theEducator NOVEMBER 2012 Board of Governors’ Report by Kay Wigle What the Board Of Governors INSIDE THIS ISSUE: (BOG) will never know—and why Questions I am frequently asked by faculty only 13% of the cost are “Why doesn’t the BOG do something? going into the Answering the Call 3 How does the BOG feel about that? When is student’s program? President’s Message the BOG going to take action?” And these Do they ask questions by Darryl Bedford questions are related to many internal in cases such as, are Book Review of Jan Wong’s 4-5 concerns. students getting value for their education Out of the Blue The BOG may never take action because dollar? A document obtained by Local 110 by Frank Green they are generally unaware of your concerns. through an Access to Information Request Are Values Just Words? 6 The governance model used by the BOG verifies the CTO per program. Board Chief Steward’s Report protects them from hearing the issues that members do not receive contribution to by Darren Chapman are of concern to employees. Another more overhead per program data. Profile of Mike Boisvert 7 fundamental question may be this: where is Student success — Are board members the balance between what a BOG should get concerned about Student Success? Do they by Paul Evans involved with, what should be left as realize that class sizes have increased, 62% of Fanshawe College’s New 8-9 operational? faculty are now part-time, timetables are Organization Chart These are the questions that you have problematic? Do they understand the asked: implications of student retention with on-line delivery, are they aware of the need for Doing What We Do Best 9 Budget — Faculty are being asked to look for more and more efficiencies within their increased student services as the student Faculty Caught In the Act! programs. They are concerned about the population increases, especially for impact of budget cuts on students. They are international students? The answer is yes. Hardship Committee 10 also aware there is an 11 million dollar The Board of Governors are concerned about by John Conley operating surplus. The question asked is Student Success. However, they are not whether the board is aware of the impact of aware of these specific concerns because this Your Workload and Introduc- 11 type of information is not part of the reports tion to WMG not spending the money. Yes, they are. However, there is a projected deficit for the received. by Abe Kelledjian next few years and a financial plan was Values — Are board members concerned National Day of Remembrance 12 presented where the operating surplus is about the recent values survey, where and Action on Violence Against Women diverted to compensate for the deficit. employees highlighted their perception of the CTO — Do board members question the values held by Fanshawe? Bureaucracy, Cost Contribution To Overhead (CTO) per Reduction, Control, Hierarchy, Confusion and program? Are they concerned that some Silo Mentality flagged as core values should programs contribute as much as 87% to be of concern. Board members have not seen overhead? Do they question the optics of Find us online at (Continued on page 2) https://opseu110.ca/ theeducator Experts in Student Success Since 1967 2 the Educator Board of Governors’ Report, continued (Continued from page 1) (Carver model) certainly relies on reports given to the board by the administration. The this report, and I am not sure they will. They board responds to the content of the reports did see the 2010 employee survey where presented. They rely on the integrity of employees raised concerns about the culture management to present well-balanced OPSEU Local 110 officers of the college. While the surveys are different, reports. they both raise important concerns. The two President: Darryl Bedford There is a task force of the BOG that is surveys highlight the need for improvement 1st VP: Kathryn Tamasi reviewing the governance model with a in the way employees are valued, listened to mandate “to develop an inventory of issues 2nd VP: Mike Boisvert and supported. Details of these reports will and questions regarding the board’s Chief Steward: Darren Chapman be seen as operational—and therefore left to approach to governance and determine the Treasurer: Kathleen Dindoff management to address. best process for addressing those needs.” Increased Managers — Another question Secretary: Jennifer Boswell According to the Carver model, board is do board members get information on the meetings must be the board’s meetings, and number of new management positions, e.g. not management’s meeting. This is an Reach Local 110 at: program managers? No, this will be viewed as important distinction that at times seems operational and therefore they will not know Fanshawe College (Room D2018) blurred. these details. P.O. Box 7005 I wish you and your family all