Re: SFUFA Update on COVID-19 Measures

I just gave to the urgent response fund SFU just set up for students. Would be great if more of us could:

https://give.sfu.ca/ways-to-give/fund/sfu-urgent-response-fund

Cheers,

Melek

Melek Ortabasi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of World Languages and Literatures
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Simon Fraser University
AQ 5127
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C.
CANADA V5A 1S6
Phone: 778-782-8660
--------------------

The knowledge of life, therefore, which we grown-ups have to pass on to the younger generation will not be expressed thus: "Reality will soon give way before your ideals," but "Grow into your ideals, so that life can never rob you of them." If all of us could become what we were at fourteen, what a different place the world would be!

- Albert Schweitzer, My Childhood and Youth

From: Erin Barley <ebarley@sfu.ca>
Sent: April 3, 2020 9:55 AM
To: Lyn Bartram
Cc: Lucas Herrenbrueck; Christopher Pavsek; Oliver Schulte; SFUFA Office; academic-discussion@sfu.ca; Ronda Arab
Subject: Re: SFUFA Update on COVID-19 Measures

Thanks for this Lyn.

We're all doing our part to help 'flatten the curve'. As faculty with relatively secure jobs, I think we also have an opportunity to help 'flatten the disparity' in how this is affecting society. In addition to handwashing and physical distancing, maybe we could practice restraint in our requests, and generosity in our contributions?

Erin

From: Ronda Arab <ronda_arab@sfu.ca>
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 5:09 PM
To: Lyn Bartram
Cc: Lucas Herrenbrueck; Christopher Pavsek; Oliver Schulte; SFUFA Office; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: SFUFA Update on COVID-19 Measures

Thanks, Lyn. I agree.

Best,

Ronda

Sent by magic

On Apr 2, 2020, at 5:07 PM, Lyn Bartram <lyn_bartram@sfu.ca> wrote:

I recognize these issues. However, I’d like to just point out that while everyone is going to ask for more money, in these times I think we ought to look outside our own wallets and consider who else in our academic community is more disadvantaged than we are. We are the *privileged* ones. Our students, our TAs and sessional, our research assistants and lab managers...surely we can stop looking at our own internal wants and think like caring citizens of a larger community??
I confess myself ashamed to consider how I might ask for more at that limited bank....

_________________________________________
Lyn Bartram
Director, Vancouver Institute of Visual Analytics

Professor, School of Interactive Art + Technology

Simon Fraser University

(Poorly typed on my iPad)

On Apr 2, 2020, at 16:39, Lucas Herrenbrueck <herrenbrueck@sfu.ca> wrote:

>> its purchasing power must now be a fraction of what it was a decade ago.

A fraction of 84%, to be precise.

(79% if we go back 14 years instead of 10.)

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/statistics/economy/consumer-price-index (I used the index for Vancouver, though an argument could be made for something more global given how much PDR is used for travel)

From: Christopher Pavsek <cpavsek@sfu.ca>
Sent: April 2, 2020 4:20:27 PM
To: Oliver Schulte
Cc: SFUFA Office; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: SFUFA Update on COVID-19 Measures

I would agree with much of what Oliver says, but I do not think we should have to use what little PDR money we have to support our online instruction. It’s bad enough that money is often used to buy computers, which are necessary equipment for our work and which are hardly “professional development.” That money has not increased one penny in the 14 years I’ve been a SFUFA member, and it’s purchasing power must now be a fraction of what it was a decade ago.

Best

Chris

On Apr 2, 2020, at 3:15 PM, Oliver Schulte <oschulte@cs.sfu.ca> wrote:

Dear SFUFA,

we need *fast* action on the challenges you mention. These are all about workload conditions so completely within the union mandate. President Petter has published an Op-Ed in the Vancouver Sun praising SFU faculty for moving their lectures on-line. Taking credit and warm words are one thing, but we also need actual support for our work. If the university wants classes to run, they need to provide the facilities for doing that. This should include the following.

1. Access to our offices for preparing and delivering remote lectures. Our private homes are not resources for university work. This is also an EDI issue.

2. Extra budget for TA support. This would also help our graduate students with their finances in very challenging times. See previous posts on this list.

3. Expanded and immediate access to Professional Development Funds for purchasing equipment for remote work.

Regards,

Oliver

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oliver Schulte E-mail: oschulte@cs.sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University Phone: (778) 782-3390

Professor Fax: (778) 782-3045

School of Computing Science Web: http://www.cs.sfu.ca/~oschulte

TASC 1 Building 9021 Work Schedule: see home page

Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6

Canada

On April 1, 2020 at 12:08:41, SFUFA Office (sfufa_executive_assistant@sfu.ca) wrote:

Finally, we are hearing from many members about specific challenges related to workload, course planning, technical support, and infrastructure and equipment needs related to sudden changes in course delivery. We are working on each of these as best we can, and appreciate your patience while we seek to address specific situations that arise.

And please do continue to reach out if there is anything at all that we might assist with in this very difficult and uncertain time.