Federation of New Brunswick Faculty Associations
Encyclopedia
The Federation of New Brunswick Faculty Associations (FNBFA) is an umbrella group for faculty associations in the province of New Brunswick
, Canada
. It began as an informal association in the early 1970s and was incorporated in 1981. It represents approximately 1,200 teachers, researchers and librarians across six faculty associations: l'Association des Bibliothécaires, des Professeures et des Professeurs de l'Université de Moncton (ABPPUM); l'Association des Bibliothécaires, Professeures et Professeurs de l'Université de Moncton Campus Edmundston (ABPPUMCE); l'Association des Professeures et Professeurs de l'Université de Moncton Campus Shippagan (ABPPUMCS); the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers (AUNBT); the Faculty Association of University of St-Thomas (FAUST); and the Mount Allison Faculty Association (MAFA).
In attempting to achieve the foregoing goals, the Federation maintains close contact, and exchanges relevant information, with the appropriate Departments of the provincial and federal governments and with the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission. (MPHEC)
The primary focus of the Federation is on lobbying government to maintain public funding for the universities in this province at levels adequate to allow them to remain accessible to all who wish to attend them, as well as competitive both with those of the other provinces and internationally. (Consequently, a large part of the Federation’s efforts is directed towards the recovery and analysis of demographic and other statistical information from reliable sources). We like to think that it is not a coincidence that according to the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) only British Columbia and New Brunswick have maintained or increased their per-capita expenditures on post-secondary education over the last decade, in marked contrast to the experience of Alberta or Ontario.
However, the Federation also addresses with government other issues which generally concern university faculty. In April 1991 the FNBFA was successful, for example, in persuading the provincial government to repeal the provisions affecting university faculty, before they took effect, of the Expenditure Management Act enacted earlier that year. On the pretext that the universities receive most of their funding from the province, this Act had originally included university faculty in the one-year “pay-freeze” – and in the prohibition from even engaging in contract negotiations during that period – which it imposed on provincial public employees.
Similarly, the Federation is presently examining pension legislation which adversely affects those associations which hold “money purchase” pension plans.
Chair, Dennis Desroches (FAUST)
Prix Nicole Raymond Award:
Chair, Jean Sauvageau (FAUST)
Legal Defense Fund:
Chair, Jon Thompson
Health & Safety:
Chair, Michele Caron (U de M)
Collective Bargaining:
Chair, Suzanne Prior (FAUST)
Scholarship:
The Federation annually offers one four year renewable scholarship to high school students entering one of New Brunswick's four universities and satellite campuses. This scholarship is entitled The George Semeluk Scholarship, founded by George P. Semeluk. Each high school in the province nominates a student for the scholarship. The student must exhibit strong academic standing, community excellence and who requires financial assistance.
A distinguished photochemist, Dr Semeluk served as president of the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers and later as a key member of the bargaining team that secured a first collective agreement for UNB's full-time professors, librarians and instructors. Colleagues describe him as a "model of courage and integrity, as well as generosity and kindness" and as "a gentleman and scholar of unimpeachable integrity and a firm believer in the ideals of collegiality". At a time when FNBFA was faced with member disquiet over perceived lack of transparency in financial decisions, Dr Semelek became its treasurer and remained so for many years. Here he commanded the same respect and affection from member associations as he had from colleagues at UNB. It was in recognition of his personal integrity and his strong role in supporting and developing faculty activism that FNBFA created the George Semeluk Scholarship program in his honour.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It began as an informal association in the early 1970s and was incorporated in 1981. It represents approximately 1,200 teachers, researchers and librarians across six faculty associations: l'Association des Bibliothécaires, des Professeures et des Professeurs de l'Université de Moncton (ABPPUM); l'Association des Bibliothécaires, Professeures et Professeurs de l'Université de Moncton Campus Edmundston (ABPPUMCE); l'Association des Professeures et Professeurs de l'Université de Moncton Campus Shippagan (ABPPUMCS); the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers (AUNBT); the Faculty Association of University of St-Thomas (FAUST); and the Mount Allison Faculty Association (MAFA).
Mission Statement
The Federation of New Brunswick Faculty Associations is the voice of university faculty and academic librarians across the province. We seek to advance our members’ professional interests and to improve the quality of our education system.In attempting to achieve the foregoing goals, the Federation maintains close contact, and exchanges relevant information, with the appropriate Departments of the provincial and federal governments and with the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission. (MPHEC)
The primary focus of the Federation is on lobbying government to maintain public funding for the universities in this province at levels adequate to allow them to remain accessible to all who wish to attend them, as well as competitive both with those of the other provinces and internationally. (Consequently, a large part of the Federation’s efforts is directed towards the recovery and analysis of demographic and other statistical information from reliable sources). We like to think that it is not a coincidence that according to the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) only British Columbia and New Brunswick have maintained or increased their per-capita expenditures on post-secondary education over the last decade, in marked contrast to the experience of Alberta or Ontario.
However, the Federation also addresses with government other issues which generally concern university faculty. In April 1991 the FNBFA was successful, for example, in persuading the provincial government to repeal the provisions affecting university faculty, before they took effect, of the Expenditure Management Act enacted earlier that year. On the pretext that the universities receive most of their funding from the province, this Act had originally included university faculty in the one-year “pay-freeze” – and in the prohibition from even engaging in contract negotiations during that period – which it imposed on provincial public employees.
Similarly, the Federation is presently examining pension legislation which adversely affects those associations which hold “money purchase” pension plans.
Committees
Communications:Chair, Dennis Desroches (FAUST)
Prix Nicole Raymond Award:
Chair, Jean Sauvageau (FAUST)
Legal Defense Fund:
Chair, Jon Thompson
Health & Safety:
Chair, Michele Caron (U de M)
Collective Bargaining:
Chair, Suzanne Prior (FAUST)
Scholarship:
The Federation annually offers one four year renewable scholarship to high school students entering one of New Brunswick's four universities and satellite campuses. This scholarship is entitled The George Semeluk Scholarship, founded by George P. Semeluk. Each high school in the province nominates a student for the scholarship. The student must exhibit strong academic standing, community excellence and who requires financial assistance.
A distinguished photochemist, Dr Semeluk served as president of the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers and later as a key member of the bargaining team that secured a first collective agreement for UNB's full-time professors, librarians and instructors. Colleagues describe him as a "model of courage and integrity, as well as generosity and kindness" and as "a gentleman and scholar of unimpeachable integrity and a firm believer in the ideals of collegiality". At a time when FNBFA was faced with member disquiet over perceived lack of transparency in financial decisions, Dr Semelek became its treasurer and remained so for many years. Here he commanded the same respect and affection from member associations as he had from colleagues at UNB. It was in recognition of his personal integrity and his strong role in supporting and developing faculty activism that FNBFA created the George Semeluk Scholarship program in his honour.