Read on Twitter
1/ So I've read through this revised AR (Academic Restructuring) proposal, and I have a few thoughts about it. https://twitter.com/UAlberta/status/1327410679972696069
2/ Repeatedly, the GFC (General Faculties Council) and the AFC (Arts Faculty Council, which I sit on) have raised numerous concerns over AR and scenario B which appears to be the most popular scenario.
3/ Why is that you ask? well scenario B consolidates existing departments into divisions/colleges each overseen by an "executive-dean" this is where the concerns stem from.
4/ The stated goal of AR has been about "finding efficiencies" to save money, which through all of these scenarios involves significant reductions to administrative staff and consolidation of student services.
5/ In scenario B we're reducing our administrative staff, but we're adding 3 (presumably) high-cost head positions over the university faculties. Essentially funneling the savings from eliminating those positions into the pockets of these "executive deans"
6/ We, at AFC and GFC have been repeatedly pushing for more specifics on the cost of these executive dean positions, and the relationship they will have with faculty staff on campus, and we have received very little information in that regard.
7/ This "revised document" literally acknowledges our concerns, and then doesn't answer any of the major questions raised about scenario B, below I have included the relevant sections of the "revised" document.
8/ There have also been concerns that the Academic Working Group on AR, and the Board of Governors (both heavily influenced by the UCP) will not take the concerns of GFC and AFC seriously. This has also not been clarified, and that deeply concerns me.
9/ Time and Time again, this government has ignored the concerns of staff working in education about this fast pace of reform across the board, AR at the UofA is no different in that regard.
10/ These changes seem more motivated by the UCP's obsession with cutting the UofA, and I'm concerned that restructuring will come at a terrible cost to both students and faculty.
