Update on the student strikes – message from the provost
Update on April 1: Members of the following student undergraduate associations have voted for strike mandates: Concordia Association for Students in English, Loyola College Student Association. These associations will be included in the April 2 day of dialogue and reflection. This means that undergraduate classes for these affected associations, as well as relevant cross-listed classes, will not be offered on April 2.
At the graduate level, members of the Humanities PhD-GSA have voted in favour of a strike. This association will be included in the April 2 day of dialogue and reflection. This means all graduate classes in the Humanities, as well as relevant cross-listed classes, will not be offered on April 2.
Update on March 30: Members of the Graduate History Students’ Association have voted in favour of a strike on April 2. This association will also be included in the April 2 day of dialogue and reflection. This means that no graduate History classes, as well as relevant cross-listed classes, will be offered on April 2.
On March 23, Concordia held a day of reflection to encourage dialogue among faculty, staff and students during a day of strikes by several student associations. The feedback we received from the community has been positive and many of our members appreciated the opportunity to discuss concerns and to ask questions.
Since March 23, a number of other student associations have voted in favour of a strike. We have decided to hold a second day of reflection on Thursday, April 2 for those student associations, as listed below. This is to encourage and continue the process of open dialogue with students, faculty and staff. More details will be shared shortly with faculty, staff and students in the affected departments.
Since March 23, the following student associations have voted in favour of a strike mandate and will have a day of reflection on April 2:
- Coms Guild, undergraduate
- Liberal Arts Society, undergraduate
- Political Science Student Association, undergraduate
- Geo Grads, graduate
- Sociology and Anthropology Graduate Student Association, graduate
On April 2, this means in the Faculty of Arts and Science, that the following classes will not be held:
- COMS – Communication Studies, undergraduate
- LBCL – Liberal Arts College, undergraduate
- POLI – Political Science – undergraduate
- GEOG, ENVS, HENV – Geography – graduate
- Sociology and Anthropology (SOCI and ANTH) – graduate
Please note: to minimize conflict between students, courses that are cross-listed with any of the above classes will be included in the day of reflection. This means these cross-listed classes will not be held on April 2. A complete list of courses not being held on April 2 are available here.
Classes will be offered for those student associations who had a day of reflection on March 23 (Faculty of Fine Arts undergraduate, Departments of Geography undergraduate, Philosophy undergraduate and graduate, Women Studies undergraduate and the School of Community and Public Affairs undergraduate).
We are aware that other student associations are voting on March 26 and 31. You will be informed if the outcome of these votes impacts additional classes.
Questions?
I encourage you to read the frequently asked questions for faculty and staff. In particular, we have been asked if the term will be extended. The university is unable to extend the term.
I have also asked faculty members to use their discretion in making judgements about academic accommodation. Both deans of the Faculties of Arts and Science and Fine Arts, along with the chairs of the affected departments, are providing support to faculty members in this regard.
If you have additional questions, please email them to: classes2015@concordia.ca.
Benoit-Antoine Bacon
Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs