Re: Updated-Two Associate Dean positions in Graduate Studies

[Nilima Nigam <nigam@math.sfu.ca>]

Likely a minority view here, but I take a very different approach to dealing with fellow academics who are in administration, and professional managers (*). 

Prof. O'Brien's just arrived at SFU. As a fellow academic, it seems reasonable to first just go talk to our colleague - academic to academic - and ask why these positions are needed/why we think they are bad. 

It may simply be that Prof. O'Brien's come from a different institution with a different set-up, and has some compelling reasons for these hires. One could make the case that we don't need them. 

cheers

Nilima

(*) professional managers aren't fellow academics. 

On Fri, Oct 27, 2023 at 6:00 PM Harald Hutter <harald_hutter@sfu.ca> wrote:

I think ’tone-deaf’ is a rather kind assessment 

There seems to be a complete disconnect between ‘admin' and people who actually interact/meet/teach students.

Harald

On Oct 27, 2023, at 3:38 PM, Mark Leier <leier@sfu.ca> wrote:

Is there something a little tone-deaf about advertising the creation of a new associate dean of graduate studies after pleading poverty during the negotiations with the TSSU, a union largely comprised of graduate students? 

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From: Graduate Studies
Sent: October 27, 2023 10:03 AM
To: Graduate Studies
Subject: Updated-Two Associate Dean positions in Graduate Studies

 

Dear Colleagues, 

 

I hope that you are well!

 

Next week will mark the start of my fourth month as Dean and Vice-Provost of Graduate Studies at SFU. In this short period of time, I have met many truly wonderful colleagues and have come to appreciate everyone’s willingness to provide support and guidance as I find my way in my new role.

 

Looking ahead, Graduate Studies hopes to work strategically, providing both academic and non-academic support in three key areas: student affairs, policy and curriculum, and scholarship and funding. As a result, we have worked to clearly delimit the roles of associate deans, and we plan to increase the number of Associate Deans from two to three. Each will take on the academic leadership in one of these three key areas. While administrative experience with graduate studies is an asset, we are most interested in welcoming colleagues who are committed to graduate students and who have a demonstrated commitment to Indigenization, decolonization, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and collaboration

 

I am currently soliciting expressions of interest for the Associate Dean (Policy and Curriculum Development) and the Associate Dean (Scholarship) positions. You will find the descriptions for these roles attached. Please feel free to share this message with colleagues who might be interested in the roles. Anyone who is interested is asked to send a letter of interest and abbreviated cv to gsdean@sfu.ca by November 15, 2023.  Please reach out to this same address if you’d like to schedule a meeting to discuss either of the positions with me.

 

All the best,

Mary

 

p.s. You can find out a bit more about me and my approach to Graduate Studies here:https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/about/deans-welcome.html.

 

 

Mary Grantham O'Brien

(Pronouns: she/her/hers)
Dean and Vice-Provost | Graduate Studies
Simon Fraser University | 1100 Maggie Benston Centre
8888 University Dr., Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
T: 778 782 4255 | www.sfu.ca/gradstudies

 

<Associate Dean - Policy and Curriculum_October2023.pdf><Associate Dean - Scholarship_October2023.pdf>

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 Nilima Nigam
Professor
Dept. of Mathematics
Simon Fraser University