Read on Twitter
1/34
I wonder what those members of #ualberta community who lost their jobs over the last year feel when they read this.
#abpse
@RicAcuna
@e_johannson
@BFlanaganUofA https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/new-university-of-alberta-president-optimistic-about-future-despite-pandemic-and-financial-pressures
I wonder what those members of #ualberta community who lost their jobs over the last year feel when they read this.
#abpse
@RicAcuna
@e_johannson
@BFlanaganUofA https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/new-university-of-alberta-president-optimistic-about-future-despite-pandemic-and-financial-pressures
2/34
And what do members of #ualberta community terrified by prospect of losing their job in next 6 months feel when they read or hear @BFlanaganUofA declare his "optimism"?
#abpse
@TheAASUA
@UnionNASA
And what do members of #ualberta community terrified by prospect of losing their job in next 6 months feel when they read or hear @BFlanaganUofA declare his "optimism"?
#abpse
@TheAASUA
@UnionNASA
4/34
They said this w/ new Board chair Kate Chisholm in room. (NDP-appointee Michael Phair had been unceremoniously and unfairly plucked from position of Board Chair by @jkenney the month before.) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ucp-sweeps-ndp-governance-appointments-out-of-post-secondary-institutions-1.5249900
They said this w/ new Board chair Kate Chisholm in room. (NDP-appointee Michael Phair had been unceremoniously and unfairly plucked from position of Board Chair by @jkenney the month before.) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ucp-sweeps-ndp-governance-appointments-out-of-post-secondary-institutions-1.5249900
5/34
What a message to send to the @jkenney government.
Sure, other universities do fine with less.
There are all kinds of universities — and most are not great research universities.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
What a message to send to the @jkenney government.
Sure, other universities do fine with less.
There are all kinds of universities — and most are not great research universities.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
6/34
It is incumbent upon current #ualberta “leaders” to ensure public understands ramifications of @jkenney government cuts. That's their *responsibility*.
#abpse
#cdnpse
@RicAcuna
@e_johannson
@BFlanaganUofA
It is incumbent upon current #ualberta “leaders” to ensure public understands ramifications of @jkenney government cuts. That's their *responsibility*.
#abpse
#cdnpse
@RicAcuna
@e_johannson
@BFlanaganUofA
7/34
I know of no other university in North America that has ever had a government cut its budget to the degree @jkenney government is cutting #ualberta .
Remember, this is a *program* of cuts that began w/ "in-year" cuts in 2019-20 and unfolds across 4 years.
#abpse
I know of no other university in North America that has ever had a government cut its budget to the degree @jkenney government is cutting #ualberta .
Remember, this is a *program* of cuts that began w/ "in-year" cuts in 2019-20 and unfolds across 4 years.
#abpse
8/34
But even if there is another university in North America that has been subject to such punishing cuts from a government that's no excuse for what @jkenney government is doing to #ualberta.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
But even if there is another university in North America that has been subject to such punishing cuts from a government that's no excuse for what @jkenney government is doing to #ualberta.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
9/34
With budget cuts over last decade, #ualberta is no longer in the Top 100 worldwide. It has slid to #136.
That slide is cascading effects of various government cuts over the last decade — especially Redford 2013 cuts.
But we haven’t seen anything yet.
#abpse
#cdnpse
With budget cuts over last decade, #ualberta is no longer in the Top 100 worldwide. It has slid to #136.
That slide is cascading effects of various government cuts over the last decade — especially Redford 2013 cuts.
But we haven’t seen anything yet.
#abpse
#cdnpse
10/34
Somebody should do the straight-up math to show Albertans what the overall % cut to #ualberta budget will be between 2019-20 and 2022-23.
Albertans need a clear picture.
Literally.
How about an infographic, @RicAcuna and @e_johannson?
#abpse
Somebody should do the straight-up math to show Albertans what the overall % cut to #ualberta budget will be between 2019-20 and 2022-23.
Albertans need a clear picture.
Literally.
How about an infographic, @RicAcuna and @e_johannson?
#abpse
11/34
Albertans need to understand the full program of @jkenney cuts. Let's stop the whitewashing. Albertans deserve the truth. Perhaps @albertaNDP can help tell the truth?
@RachelNotley
#abpse
#ualberta
Albertans need to understand the full program of @jkenney cuts. Let's stop the whitewashing. Albertans deserve the truth. Perhaps @albertaNDP can help tell the truth?
@RachelNotley
#abpse
#ualberta
12/34
Every single staff member at #ualberta could help tell the true tale of what is happening. But they don’t have access to the public’s ear. Those who do must create genuine understanding.
#abpse
@UnionNASA
@TheAASUA
@cafaab
@CAUT_ACPPU
@RicAcuna
@e_johannson
Every single staff member at #ualberta could help tell the true tale of what is happening. But they don’t have access to the public’s ear. Those who do must create genuine understanding.
#abpse
@UnionNASA
@TheAASUA
@cafaab
@CAUT_ACPPU
@RicAcuna
@e_johannson
13/34
Declarations of “optimism” don’t match the reality on the ground.
We need Alberta media to be asking hard questions.
@GlobalTV
@CBCEdmonton
@ryanjespersen
#abpse
#ualberta
Declarations of “optimism” don’t match the reality on the ground.
We need Alberta media to be asking hard questions.
@GlobalTV
@CBCEdmonton
@ryanjespersen
#abpse
#ualberta
14/34
We need #ualberta to be equipped to play vital role for Albertans as we head into third decade of twenty-first century.
*Surviving* brutal government cuts is not good enough.
#abpse
#cdnpse
We need #ualberta to be equipped to play vital role for Albertans as we head into third decade of twenty-first century.
*Surviving* brutal government cuts is not good enough.
#abpse
#cdnpse
15/34
Albertans need #ualberta to be in fit fighting shape to take on 21st-century challenges — especially in regard to #climateemergency.
Other universities are going to show that leadership — are already showing that leadership.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
Albertans need #ualberta to be in fit fighting shape to take on 21st-century challenges — especially in regard to #climateemergency.
Other universities are going to show that leadership — are already showing that leadership.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
16/34
@jkenney cuts mean not just drastic loss of support staff.
They will also keep #ualberta from being able to hire new faculty members to do the work of research and teaching that Albertans need at this moment in our history.
@UnionNASA
@TheAASUA
#abpse
#cdnpse
@jkenney cuts mean not just drastic loss of support staff.
They will also keep #ualberta from being able to hire new faculty members to do the work of research and teaching that Albertans need at this moment in our history.
@UnionNASA
@TheAASUA
#abpse
#cdnpse
17/34
For Albertans to hear truth of what is happening on the ground and what #ualberta truly needs for anyone to be fairly “optimistic” about its future, @edmontonjournal editorial board should sit down to talk w/ @TheAASUA Pres @ricacuna and @nasa Pres @e_johannson.
#abpse
For Albertans to hear truth of what is happening on the ground and what #ualberta truly needs for anyone to be fairly “optimistic” about its future, @edmontonjournal editorial board should sit down to talk w/ @TheAASUA Pres @ricacuna and @nasa Pres @e_johannson.
#abpse
18/34
And everything the university administration is doing right now with its "restructuring" needs to be subject to public scrutiny.
#abpse
#cdnpse
@drmarcspooner
And everything the university administration is doing right now with its "restructuring" needs to be subject to public scrutiny.
#abpse
#cdnpse
@drmarcspooner
19/34
@billflanagan has yet to show university community how his math re $120 million adds up. “Leaders” are working with “powerful data” that has NOT been shared with #ualberta community. Secret contracts with management consultants not acceptable for a public institution.
@billflanagan has yet to show university community how his math re $120 million adds up. “Leaders” are working with “powerful data” that has NOT been shared with #ualberta community. Secret contracts with management consultants not acceptable for a public institution.
20/34
Academic staff, faculty especially, need to be working together as stewards of the institution. For that collegial governance must be robust.
(I’ll have more to say about that elsewhere.)
#collegialgovernance
#academicfreedom
@TheAASUA
@RicAcuna
#abpse
#ualberta
Academic staff, faculty especially, need to be working together as stewards of the institution. For that collegial governance must be robust.
(I’ll have more to say about that elsewhere.)
#collegialgovernance
#academicfreedom
@TheAASUA
@RicAcuna
#abpse
#ualberta
21/34
Right now, note that even the claim that features on #ualberta home page is debatable — depends on who you’re talking to.
Right now, note that even the claim that features on #ualberta home page is debatable — depends on who you’re talking to.
22/34
Here are the Times Higher Education annual rankings from earlier this month:
Here are the Times Higher Education annual rankings from earlier this month:
23/34
If it's QS rankings administration wants to pay attention to, they should note the dramatic plummeting of ENGL, since Redford 2013 cuts.
For "English Language & Literature," #ualberta was #22 in 2013. Now down in "51-100" due to dramatic loss of faculty members.
#abpse
If it's QS rankings administration wants to pay attention to, they should note the dramatic plummeting of ENGL, since Redford 2013 cuts.
For "English Language & Literature," #ualberta was #22 in 2013. Now down in "51-100" due to dramatic loss of faculty members.
#abpse
24/34
University rankings are a contested way to measure success of a university — but they do tell us *something.*
According to @timeshighered, Alberta no longer has university in Canada's Top 5.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
#ualberta
University rankings are a contested way to measure success of a university — but they do tell us *something.*
According to @timeshighered, Alberta no longer has university in Canada's Top 5.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#highered
#ualberta
26/34
In 2008, #ualberta was in 74th spot in world rankings. #mcmaster was at 117.
#abpse
#cdnpse https://www.theguardian.com/education/table/2008/oct/09/top200.universities.worldwide
In 2008, #ualberta was in 74th spot in world rankings. #mcmaster was at 117.
#abpse
#cdnpse https://www.theguardian.com/education/table/2008/oct/09/top200.universities.worldwide
27/34
That situation has flipped. McMaster now ranks #69 worldwide, while #ualberta has sunk below #117, to #131.
#abpse
#cdnpse
That situation has flipped. McMaster now ranks #69 worldwide, while #ualberta has sunk below #117, to #131.
#abpse
#cdnpse
28/34
#ualberta is a public university.
It needs robust public support, not higher tuition for domestic students, or a higher number of foreign students, or an influx of funds from private philanthropy.
#abpse
#cdnpse
#ualberta is a public university.
It needs robust public support, not higher tuition for domestic students, or a higher number of foreign students, or an influx of funds from private philanthropy.
#abpse
#cdnpse
29/34
To consider the social problems of a public university depending on private philanthropy — especially one committing to principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion — please read this recent piece from @guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/08/how-philanthropy-benefits-the-super-rich
#abpse
#cdnpse
To consider the social problems of a public university depending on private philanthropy — especially one committing to principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion — please read this recent piece from @guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/08/how-philanthropy-benefits-the-super-rich
#abpse
#cdnpse
