Reduced office space diminishes student experience, AASUA argues

On October 24 at 9:30 a.m., the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA) hosted a virtual media availability to discuss the impact of reduced office space on students and staff.

According to AASUA President Gordon Swaters, the reduction of office space on campus contributes to a diminished learning experience.

“Some contract instructors are being assigned to shared desks, while others are losing office space altogether,” Swaters said. “Taking away office space from contract instructors ultimately punishes the students” by limiting opportunities for personal interactions.

AASUA in negotiations with the university for stable employment for ATS

The meeting was a part of AASUA’s annual Fair Employment Week, Swaters said. The campaign “bring[s] awareness to the growing number of academic [teaching] staff (ATS) trapped in short-term employment contracts at the U of A.”

According to Swaters, half of all U of A courses are being taught by instructors with short-term contracts. These instructors lack job security and often lack benefits, he said.

“It is irrefutable that the student experience and learning outcomes are much better when academic staff have secure ongoing appointments,” Swaters said.

AASUA is currently in negotiations with the Board of Governors (BoG) for a new collective agreement.

Their bargaining goals include converting short-term contracts to stable employment, providing benefits for contract workers, and expanding “the representation on evaluation committees to include a diverse selection of academic staff employment categories,” Swaters said.

AASUA also seeks to end what Swaters called a two-tier pay system. Implemented in July 2024, the university pays new contract academic hires less than those who were hired prior to July 2024.

Contract academic work limits teaching experience, Smitka says

Kristine Smitka, AASUA vice-president, spoke next about intersectional equity concerns as it relates to contract work.

“Women and visible minorities are over-represented in contract academic staff,” she said. Smitka shared a colleague’s experience of not qualifying for parental leave because of her short-term contract work.

Smitka also discussed the struggle of preparing to teach courses and improve teaching skills under unstable employment.

“You can’t do any of this really important work when you don’t know what you’re going to be teaching next semester,” she said.

Additionally, AASUA ATS director Laura Schechter spoke on the emotional toll of unstable contract academic work, describing it as “exhausting and demoralizing.”

Contract instructors often exceed their contract requirements, yet “might not get their contracts renewed,” according to Schechter.

“We need the executive leadership to step up and support their employees,” she said.

The Gateway reached out to U of A Media Relations for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.