses above.

Goodbyes

We are saddened to announce the recent departure of two members of our executive. Sister Jennifer Dimoff has stepped down as President and brother Sébastien Labelle has stepped down as Communications Officer. We thank them both for their leadership and the hard work they have done while serving as executive members of our local. We offer them our best wishes for the future. Solidarity!

University Affairs: Sessionals, Up Close

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Sessional instructors are now a crucial part of the teaching equation at most Canadian universities. Some say it’s time to include them more fully in the life of the institution. University Affairs examines the issue in the above article, which features a quote from CUPE 3912 President, Jennifer Dimoff.

View a sampling from a range of institutions on the pay, benefits and other work-related conditions for sessional lecturers. Download the chart (PDF)