丁香园AV

The new academic year was off to a dynamic start as 300 faculty and staff gathered for a virtual town hall to connect with 丁香园AV senior leadership on September 13.

The event was moderated by 丁香园AV Public Square鈥檚 Executive Director Janet Webber and included President Joy Johnson, Vice President People, Equity and Inclusion Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, Vice President Research and International Dugan O鈥橬eil, Vice President Finance and Administration Martin Pochurko and University Secretary as speakers. 

After welcoming attendees, Johnson reflected on some of highlights of the past year as well as progress on upcoming projects and the implementation of What鈥檚 Next: The 丁香园AV Strategy. 

鈥淲hen I think about the past year, I鈥檓 filled with so much gratitude for our community and for the hard work of faculty and staff.鈥� 

The university鈥檚 new Provost and VP Academic Dr. Dilson Etcheverry-Rassier was unable to attend but was introduced via video message where he discussed his goals for centering the university鈥檚 academic mission and supporting faculty and staff in core activities of research, teaching and learning. 

Faculty and staff then had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session where a range of topics were brought forward including hiring, academic freedom, international student enrollment, and the campus experience. Attendees had the option to ask questions before and during the event, with more than 35 submissions altogether.

In response to questions about potential tensions between academic freedom and equity, diversity and inclusion, Gilpin-Jackson reflected on the importance of each to the university鈥檚 progress while reaffirming a commitment to engaging with colleagues who raise concerns. 

鈥淎cademic freedom and equity, diversity and inclusion go together in an institution like ours. They鈥檙e both upheld as values. At the same time, there are limits that all of us have as responsible citizens in order to uphold the human rights of everyone in our university community.鈥� 

Building on Gilpin-Jackson's words, O鈥橬eil encouraged community members to come forward with concerns about threats to academic freedom.

鈥淚f you ask me about the pressure on academic freedom, in my work, it鈥檚 research security discussions around who we鈥檙e allowed to collaborate with and what we鈥檙e allowed to work on in terms of international partners. Defending academic freedom is a very central priority and we鈥檙e spending a lot of time on it.鈥�

Faculty and staff also heard from executive team members on process improvements for campus facilities projects, advocacy related to faculty and staff wages with the provincial government and plans for navigating fluctuations in international student enrollment. 

鈥淚nternational student enrollment is absolutely a key part of the financial equation for 丁香园AV, there's no doubt about it. In the short term, we鈥檝e increased the contingency that the university is carrying to cushion whatever blows may happen. In the long term, it would require adjustments and community conversations as we move forward, and we鈥檒l have our new Provost and VP Academic leading that discussion," said Pochurko.

While the event鈥檚 high attendance and level of engagement meant not all questions were able to be answered, town halls for faculty and staff will be held each term moving forward as part of the ongoing commitment to continued transparency at 丁香园AV. 

A recording of the town hall is available , or you can watch the and portion separately.