I just finished watching all of the YouTube videos about the professor strike at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I wanted to add some comments.
One of the main questions asked of various students and professors interviewed was, “Do you think it’s ethical for the professors to go on strike?”
And I have no problem stating that I think it is ethical to strike. If an employer is not willing to discuss demands and there seem to be no other options for coming to an agreement, going on strike is the last resort.
So my personal view has nothing to do with me thinking the profs don’t have a right to strike. They do have that right. And from most accounts, it appears that their requests/demands were not being met and they agreed (reluctantly) that going on strike was their best option.
As a trained mediator, this disappoints me. Acadia profs and administration butted heads four years ago and the resulting three-week strike created tension but did ultimately result in an agreement. This particular strike is really Phase 2–the promises made by the administration at that time have not been met.
I’m heartily in favor of supporting outstanding teachers at all levels and recognize that the greatest investment we can make in general is in teachers above all. So, I don’t have a problem with the idea that profs should get paid what others in similar situations are getting paid.
In fact, I’d pick higher prof salaries over just about any program or other expenditure if it meant attracting and maintaining a talented pool of dedicated instructors devoted to teaching. In many cases, it does, but there are plenty of campuses full of highly-paid profs who focus on research instead of teaching. I think Acadia has, at least until recently, maintained a very clear focus on providing students with an excellent education.
What’s at question is the future: will the administration continue to focus on what’s best for students by paying great profs what they’re worth? Or will they choose to invest in the things that tend to attract those wide-eyed high school seniors over supporting the departments doing the work of excellent teaching?
This is an issue that has been stirred up for four years. FOUR YEARS. There has been plenty of time for both sides to address concerns. Where are the mediators?
Ultimately, a university’s responsibility is to the students (and parents) who are paying to go there. (Yes, the board, blah blah blah—but without students, nobody gets paid and nothing happens.) The university administration should be using every avenue possible to come to an agreement with the professors in an effort to yes, appease the teachers but ultimately serve the students.
That there should be even ONE DAY of class missed because the university can’t find a way to engage in meaningful and fair negotiation is a rather sad statement about the university’s priorities. While the president is off recruiting students in China (those international students–like my daughter–pay thousands of dollars more each year than their Canadian peers) talks are failing and resentment is rising. Chasing cha-ching (note: that is not a racial reference–I’m talking $$$) instead of focusing on the homefront is not a savvy move.
I guess I’m surprised that there aren’t some sort of measures in place to prevent striking by professors–and I mean that not in the sense of preventing profs from recourse but in ensuring that universities are committed to both their key customers (students) and vendors (professors). If education is a business–and yeah, it is–then this is just really bad management. And let’s not even start the discussion about what a strike does to a university’s reputation in this age of blogs, YouTube, Facebook and other new media. Marketing 101, anyone?
The failure of the university to value its most important players is likely to result in fewer excellent profs and motivated students making the choice to become affiliated with this otherwise outstanding college.
It’s not too late to turn things around, but it will require a great deal of mindfulness on the university’s part to pay attention to what matters most.
3 Comments
October 20, 2007 at 2:25 am
It’s great to see a parent’s opinion on this whole series of events! I look forward to reading it as things unfold (hopefully for not too much longer).
-Colin
October 20, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Hello,
The situation encountered at Acadia is presented to some extent as a choose a side mentality.
Let’s see if compromise can find a way to provide a solution.
The administration states they are in a fifty million dollar campaign for funding.
The professors et al are seeking six percent plus raise when the dental option is included.
The provincial government is not likely to bail out the funds.
Costs savings can always be found.Are the universities in Nova Scotia,working in a co op program to bid and buy from the lowest bidder,products like paper,cleaning products,light bulbs,etc.to save funds? How was the Biology building bid,design /build? Was it for class or spartan and yet functional or was it a legacy building for someone,again savings are surely to be found in a fity mil tab. It could have been a tilt up with flare,again saving in mind. Can the profs in each department seek to really trim requests some how some way,with awards for successful reductions.When better purchasing methods are found,implement them across campus.
What are the administrations stated priorities,is it buildings,is it campus candy? An edifice to lure the future students and when they walk in the door,they instead find the shell game of hallow promise and continually unhappy profs.
Is the admin staff, supporting the Preident, too numerous? Savings?
Will the professors compromise on the complement numbers?
Would the professors structure the six percent raise in a longer contract,so the issue can be resolved,enabling the university to be stable and strike free for an extended period time.Hopefully producing the environment,which all should be reaching for,educating future leaders,so often bragged about that Acadia produces.
The admin seeks capital donations for the structures. Lets think outside of the parallelogram
if it is not already being done,choose to lower the fifty million campaign,for building/maintainence,take it,prioritize the most needed fixes.
Take one fifth of this target sum and’sell’ the donors on the critical need for staffing funds,give the credit to the donors. This, arts professor is being funded,do it a tasteful manner,by the publisher of the overpriced texts book the students buy from firm,ABC co.Times change so methods to accomodate these changes . It should be sought now.
The case is being made by the admin that they do not have funds to equal the profs demands.
The President in the Daily English show,stated her role was to seek funds. If that is her self described role,have her seek funds to structure a university that is pleasing to the eye and has a backbone second to none,a teaching staff that situationly,is a sought after place to be.
Compromise,each side makes concessions.
Michael Duffy
a proud parent
Go Axemen!
October 20, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Well said!! as parents who opted to send our daughter to Acadia rather than send her to a lesser quality institution in the US, I’m also very disappointed in the professors and administration for not dealing with the situation in advance when they knew it would unfold this fall. And I’m sorry, but I’m extremely disappointed that the Acadia president would head of to China to recruit future students (yes, I know the trip was planned in advance and paid for by China) rather than be present to deal with the situation affecting current students. I’m with you on the tuition – AMEX will be hearing from us if this strike continues and the semester is canceled.