The Cadre

November, 11 1997

The real deal with sessional lecturers at

By Suzanne Williams

Many professors who were let go early from the "Freedom 65" plan last year. Many of these tenured profes- sors have been replaced with lecturers who are perhaps not as learned in the particular sub- ject at hand.

A sessional lecturer is hired on to the university ona temporary basis. These lec- turers get no benefits whatso- ever, such as a pension plan or health care. The fee paid to the lecturers for their duties is a meager $2500 per course. If a lecturer were to teach one

course per semester, he or she would only be paid $5000 for the year. For those lecturers whoare supporting themselves, it is necessary to find another job or two in order to put food on the table.

The contracts for these jobs are to pay a straight fee for teaching, and no research expectations are required. Ex- cluding summer sessions, | 1 | sessional contracts have been drawn up for this year.

John Crossley, UPEI’s VP Finance, stated, “the ses- sional contracts are used in three ways: to bring teaching expertise to the university, to provide overload pay to exist- ing faculty who are teaching beyond their course load, and to bring in less expensive teach- ing.”

: The fees paid to lectur- ers here at UPEI are about the same as those of other Maritimes institutions, butthey

UPEI

are significantly lowerthan the fees paid in the western prov- inces.

There are currently 134 courses on an overload or ses- sional basis, and 130 extension courses on a sessional basis. Last year, out ofa total of 790 courses offered from Septem- ber to April, 60 were taught by sessionals, and around 25 were offered through the extension department.

This year, there are about 100 sessionals here on cam- pus, as compared with the 76 from last year. The year be- fore, there were 94.

It is not difficult for a sessional to reapply and to be accepted for the next year through the department he or she is involved in. But some students are afraid that the value of education at the uni- versity is going down because the positions left vacant by tenured professors are not being filled by new tenured professors.

One first-year lecturer disagrees. “There are some sessional lecturers who are highly qualified and talented individuals. It’s not the lectur- ers’ fault that full-time work is not available, even if they are as qualified.”

A lecturer does not have to be fresh out of college in order to teach here.

“Sometimes lawyers are hired on a sessional basis for business classes,” explained Crossley. “The majority of the sessionals here are employed elsewhere full-time. Lectur-

~

ing is done here as a second choice, for the most part.”

Student Union president, Janice Broderick, mentioned that to prospective students, the university might not be as attractive as others due to the fact that the number of sessionals is once again in- creasing and the number of tenured professors is not as strong as it once was.

Resident puke policy

By S.K. Murphy

On October 23rd, the UPEI Residence Life adopted the new “puke” policy.

On several occasions, residence students have vomited in the common areas of the residence buildings. This has lead to unpleasant living conditions for others.

The students who are usually in no state to pick up after themselves would often leave the mess unattended. The Residence Life co-ordinators therefore thought it necessary to adopt this new policy.

Any student or guest who is sick in a common area of a residence building will be given a chance to clean up. If this is not done promptly, the student will be forced to pay a twenty- five dollar fee to the residence assistant who does clean up.

Students are encouraged to find a “puke” partner, who will pick-up after then in they happen to be sick.

Most residence dwellers agree that the “puke” policy is a good initiative.

"I think that the puke policy is a great idea. If someone is going to drink enough to make them sick then they deserve to clean it up themselves or have someone else clean it for them, that includes anyone from RAs, to House Council, to residence students," said Heather Doyle, Vice President of Bernadine Hall. A small number of students disagree, saying that “the money could be used for other purposes.”

Since the policy was adopted, fewer student have been found to be sick. Hopefully, the “puke” policy, along with the UPEI Residence Drinking Policy, will lead to responsible attitudes towards the consumption of alcohol.

BOG election violates

un

By Peter Gillis

A recent election of a faculty representative to the Board of Governors may have violated the university's con- stitution.

Dr. Ian Dohoo was ap- pointed to the board last month after winning a the election, but has since found his claim challeged. Dr. Dohoo is the Associate Dean of Research inthe Atlantic Veterinary Col- lege; and, according to the University Act, office on the university are not eligible for election to the board.

Earlier this Fall, two po- sitions became availble for the Board of Governors. At that time, Dr. Dohoo’s name was put forward by Dr. Larry Heifer, Dean of AVC. After

iversity act

nomination had closed, thedis- the University [are not].”

crepancy was discovered by members of the faculty, who then brought their concerns to Dean Smith, the electoral of- ficer for the election. Smith decided to continue with the process, stating that, since no objection had been — at obliged to proceed.

The University Act is unclear about the role Associ- ate Deans play as officers of the administration. In one sec- tion it states that the board my have “two members elected by and from all members of the teaching staff of th Uni- versity.” It later adds that “Chairmen of departments of the University are eli for election but other o of

However, there is no specific reference to other positions below the level of Dean. Some members of the faculty are concerned that their views would not be adequately defended by dr. Dohoo. As one professor said: “In one part of his job, he required ot

ee interests of the inistration. Now, in an-

EUTRETEL SCRA VT LATTA ERE CRE ECAUV CESS EO SIT I SS CAL AASEECAALLALLALS LASER BREAARBALE BOLE RERSASALAASLALSLLABAASALELLA LEER