the best of the Board Responsibilities — Does the board 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd. season. “rubber stamp” what administration wants? London, Ontario N5Y 5R6 Is the governance model an extension of Kay Wigle Ph. (519) 452-4205 management? The model of governance used [email protected] Fax (519) 453-5345 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.opseu110.ca Happy Holidays from Local 110! Newsletter Committee: Jennifer Boswell (Editor) Kathryn Tamasi Darryl Bedford Paul Evans Approved for distribution: Darryl Bedford, President OPSEU 110 Find us online at https://opseu110.ca/theeducator Art by Alice Tams, from birdsinhats.blogspot.ca the Educator 3 the Educator President’s Message by Darryl Bedford Answering the Call Dear Faculty Colleagues, Following the support staff strike, Locals I’m reminded of a famous commercial for a 109 and 110 attempted to meet with the U.S. wireless provider. A technician in Fanshawe Board of Governors to put uniform and hardhat would crisscross the worker concerns on their radar screen. country with a cell phone to demonstrate Over 400 of you signed a petition. The the superior network coverage and Board didn’t want to receive it or address repeatedly ask the question, “Can you hear it. The Board wasn’t interested in hearing me now?” from workers. Your Local officers have heard from “Can you hear me now?” How will your workload concerns be members throughout the College. We’re In preparation for collective bargaining, addressed? proud of your dedication and we heard your concerns through surveys, (See the article by Abe Kelledjian in this professionalism. You tell us that you love conversations, and meetings. Money was issue for more details about the Workload working with students. There are few not the big concern. It was how people are Monitoring Group.) careers more satisfying than Professor, being treated. Partial load faculty needed “Can you hear me now?” Librarian, or Counsellor. You are the something, anything, to improve their Recently, Fanshawe College conducted experts in student success and you prove it precarious situation. Coordinators were not a survey asking you what your personal every day. being given clear direction. values are, what values you felt Fanshawe But there are problems. When it comes Our bargaining team listened and should aspire to, and the values the to being a good employer, Fanshawe managed to make some improvements in a organization currently exhibits. College has work to do. The Employee very tough economic and labour Your perception of the current day-to- Opinion Survey (EOS) of 2010 confirmed environment. day work environment included what you have been telling us. There will still be hard work for us bureaucracy, cost reduction, control, Almost all of you responded that your ahead. We need to ensure our employer is hierarchy, silo mentality, and confusion. work gives you a feeling of personal adhering to the new Partial Load and “Can you hear me now?” accomplishment and that the work you do Coordinator language in the Collective Regardless of whether or not you feel contributes to the success of the College. Agreement. there are administrators doing a good job, Many of you responded that your “Can you hear me now?” it is time for a change. We need a plan. We opinions and input are not valued. Workload Monitoring Group (WMG) has need real leadership. Many more of you responded that you been one of the few effective joint Board of Governors, the President, do not receive praise and recognition when committees at the College. It is where your Senior Administration: Your employees are you do a good job. workload concerns are heard. For over two calling. They want you to work with their Upon learning of the EOS results, your decades it has been one of the few places union. They want collegiality and better Local expressed concern and prepared a where the parties improved the process. problem solving in the workplace. This call “white paper” with suggestions for college In 1987, managers had to review each is for you. management. Later on, we were able to and every faculty SWF at the committee It’s time to answer. meet with the Academic Leadership Team table. Over the years the task of reviewing (ALT) headed up by Dr. Lane Trotter. faculty workload has become far more A subcommittee on faculty- efficient. The process was working. Again administration communication was formed exhibiting a top-down unilateral approach with Chief Steward Darren Chapman, Dean so typical of Human Resources, Fanshawe Gary Lima, Dean David Belford and me. It is Verizon© Wireless College management is attempting to gut early days. We’ve started with the topic of the committee. The manager members of School meetings. But there is so much more WMG have imposed a schedule of just two to do to have your concerns addressed.